Abstract

                                The study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge and adoption level of vegetable growers on eco-friendly technologies and to assess the attitude of vegetable growers towards eco-friendly technologies. This study was conducted at two villages namely Karumpattur and Killiyur of Kanyakumari district, with sample size of 46 vegetable growers who adopting eco-friendly technologies. The respondents were interviewed personally by well structured and pre-tested interview schedule. Suitable statistical techniques were used to analyse the collected data. In this study, crop wise knowledge level viz. Brinjal, Bhendi and Gourds (Bitter Gourd, Snake Gourd and Cucumber) were studied along with over all knowledge level on eco-friendly technologies. Majority of respondents had low to medium of overall knowledge on eco-friendly technologies. Three fourth of the respondents had low level of knowledge on eco-friendly technologies of brinjal. About 40 per cent of the respondents possessed high level of knowledge on eco-friendly technologies of bhendi. All the respondents had medium level of knowledge on eco-friendly technologies of gourds. About 46 per cent of respondents had medium level of awareness. A wide majority of the respondents had low to medium level of adoption. About 58 per cent of the respondents had the favourable attitude towards eco-friendly technologies. The steps to be taken to enhance the farmers' awareness, knowledge and adoption level on eco-friendly technologies in vegetable cultivation and to change their attitude towards eco-friendly technologies were also enumerated.

Key words : Awareness, Knowledge, Adoption, Attitude, vegetable growers, eco-friendly technologies, Brinjal, Bhendi and Gourds.