RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE AND KNOWLEDGE LEVEL OF POMEGRANATE GROWERS ON POMEGRANATE CULTIVATION TECHNOLOGY IN AHMADNAGAR DISTRICT OF MAHARASHTRA

Pomegranate is one of the most remunerative fruit crops grown in Maharashtra and it is the leading state with 65.51 per cent of the area and 64.61 per cent of total production under pomegranate. This study aims to increase the production and productivity of pomegranate for which in-depth understanding of knowledge and adoption level of pomegranate cultivation practices should be learnt. Descriptive research design is adopted. In Ahmednagar, Shrigonda taluk is selected purposively, since it has major contribution in production of pomegranate. 120 pomegranate growers were selected from 12 village of Shrigonda taluk forms the respondents. Primary data collected from respondents with the help of pre-structured interview schedule during 2021. The results indicated that majority of the respondents had medium level of knowledge and attitude (37.50%). The socio-economic characteristics like age, occupation, annual income, land holding, number of trainings attended, mass media exposure, social participation, extension contact, innovativeness and progressiveness had significant association with the knowledge level of the respondents. Further, awareness generation on harvesting and post-harvest management should be done to pomegranate growers.