Impact of National Horticulture Mission on Socio-Economic Status of Beneficiaries in Davanagere District of Karnataka

The research study titled ‘impact of National Horticulture Mission on socio-economic status of beneficiaries in Davanagere district of Karnataka’ was conducted in all the six blocks of Davanagere district of Karnataka state namely; Channagiri, Honnali, Harihar, Jagalur, Harapanahalli and Davanagere. Four villages having the highest number of NHM beneficiaries from each taluk were selected for the study. From each these 24 selected villages, 6 beneficiaries were selected randomly considering the criteria that the farmers who are beneficiaries under NHM programme from 2008-09 to 2013-14. Thus total sample size for the study was 144 beneficiaries. The data was collected with the help of pre-tested interview schedule from the respondents included in the sample. The data was analyzed using statistical tests including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square. Ex-post facto research design employed for the study. The results reveal that social status of NHM beneficiaries increased by 197.73 per cent between before and after participation in NHM programme. Whereas, value addition in education is increased by 178.12 per cent followed by investment on social functions (68.19%), annual income (30.53%), investment on savings (21.80%), employment generation (20.79%) and investment on assets is increased by 6.82 percent compared to before and after participation in NHM programme. The overall mean value before NHM programme was found to be 1241.80 as compared to 2194.16 after participation in NHM and increase of mean value was found to be 76.69 per cent indicating positive impact of NHM programme. The statistical analysis of data reveals that annual income, social status, employment generation, value addition in education and investment on social functions was found to be highly significant at one per cent level of significance. Whereas, investment on savings was found to be significant at five per cent level and investment on assets found to be non-significant. The overall dimensions of standard of living found to be highly significant at one per cent. Majority of the beneficiaries perceived high production costs of horticulture crops (95.83%, Rank I) was the major constraint followed by poor follow up of activities by the personnel (90.97%, Rank II), less subsidy (86.80%, Rank III), low productivity of horticulture crops (86.11%, Rank IV), high post-harvest and handling losses (76.39%, Rank V), less number of trainings (47.92%, Rank VI), less numbers of extension activities (34.03%, Rank VII), less prices in the market (25.69%, Rank VIII), lack of transpiration and cold storage facilities (15.97%, Rank IX) and frequent transfer of personnel (4.86%, Rank X). The suggestions given by the beneficiaries for effective implementation of NHM programme are subsidies under NHM needs to be increased (77.78%, Rank I), followed by proper follow up of activities (29.16%, Rank II), Training programmes needs to be increased (16.67%, Rank III), more technical information needs to be provided under NHM programme (08.34%, Rank IV) and need of integrated farming system approaches under NHM (06.25%, Rank V).