Assessing Perception and Practices in Value Addition at Kisan Mela, GBPUAT, Pantnagar

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Page: 699-704

Manisha Das, Arpita Sharma Kandpal, Pooja Goswami, Vanshika Gupta, and Gagan Tripathi (Department of Agricultural Communication, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand)

This study investigates the perception, practices, and challenges associated with value addition among respondents who participated in the Kisan Mela organized at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. It serves as an important platform for farmers, scientists, agricultural experts, and industry representatives to exchange knowledge and showcase innovations. The fair is held twice a year typically in March and October to bring the latest farming technologies, seeds, equipment, and research directly to farmers. The 117th All India Farmers’ Fair was held from 7th to 10th March 2025 at the GBPUAT campus. A total of 55 respondents were surveyed using a structured interview schedule to collect data on their socio-economic characteristics, processing equipment usage, institutional support, marketing strategies, and future plans related to value-added agricultural activities. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents (63.64%) were middle-aged, and a significant proportion (61.82%) were female, indicating active involvement of women in value-added enterprises. Most farmers had a moderate level of experience (65.46%) and primarily used semi-automated equipment (45.45%), reflecting a transition phase toward mechanized processing. Key challenges included a lack of equipment (63.63%), high processing costs (47.27%), and limited distribution (87.27%), which hindered scalability. All respondents received training from government agencies. Furthermore, 83.63% expressed plans to expand their operations, citing the need for improved market access, financial assistance, and better equipment. Perception analysis showed that over half of the respondents (54.55%) had a medium level of perception towards value addition.