Gherkin is an export oriented vegetable (cucurbit) crop. Karnataka state accounts for almost 90 per cent of export of preserved gherkins. Gherkin cultivation is largely driven through contract farming. The present study was undertaken to study the performance of contract farming of gherkin on farmers and to examine the constraints of gherkin contract farming. The study was carried out in two randomly selected talukas ‘Kunigal’ and ‘Sira’ of purposively selected ‘Tumkur’ district of Karnataka state. Performance of farmers was measured using structured interview schedule on five dimensions such as contract farming, extension, market, economic and social dimensions. Constraints of gherkin contract farming was measured using Principal Component Matrix on six dimensions such as soil and environmental management, lack of Government support in contract management, disease pest complex management, difficulty in management, timely input and technical know-how support and high input cost. The overall analysis revealed that rank wise farmers were highly satisfied with assured income, timely availability of quality inputs, assured price and ready market, getting transport arrangement and increased employment at village level. Soil and environmental management ranked first, Lack of government support in contract management ranked second. Disease pest complex management and poor risky management of the crop rank high and almost equal in importance, Timely input and technical know-how support and High input cost were far behind in order of importance. The finding emanating from study makes a strong case for promoting the model of contract farming of gherkin on a wider scale

Keyword: Contract farming; Gherkin; Performance; Constraints;