MAHAJAN, P.K.PATHANIA, HEENA2017-05-022017-05-022014http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810010426ABSTRACT The present study entitled “Optimum Stratification for Estimation of Apple Production in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh” was undertaken in the Department of Basic Science, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan 173230 (H.P.) during 2012-2014. The study was carried out in Kullu district of HimachalPradesh with special reference to comparison of sample allocation methods in combination with various stratification rules for optimum stratification. For this purpose, various aspects involved in optimum stratification with reference to data collected from the selected orchardists in the study area during the year 2012-13 have been analysed. The variable"area under apple" was chosen as the stratification variable as it had high correlation of 0.99with the estimation variable "production of apple". Four methods of construction of strata viz., equalizationof strata total, equalizationof cum. , equalization of : {r(y) + f(y)} and equalization of cum. ( were used and their relative efficiencies for estimating total production of apple in the study district of the state have been examined. The critical examination of the results revealed that for number of strata ≥2, equalization of cum. method along with Neyman allocation can be profitably used for the estimation of apple production in the study district of the state. The socio-economic analysis indicated that the shortage of grading & packing labour, packing material, inadequate storage facilities, transportation problem, problems in market intelligence, and malpractices in the market were the major marketing problems faced by the orchardists in the study area.ennullThesis