Vol. 8, Special Issue 10, Part A (2024)

The present study was conducted in Vidarbha region of Nagpur district, Maharashtra state in the year 2023-24. The study focuses on the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of mandarin growers. An exploratory research design of social research was used for the present study. The study was carried out in three tahsils namely; Kalmeshwar, Narkhed and Katol. The tahsils were selected purposively due to highest mandarin cultivation in these areas. From each selected tahsil, four villages were selected randomly and from each selected village 10 mandarin growers were selected randomly thus contributing to total 120 respondents. Collected data were classified, tabulated, and analysed by using statistical tool, Rank Based Quotient. The most significant strengths of mandarin growers in mandarin cultivation were found to be having following characteristic such as; ‘pre dominant variety of Vidharbh region (Rank I)’, ‘Preference of Nagpur mandarin due to loose juicy coat (Rank II)’, ‘Higher net Income (Rank III)’ etc. The most important weaknesses of mandarin growers in mandarin cultivation were found to be; ‘Processing industries are not available locally (Rank I)’, ‘followed by Severe infestation of pest and diseases (Rank II)’, ‘Non-availability of labour and High cost of labour (Rank III)’. The most important opportunities of mandarin growers in mandarin cultivation were listed as; ‘Increasing demand in domestic market (Rank I)’, ‘Creating value-added products such as Mandarin juice, jams, dried Mandarin snacks etc. at mandarin belt (Rank II)’,’ Establishment of processing industries at production area (Rank III)’. The most important threats of mandarin growers in mandarin cultivation were found to be ‘Non-adoption of climate resilient technology (Rank I)’, followed by ‘Fluctuation in market prices (Rank II)’, ‘Decrease in yield to due Phytopthora (Rank III)’ etc.