Abstract

A study was conducted in the Institute of Agriculture Extension and Rural Development, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during 2012 to assess the citrus growers concern regarding adoption of micronutrients recommendation for vigorous growth of citrus in Sargodha. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents for this study. A well structured interview schedule was used to collect information on variables such as socio-economic characteristics, awareness and adoption of micronutrients and problems militating against adoption of micronutrients. The results revealed that most of the respondents were of middle aged, with land holding size of 5–10 acres. However, 71 percent respondents were found to have formal education of different levels with prominent category of primary to middle level education. Awareness regarding micronutrients utilization was found very poor as just Zn was known to 57 percent respondents and knowledge about rest of the micronutrients was below the mark. Adoption of micronutrients was found extremely poor as maximum adoption of Zn was retrieved by 5.83 percent growers and rest of the micronutrients were not being used. The results further revealed that manual application was being adopted instead of foliar application. This non-adoption includes top factors responsible for harvesting production of half than the potential. Inadequate technical knowledge, shortage of finance, inadequate market, and adulteration of chemicals and interest of citrus growers are the most important constraints scoring mean values i.e. 4.37, 4.21, 3.99, 3.91 and 3.01, respectively. It is suggested that citrus growers should be trained by extension field staff to improve technical knowledge. Moreover, along with subsidy on inputs, special attention should be paid toward awareness dissemination of micronutrients application. Adoption of these chemicals is necessary to boost the production level of leading fruit to compete the developing and developed countries of the world. K