Vol. 12, Special Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
RJ Patel and RR Prajapati

Abstract:
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the oldest cultivated horticultural crops of the world. Date palm is one of the important arid fruit crops of Gujarat and very popularly known as ‘Kalpavruksh of Kutch’. The present study was conducted in Kutch district of Gujarat state as the district ranks first so far the area and production under date palm is concerned. Four talukas viz., Mundra, Anjar, Mandvi and Bhuj were selected purposively as they occupy more than 90 percent area of date palm in the district. Five villages having date palm cultivation were selected randomly. A list of farmers cultivating date palm since last three years was prepared. From the village wise list, twelve farmers were randomly selected to make a sample size of 240 date palm growers. Ex-post facto research design was used for the study. The data were collected by personal contact method with help of structured interview schedule and data were coded, classified, tabulated and analyzed in the light of objectives. Fifteen independent and one dependent variables were selected for study. The independent variables viz., are under date palm cultivation, annual income, social participation, extension participation, management orientation, innovativeness, progressiveness, knowledge of improved date palm production technology and extent of adoption had positive and highly significant correlation with entrepreneurial behaviour. Whereas, education, land holding and mass media exposure had positive and significant correlation with entrepreneurial behaviour. Yield index had negative and significant correlation with entrepreneurial behaviour. On the other hand, age and family size had non significant relationship with entrepreneurial behaviour.