Archives of Current Research International

Horticulture has emerged as a key driver of income diversification and rural livelihoods in India, particularly among small and marginal farmers. The effectiveness of government interventions such as the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) depends largely on farmers’ knowledge levels and the relevance of training programmes. However, farmers are heterogeneous, and their capacity to acquire knowledge and articulate training needs is shaped by these socio-economic and behavioural characteristics. This study examines the relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics of horticultural farmers and their knowledge level and training needs under NHM. An ex post facto research design was adopted, and data were collected from 120 horticultural farmers (60 NHM beneficiaries and 60 non-beneficiaries) in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. Primary data were collected through personal interviews using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics and zero-order correlation analysis were employed to analyse the data and identify the relationship between socio-economic characteristics and knowledge level. Correlation analysis revealed that education, extension agency contact, age, income, and motivational variables significantly influenced farmers’ knowledge levels, while training needs reflected strong preferences for short-duration, field-based, and seasonally timed programmes across both groups. The findings indicate that programme participation alone does not ensure adequate knowledge and underscore the need for targeted, profile-sensitive extension strategies to enhance the effectiveness of NHM. Future studies could adopt longitudinal research designs to assess how changes in knowledge and training exposure translate into adoption behaviour, productivity, and income outcomes over time.