A Study on Farmers’ Buying Behaviour of Hybrid Vegetable Seeds in Coimbatore District
K. Sindhuja *
Department of Agricultural and Rural Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu-641003, India.
S. D. Sivakumar
Department of Agricultural and Rural Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu-641003, India.
M. Chandrakumar
Department of Agricultural and Rural Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu-641003, India.
R. Premavathi
Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641003, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study analyzes the farmers' buying behaviour with reference to hybrid vegetable seeds. The research was carried out in the major six vegetable growing blocks of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu. A total of 120 farmers were selected using the simple random sampling method. The major Hybrid vegetables grown in the study area were tomato, gourds, bhendi, chilli and brinjal. Yield, price, quality, pest and disease resistance were the major factors influencing the farmers’ buying behaviour of vegetable seeds. Pest and disease attacks and high seed prices were the significant problems that the sample farmers were facing when cultivating hybrid vegetables. Field demonstrations and free samples to vegetable growers were the two most common promotional activities used by hybrid vegetable seed companies.
Keywords: Farmers’ buying behavior, factors influencing, hybrid vegetables, problems encountered