Title: ADOPTION OF RURAL WOMEN IMPROVED STORAGE PRACTICES OF FOOD GRAINS

Authors: Axita A. Meghnathi, P. B. Khodifad and B. N. Kalsariya

Publisher: The President, Society of Extension Education Gujarat

Keywords: 0ain storage, post-harvest losses, household grain management and empowerment

Volume: 40

Issue: 2

Year: December 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56572/gjoee.2025.40.2.0006

Abstract: The present study was conducted to measure the adoption of improved food grain storage practices among rural women in Navsari district, Gujarat. An ex-post facto research design was employed and samples of 120 rural women were selected through a three-stage random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and analyzed using frequency, percentage, correlation and stepwise regression. Results revealed that 97.50 per cent of respondents had medium to high adoption levels of improved storage practices, while only 02.50 per cent had low adoption. Correlation analysis showed that innovativeness (0.468**), education (0.404**), scientific orientation (0.401**), annual income (0.383**), decision making ability (0.348**), material possession (0.316**) and economic motivation (0.282**) were found to be positive and highly significant relationship with adoption, followed by extension participation (0.191*), mass media exposure (0.191*) and age (0.186*) were found positive and significant relationship with their adoption, while social participation (0.158 NS) was found non-significant relationship with adoption of storage practices of food grains. Stepwise regression indicated that innovativeness, education, scientific orientation, material possession and age together explained 38.20 per cent of the variation in adoption. Findings highlight that improving awareness, providing gender-sensitive training and promoting cost-effective technologies can enhance rural women's capacity for scientific grain storage. The study contributes to extension strategies aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening food and nutritional security in the region.