Khadija Ghaffar1, Ahsan Akram2, Abida Parveen3, Faisal Rafiq2, Hafiz Muhammad Kashif4, Ahmed Faiz Akbar2, and Mirza Abdul Sabor2
1Institute of Business Management Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 2Insititute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 3Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 4College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei
*Corresponding author: khadijaghaffar6030@gmail.com
The adoption of improved vegetable cultivation practices plays a critical role in enhancing agricultural productivity, food security, and farmer livelihoods, particularly in developing regions. This study investigates the extent of adoption and the constraints influencing the uptake of improved vegetable cultivation practices among small farmers in Punjab, Pakistan. Data were collected from 200 farmers through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multiple regression models. The findings indicate that use of improved/hybrid seeds (71%) and balanced fertilization (63%) have high adoption levels among farmers, others such as integrated pest management (49%), post-harvest handling (44%), and protected cultivation (32%) were less widely adopted. Economic factors, particularly high input costs (mean score = 4.35) and limited access to affordable credit (mean score = 4.12), emerged as the most significant constraints. Institutional and infrastructural challenges, including weak extension services, limited availability of quality inputs, and inadequate storage and cold chain facilities, also hindered adoption. Regression analysis indicated that education level, farm size, extension contact, access to credit, and market access significantly influenced adoption, whereas farming experience did not. The study concludes that addressing economic and institutional barriers, strengthening extension services, improving access to affordable inputs and credit, and enhancing post-harvest infrastructure are critical for accelerating adoption.