PRODUCTION CONSTRAINTS OF GUAVA IN DISTRICT KOHAT

This article is based on primary data collected during Nov-Dec 2005 and the universe of the study was district Kohat, being a famous area for Guava cultivation. 50 respondents were randomly selected from five villages and interviewed. . It was found that water shortage seriously hampered the yield of guava in project area. The serious bottlenecks were insignificant use of chemical fertilizer as reported by less than 17% of the total respondents, this was followed by defective marketing system and fear of risk taking 15.23%, lack of marketing information 9.52%, lack of processing and preservation industry 34.32%, lack of credit facilities 50.00%, time constraint 29.82%, costly labor 36.84% and carrying out traditional practices regarding post harvest techniques. Situation was further aggravated by the non-availability, ineffective and expensive nature of insecticides and pesticides. The study also revealed that the sample respondents’ access to the extension services was considerably low 92%. The study suggested post harvest recommended practices, training of field staff, institutional credit facilities and encouragement of preservation and processing industry