Studies on the effectiveness of kishan gosthi in imparting agricultural information for scaling up of livelihood of hill women

Abstract

Economic and social development of hill areas is solely dependent upon women. A study conducted in four villages viz.; Bhaluti, Kausani, Jeoli and Sariyatal of Nainital District of Uttarakhand to know the awareness about agriculture and animal husbandry. Questioner based study was conducted, which was focused on the socio-economic characteristics and problems of hill women. Result revealed that majority of respondents belonged to middle age group category (58 per cent) and all the respondents have television and mobile phone. Majority of farm women were involved in farming and dairy. Maximum (90 per cent) respondents take farming related information with input dealers. Maximum numbers of respondents were unaware about scientific packages and practices related to crop production, farm implements suitable for hills areas (98 per cent), high yielding varieties of crops/use of improved varieties (94 per cent), processing technique (96 per cent) and storage techniques (82 per cent).Majority of respondents (96 per cent) were unaware about SHGs followed by small enterprise (90 per cent). On the basis of needs of hill women a participatory need based Kishan Gosthi was organized to aware the hill women on many aspects.