ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE PROFILE OF STAKEHOLDERS AND THEIR LEVEL OF CONVERGENCE IN AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION SYSTEM

Abstract

Convergence is being made to achieve the common objectives and mutual benefits between partners for targeted project, programmes and /or schemes, where both are sharing their values and outcomes. The present study was carried out in seven districts of South Gujarat during 2020. The six types of stakeholders were playing pivotal role in AIS hence the list of each type of stakeholder were obtained from the concerned authorities. A simple random sampling method was adopted to obtain respondents sample size. Thus, 30 researchers, 50 extensionists, 30 In-charge of NGOs, 30 managers of private agencies, 50 owner of agro-service providers and 50 progressive farmers were selected. All the 240 stakeholders were randomly selected. The statistical tools and method was used to analyze the data were frequency, percentage, arbitrary method and correlation of coefficient. The data represents that overwhelming majority (92.91%) of the respondents as stakeholders had poor to good level of convergence in AIS. The data also reveals that the age, communication ability, information seeking behaviour, mass media exposure, cohesiveness, stress management and management orientation had highly significant correlation with convergence among researchers in AIS. The data tells that the age, stress management and management orientation had highly significant correlation with convergence among extensionists in AIS. While, communication ability was significantly corelated with convergence among extensionists. The data reveals that the age, stress management and management orientation had highly significant correlation with convergence among in charge of NGOs in AIS. While, information seeking behavior, mass media exposure and cohesiveness were significantly corelated with convergence among in charge of NGOs. The data shows that the age, mass media exposure, cohesiveness, stress management and management orientation had highly significant correlation with convergence among manager of private agency in AIS. While, communication ability and information seeking behavior were significantly corelated with convergence among manager of private agency. The data reveals that the age, education, annual income, land holding, extension participation, innovativeness, mass media exposure, achievement motivation, cohesiveness and risk orientation had highly significant correlation with convergence among agro service providers in AIS. While, communication ability and information seeking behavior had significantly corelated with convergence among agro service providers in AIS.