Journal of Experimental Agriculture International

Onion is a vital commercial crop in India, occupying a prominent place in the vegetable economy due to its role in income generation, employment creation and export potential. Karnataka ranks among the leading onion-producing states, yet productivity often lags behind its potential, resulting in considerable yield gaps. These gaps are mostly caused by inadequate adoption of scientific practices, improper resource use and constraints in crop management. In this context, the present investigation was conducted in 2023 in the Chitradurga district to analyze yield gaps in onion production among farmers. A total of 120 growers, consisting of sixty small and sixty big onion growers, were randomly selected from Challakere and Hiriyur taluks. The study employed an ex post facto research design and data were gathered using a pre-tested and structured interview schedule. The results found the differences between farm categories more than half of the big farmers (56.67%) reported a medium level of yield gap, while among small farmers, a majority (41.66%) faced a high level of yield gap. Statistical analysis using the ‘z’ test confirmed a significant difference in yield gaps between small and big farmers at the one percent level of significance. The higher gaps among smallholders were mainly attributed to lack of awareness about advanced technologies, poor management of pests and diseases and imbalanced use of nutrients. The findings clearly suggest the necessity of strengthening extension efforts and knowledge dissemination to ensure wider adoption of recommended practices and enhancing farmers’ access to scientific technologies to reduce yield gaps.