Comparative Impact Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Preservation Training on Rural Women in Haryana

Abstract

Post-harvest losses in fruits and vegetables ran high in India, and preservation at the household level gave rural women a way to cut those losses while adding to family income. Krishi Vigyan Kendras in Haryana ran vocational courses on preservation, but little was known about what the courses left behind. The study was carried out during 2025 in Sirsa, Hisar, Jind and Bhiwani and set out to compare adoption between trained and untrained rural women and to measure the impact of training on beneficiaries. Following an ex post facto design, 80 trained and 80 untrained women were interviewed personally with a structured schedule. Weighted mean scores, correlation, regression and an independent samples t-test were applied. Trained women scored far higher on adoption (t = 37.54; p<0.01), with 71.25 per cent in the medium and 28.75 per cent in the high category. Education, socio-economic status, information sources and economic motivation went with higher adoption, while age worked against it. Labelling, registration and advertising stayed at the bottom even among trained women. Food security recorded the highest mean impact score. Training built technical skill, but the market side needed support of its own.