Title: KNOWLEDGE OF RURAL WOMEN ABOUT IMPROVED STORAGE PRACTICES OF FOOD GRAINS

Authors: Axita A. Meghnathi, P. B. Khodifad and Y. R. Chauhan

Publisher: The President, Society of Extension Education Gujarat

Keywords: food grain storage, knowledge level, post-harvest losses, improved storage practices, socio-economic factors

Volume: 40

Issue: 1

Year: December 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56572/gjoee.2025.40.1.0006

Abstract: The study was conducted in Navsari district of Gujarat to assess the knowledge of rural women about improved storage practices of food grains and to examine the factors influencing it. A total of 120 respondents were selected through three stage sampling and data were collected using a structured interview schedule. Results indicated that the majority of respondents were middle-aged, had secondary education, medium annual income, high economic motivation, high scientific orientation and medium material possession but exhibited low decision-making ability, mass media exposure, and extension participation. More than half (52.50%) of the women possessed a high level of knowledge, while 46.67 per cent had a medium level and only 00.83 per cent exhibited a low level of knowledge regarding improved storage practices. Correlation analysis revealed that education (0.421**), scientific orientation (0.387**), decision making ability (0.375**), extension participation (0.361**), annual income (0.345**), innovativeness (0.316**) and mass media exposure (0.264**) were found to be positive and highly significant relationship with knowledge, while social participation (0.196*) and age (0.194*) were found to be positive and significant relationship with knowledge, wherever economic motivation (0.096 NS) and material possession (0.079 NS) were found non-significant relationship with knowledge about storage practices of food grains. Stepwise regression analysis identified six variables viz., education, extension participation, scientific orientation, age, decision-making ability and annual income which together explained 37.00 per cent variation in knowledge. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening extension efforts and capacity building of rural women to minimize post-harvest losses and ensure food security.