A Nagaland University study has called for location-specific agricultural extension strategies to promote the adoption of sustainable farming practices among pineapple growers in the State, stressing the need for stronger technical support, extension services and institutional assistance.
The study found that farmers’ adoption of sustainable practices varies across locations and is influenced by local conditions, economic circumstances, motivation and access to extension services. It recommended that horticultural development programmes move beyond a uniform approach and incorporate district-specific interventions suited to local farming systems.
Pineapple is cultivated across all districts of Nagaland and is valued for its distinctive flavour, sweetness, low fibre content and high total soluble solids (TSS), ranging from 16.5 to 18 per cent. Despite its economic and livelihood potential, growers continue to face challenges related to production, marketing, post-harvest management and long-term resource sustainability.
The research assessed sustainable agricultural practices among pineapple growers across four broad areas—agronomic practices, resource management, pest and disease management, and post-harvest management. It also examined inter-district differences in adoption and the factors influencing farmers’ adoption behaviour.
Nagaland University Vice Chancellor Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik said the study provided valuable insights into factors influencing the adoption of sustainable pineapple farming practices in the State.
“The findings underline the importance of location-specific strategies, stronger agricultural extension services, efficient resource conservation and greater support to farmers,” he said, adding that the university remained committed to research addressing local agricultural challenges and promoting sustainable livelihoods and environmentally responsible development.
Prof. Kaushal Kumar Jha of the Department of Agricultural Extension Education, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, said the study offered an integrated, context-specific assessment of sustainability in pineapple cultivation, covering multiple stages of the production system.
He said the analysis of inter-district variations showed that farmers’ adoption levels and challenges were shaped by local conditions, underscoring the need for tailored extension strategies and district-specific interventions rather than a uniform approach.
Dr Shagolsem Herojit Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, said factor analysis identified three broad dimensions influencing adoption: land-use and income-related factors, motivational factors, and access to extension services.
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“These findings point to the importance of considering not only the availability of technologies but also farmers’ economic circumstances, motivation, awareness and access to institutional guidance when designing sustainability-focused programmes,” he said.
The researchers noted that practices including intercropping, mixed cropping, organic nutrient management, soil and water conservation, appropriate input management and crop-residue management could help maintain soil health, improve resource-use efficiency and strengthen the long-term resilience of pineapple-based farming systems.
Sentibenla Pongener, PhD Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, said greater awareness was needed on the long-term environmental and economic implications of farming practices, particularly amid climate change, soil degradation and nutrient depletion.
She said integrating sustainability awareness and capacity-building into existing agricultural initiatives could help promote more climate-resilient and environmentally responsible pineapple production.
The study recommended strengthening need-based and location-specific training, field demonstrations, farmer-to-farmer extension, technical guidance and regular follow-up. It said improved extension contact and district-level planning could help growers make informed decisions on sustainable practices from land preparation and planting through crop management, harvesting and post-harvest handling.
The findings have been published in the peer-reviewed Indian Journal of Extension Education in a paper co-authored by Sentibenla Pongener, Prof Kaushal Kumar Jha and Dr Shagolsem Herojit Singh of Nagaland University’s School of Agricultural Sciences.
The research provides a basis for further work on district-level adoption patterns, the effectiveness of extension interventions and the development of practical sustainability frameworks suited to Nagaland’s pineapple-growing systems.
