Assessment of adoption gaps in the management of aflatoxin contamination of groundnut Arachis hypogaea L.

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oil seed crop of India. It has great potential for diversification to food uses due to its nutritive virtues. One of the major impediment for diversification is aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxins are the toxic substances produced by strains of fungi belonging to Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. The present study was undertaken during the 2005-06, rainy season in Junagadh, Gujarat, India to assess the adoption gaps in aflatoxin management practices of groundnut (AMPG) and the farmers characteristics influencing this gap. The district was selected because it was identified as one of the high risk area for aflatoxin contamination in rainy season. The results indicated that majority of the farmers were in high adoption gap category as most of the farmers had not adopted the harvest and post-harvest management practices. Farmer\'s characteristics knowledge, market orientation and innovativeness influenced the adoption gap significantly. Based on the results, it is suggested to formulate strategies to increase the knowledge of farmers through various extension approaches. The selection of innovative farmers for groundnut production and differentiating the contamined and afltoxin free groundnuts by the markets will help in reducing the adoption gap. Keywords: Groundnut, Aflatoxin contamination, Aflatoxin management, Adoption gaps.South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol. 37 2008: pp. 45-5

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Management of Pests of Oilseed Crops. In: Pests and Their Management

Not AvailableIn India the vegetable oil scenario is very complex and is greatly influenced by market forces, vagaries of weather, technology, poor resource base of the farmers, biotic and abiotic stresses. Among biotic stresses, insect pests are major constraints in oilseed production. Pest incidence and their extent of damage varies in time and space and therefore neither there can be a unified Integrated Pest Management package to all situations nor it is easy to develop it. Depending on the local pest problems and their status, cultural practices and climatic conditions, need based strategies are to be evolved. Integration of all the available means of pest control are to be blended in a way which can be practiced by farmers without much difficulty in execution or implementation coupled with maximum monitory benefits and minimal environmental imbalances and pollution. Advances in insect pest management practices in nine annual oilseed crops are discussed in this chapter.Not Availabl