Extension Agency Contact Research Articles

Factors influencing the adoption of recommended package of practices by pepper growers of Wayanad district, Kerala

The study aims to assess the relationship between the profile of the farmers with their adoption level on recommended package of practices on pepper cultivation. The study was conducted in Panamaram block of Wayanad district in Kerala and proportionate random sampling was employed to select a sample of 120 members from the selected three villages of the block. It was observed that the factors viz., educational status, farm size, area under pepper cultivation, income, social participation, extension agency contact, mass media exposure, innovativeness, trainings undergone, market decision and market potential showed positive significant correlation at one per cent level of probability and market perception showed positive significant correlation at five per cent level of probability towards adoption level. Results revealed that one unit increase in the independent variables viz., farm size, extension agency contact and market decision would increase the adoption level by 2.549, 1.033 and 1.159 units respectively.

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Recommended Package of Practices by Pepper Growers of Wayanad District, Kerala

The study aims to assess the relationship between the profile of the farmers with their adoption level on recommended package of practices on pepper cultivation. The study was conducted in Panamaram block of Wayanad district in Kerala and proportionate random sampling was employed to select a sample of 120 members from the selected three villages of the block. It was observed that the factors viz., educational status, farm size, area under pepper cultivation, income, social participation, extension agency contact, mass media exposure, innovativeness, trainings undergone, market decision and market potential showed positive significant correlation at one per cent level of probability and market perception showed positive significant correlation at five per cent level of probability towards adoption level. Results revealed that one unit increase in the independent variables viz., farm size, extension agency contact and market decision would increase the adoption level by 2.549, 1.033 and 1.159 units respectively.

Adaptation Strategies followed by the Rice Growers to Mitigate the Impact of Climate Change

The study was conducted in Orathanadu block of Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu. Proportionate random sampling was employed to select the sample. It was observed that the variables viz., educational status and fatalism showed positive significant correlation at one per cent level of probability whereas awareness on climate change showed negative correlation. Variables like annual income, extension agency contact and awareness on crop insurance showed negative correlation at five per cent level of probability

Adoption of Good Dairy Farming Practices among Commercial Dairy Owners of Karnataka

Karnataka has been purposively selected due to the highest milk producing state in South India where commercial dairy farming is also in developing stage. In all, 135 respondents from 3 districts form the total sample size for the study having equal representation of small (10-20 milch animals), medium (20-40 milch animals) and large (>40 milch animals) commercial dairy farmers. Questionnaire was prepared on animal health, hygienic milking, animal feeding, animal welfare and environmental friendly practices according to “Guidelines on good dairy farming practices” by FAO (2014). The study shows that average adoption score of animal health practices,hygienic milking practicesand environmental practices was medium. The average adoption score of animal feeding and animal welfare practices was high. The average overall adoption score of good dairy farming practices was medium whereas average overall adoption score of both small and medium farmers group was medium and large farmers group was high. The study also shows that education, occupation, herd size, annual income and extension agency contact were highly significant and positively correlated with adoption level of good dairy farming practices, whereas livestock rearing experience, land holding, social participation and mass media were positively and significantly associated with adoption. The study further reveals that annual income, herd size, education and extension agency contact were the main contributing factors to adoption of good dairy farming practices.

Utilization pattern of mobile phone technology (Smartphone) among the farmers of Nagaur district in Rajasthan

Now-a-days, one of the most important emerging tools of ICT is the mobile phones with a remarkable growth during last decade. Mobile phone technologies have provided a good platform for farmers to share their knowledge and information among each other in time such as weather information, crop and variety selection, fertilizer and irrigation management, disease and pest management, market prices of the product and on-going government programmes. Keeping this in view, a study was conducted assess the utilization pattern of mobile phones forsharing agricultural information among farmers in Merta block of Nagaur district of Rajasthan. A total of 110 respondents were selected for the study. This study has shown that a majority (83.63%) of the farmer used call to retailor than call to relative farmer (80%), internet user (29.09) and perceived as most information on weedicide, pesticide and disease control (89.09%) through mobile phones. The correlation studies indicated a significant association between educations, with extension agency contact and mass media of the farmer. The analysis showed that the poor connectivity, economic problem, high cost internet services and lack of updated information were some of the problems reported by the respondents.

Identifying influential variables on livestock breeding and rearing knowledge level of cattle keepers in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan

The study was conducted in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan in the year 2016-17. Two villages namely Rajasani and Chopasani Charnan of Tiwri block of Jodhpur district were selected randomly from ICAR-CAZRI’s Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav Initiative (MGMGI) programme. A predetermined sample of sixty respondents, 30 respondents per village were randomly selected. The data were collected through observations with the help of a personal interview schedule. The study revealed that majority of the respondents (36.66%) belonged to old aged group (> 55 years) and had their education (31.67 %) up to middle level. Dairying with agriculture profession was the most (93.33 per cent) prevalent occupation. The data regarding family size indicates that majority of respondents (85 %) are having 4 – 10 members and more than fifty per cent (53.33 %) of the respondents had farm size of 1 – 2 ha. About 68.00 per cent of the respondents possess 1- 2 milch animals. Majority (81.67 %) of the respondents were in medium level of mass media exposure and extension agency contact. Almost 88.37 per cent of the respondents were not participated socially. Regarding the amount of milk production, 63.34 per cent farmers produced about 2 – 5 litres milk per day. More than two-third of the respondents were having medium annual income (Rs. 14,642 – Rs.32, 924) and economic motivation. Among the dairy farmers, more than half of the respondents were medium in their progressiveness and religious belief, while two third of the respondents (75%) had medium level of Fatalism-Scientism. Further the study revealed that the majority of dairy farmers (53.34 %), possessed medium level of knowledge followed by 23.33 per cent each of low and high categories. The results obtained from simple correlation and path analysis indicated that the characters extension agency contact and annual income had strong positive correlation and high magnitude of positive direct effects on knowledge level about dairy farming practices.

Identifying influential variables on livestock breeding and rearing knowledge level of cattle keepers in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan

The study was conducted in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan in the year 2016-17. Two villages namely Rajasani and Chopasani Charnan of Tiwri block of Jodhpur district were selected randomly from ICAR-CAZRI’s Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav Initiative (MGMGI) programme. A predetermined sample of sixty respondents, 30 respondents per village were randomly selected. The data were collected through observations with the help of a personal interview schedule. The study revealed that majority of the respondents (36.66%) belonged to old aged group (> 55 years) and had their education (31.67 %) up to middle level. Dairying with agriculture profession was the most (93.33 per cent) prevalent occupation. The data regarding family size indicates that majority of respondents (85 %) are having 4 – 10 members and more than fifty per cent (53.33 %) of the respondents had farm size of 1 – 2 ha. About 68.00 per cent of the respondents possess 1- 2 milch animals. Majority (81.67 %) of the respondents were in medium level of mass media exposure and extension agency contact. Almost 88.37 per cent of the respondents were not participated socially. Regarding the amount of milk production, 63.34 per cent farmers produced about 2 – 5 litres milk per day. More than two-third of the respondents were having medium annual income (Rs. 14,642 – Rs.32, 924) and economic motivation. Among the dairy farmers, more than half of the respondents were medium in their progressiveness and religious belief, while two third of the respondents (75%) had medium level of Fatalism-Scientism. Further the study revealed that the majority of dairy farmers (53.34 %), possessed medium level of knowledge followed by 23.33 per cent each of low and high categories. The results obtained from simple correlation and path analysis indicated that the characters extension agency contact and annual income had strong positive correlation and high magnitude of positive direct effects on knowledge level about dairy farming practices.

Adoption Level and Training Need in Scientific Feeding Management Practices among Hill Korwa Tribes of Chhattisgarh

The present study was aimed at finding out the level of adoption of scientific feeding management practices among Hill Korwa tribes with relation to the independent socio-economic variables and also the perceived training need in feeding management practices. Data were collected from 160 respondents of Surguja district, Chhattisgarh, through a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Results depicted that majority of respondents were partial adopter (48.8%) followed by low (43.1%) and high (8.1%) adopters. Total annual income, income from livestock, extension agency contact and mass media exposure had positive and significant correlation with adoption of feeding management practices whereas, age and material possession had negative and significant correlation with adoption of feeding management practices. In the area of training, the feeding of sick animals was ranked first with a mean score of 2.70 followed by feeding of newly born calf (2.24), feeding of pregnant animals (2.09), preparation of balanced ration (1.86), importance of clean drinking water (1.42) and preparation of mineral mixture (1.39), was as perceived by the farmers in study area.

Economic Contribution of Backyard Piggery in the Livelihood Security of Tribal Families of Assam

The present study has been carried out to assess the economic contribution of backyard piggery in the livelihood security of tribal families of Assam, India. Observation and personal interaction were done to collect the data from in 10 selected villages of two districts namely; Dhemaji district (North Bank Plain Zone) and Karbi Anglong distrcit (Hill Zone). Study revealed that the mean scores of the income generated by the respondents from backyard piggery came from two different agro climatic locales i.e. plain and hilly zones showed significant difference. The average annual income generated from backyard pig farming inclusive of family labour was calculated as ₹. 9,715 and the average household income was ₹. 69,397 in a year. The average annual income generation from backyard pig farming was calculated as ₹. 31,992 and average annual household income was ₹. 69,397 when family labour was not included in a year. The contribution of backyard pig farming to the total annual income was 13.99 per cent including family labour and 46.09 per cent while excluding family labour. Independent variables like; age, education, family size, land holding, experience in pig rearing, size of pig stock, mass media exposure, extension agency contact, innovation proneness and risk orientation were found to have positive and significant relationship with income generation from backyard piggery farming..

Prevalence of Self Reported Occupational Health Hazards and Preventive Measures Followed by Male and Female Workers in Livestock Rearing in Uttar Pradesh: A Study of Rural India

The present study was carried out in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ex-post facto and exploratory research design was used to carry out the research. Data were collected through an interview schedule from 1080 families (540 female+540 male) covering 54 villages from 18 districts to understand the extent and nature of hazards and preventive measures followed in livestock rearing. The study revealed significant differences between male and female respondents due to the effect of physical, biological, chemical and psychological hazards. Physical hazards ranked first followed by biological, psychological and chemical hazards. A negative and significant relationship was found for extension agency contact with health hazards. The study revealed insignificant differences (P>0.01) between male and female workers with respect to adopting the safety and preventive measures for 22 out of 24 activities except for avoiding stay with the animals under the same roof and use of latrines for urination and defecation. Age and gender of animal workers had a significant impact on the exposure of various occupational health hazards in livestock rearing. Although both male and female workers were found to be at risk of hazards in livestock farming, females reported greater risk and hazards. Specific interventions to prevent animal-associated hazards should target the women farmers first with intense educational efforts.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ADOPTION BEHAVIOUR OF FISH FARMERS TOWARDS SCIENTIFIC FISH CULTURE

This paper analyses the factors influencing adoption behaviour of fish farmers towards scientific fish culture practices in Dakshin Dinajpurdistrict of West Bengal. The data were collected through interview method following a structured schedule from 120 fish farmersselected randomly. Both qualitative and quantitative variables were used for getting results on adoption technique. The findings revealed that the majority of the farmers have obtained medium adoption score(71.3). Out of 24 variables included in the study, 14 variables were positively and significantly related with adoption level of fish farmers. Technique of Path analysis showedthat knowledge about scientific fish culture exhibited highest positive direct effect on adoption behaviour of fish farmers followed by extension agency contact, innovative proneness, extent of weed infestation and economic motivation. Key words: Fish farmers, adoption behaviour, factors, scientific fish culture.

Constraint analysis of backyard pig production in tribal areas of Assam

An ex-post facto study was conducted in Dhemaji and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam state with the objective to understand the constraints perceived by tribal farmers in backyard piggery farming. Data were collected personally from 200 tribal families practising backyard piggery from twenty different villages through interview schedule. The results revealed that feeding with a mean score of 2.83 and management with 2.81 were the most important areas of constraints perceived by the respondents followed by marketing (2.73), breeding (2.66) and health care (2.64). The findings also revealed that educational qualification, annual income, mass media exposure, extension agency contact, innovation proneness and risk orientation of the respondents had significant relationship with the constraints perceived by them in backyard pig rearing.

Fields under Semi-arid Alfisols in South India

Based on a study conducted in 120 farmers’ fields in Manchala and Chevella mandals in Ranga Reddy district in Telangana during 2006 to 2008, the effects of socio-economic variables on productivity of different rainfed crops have been assessed in this paper. The relationships of socio-economic variables and their effects on yield of crops attained by farmers were modeled based on multivariate regression analysis. The regression models gave a significant predictability of yield through socio-economic variables in both individual years and also when pooled over years. In Manchala, land holding, price situation and livestock possession contributed significantly to yield in sorghum. In pigeon pea, extension agency contact explained variation in yield significantly. In castor, land holding and price situation contributed to yield. In kharif rice, livestock possession was significant. In rabi rice, farm power, was significant. In Chevella, in maize, risk orientation, management orientation, mass media exposure, livestock possession, education, production orientation and planning orientation were found to be significant factors. In cotton, age, farming experience, credit orientation, extension agency contact and livestock possession explained yield variation significantly. In kharif rice, farm power and planning orientation, management orientation, education, extension agency contact and mass media exposure were emerged as significant factors. In tomato, price situation, market facility, land holding and credit orientation were found to be significant. In carrot, farm power, credit orientation, marketing orientation, labour availability and land holding were emerged as good predictors of yield. In beetroot, farming experience, education, risk orientation and price situation were found to be important factors. The models could be used to predict the yields of crops through the identified significant socio-economic variables under similar farming conditions in the region. Based on the findings of the study appropriate extension strategies are suggested.

M-learning: An Educational Approach for Change in Hills of Uttarakhand

Timely, precise and location-specific advisory to the farmers on crop management is the key for effective extension. Extension agent to farmer ratio in India is estimated to be at 1:2,000. Hence, there arises a need for such an advisory system which will be quick, easy to access and free from geographical barriers. Mobile learning or m-learning is such an information and communication technology (ICT) tool. The increasing penetration of mobile phones and mobile-enabled information services in rural India has made it possible to disseminate information related to crop and variety selection, fertiliser and irrigation management, disease and pest management, weather forecasting, market price of the product and ongoing government programmes at the palm of the farmers. A study was conducted in the foothills of Himalaya with the objective to ascertain the gain in knowledge of cabbage and wheat growers in the Nainital and the Almora districts of Uttarakhand. Two blocks, four villages and 140 farmers possessing mobile phones formed the sample of the study. The results indicate that there is significant gain in issues associated with seed and sowing, fertiliser management, plant protection and marketing of the produce. The correlation studies indicate a significant association between education, extension agency contact and innovativeness of the farmers. There was a significant increase under all information package subheads, which clearly indicate the relevance and positive effect of m-learning intervention under high category. A decreasing trend was observed in medium and low category of respondents, in which movement of farmers from low to medium and medium to high categories was observed.

A Study on Factors Influencing the Adoption Behaviour of Fish Farmers with Special Reference to Scientific Fish Culture in West Bengal, India

This paper analyses the factors influencing adoption behaviour of fish farmers towards scientific fish culture practices in North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal for the data pertaining to the years 2005 to 2008. The data were collected through interview method following a structured schedule from 120 fish farmers selected randomly. Both qualitative and quantitative variables were used for getting results on adoption technique. The findings revealed that the majority of the farmers have obtained medium adoption score (76.57). Twelve variables were found positively and significantly related to adoption level of fish farmers and only two variables (age and caste) were negatively and significantly related. All the psychological variables (except credit orientation), communication variables, occupation, land holding (socio-economic) and size of water body and duration of water availability (situational variables) had positive significant correlation. Most of the socio-personal, socio-economic and situational variables have no bearings with adoption. Technique of Path analysis showed that extension agency contact exhibited highest positive direct effect on adoption behaviour followed by innovative proneness, occupation, economic motivation, knowledge about scientific fish culture. Among the total indirect effects, the highest and lowest impacts were received from the variables cosmopoliteness and caste respectively. Majority of the substantial indirect effects were channelized through economic motivation, family type, occupation, extension agency contact, knowledge and innovative proneness.

Factors Affecting Attitude of Fish Farmers towards Scientific Fish Culture in West Bengal

The present study was carried out during 2005-2008 in the purposively selected North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal focused on the factors influencing attitude of fish farmers towards scientific fish culture practices. The data were gathered using a structured and pre tested interview schedule from 120 randomly selected fish farmers. The findings revealed that majority of fish farmers were middle aged group category. Overall education level is medium that is, primary and middle school level. Majority of fish farmers possessed low to medium level of experience in fish farming. Majority of the fish farmers belonged to medium social participation, low land holding and high income group as they have other source of income. Majority of farmers belonged to high to medium level of innovative proneness and medium level of value orientation, risk orientation and economic motivation. Most of the farmers belonged to low to medium level of credit orientation, and possessed medium to high level of knowledge. Majority of the farmers exhibited medium level of mass media participation and medium to low level of extension agency contact while their cosmopoliteness was high. Majority of the ponds were medium to small sized and water holding capacity were low to medium and rainfed. Most of the ponds were infested with weeds and the extent of weed infestation was low. The attitude of the majority of the fish farmers in North 24 Parganas varied from medium favourable to more favourable attitude towards scientific fish culture practices. However, nearly 1/5th of them were in less favourable category. In North 24 Parganas, out of 24 variables included in the study, 10 variables were positively and significantly related with the attitude of fish farmers towards scientific fish culture practices. Among the variables, all the psychological (except credit orientation), communication factors (except extension agency contact) education, annual income, social participation were positively and significantly related with attitude towards scientific fish culture Path analysis revealed that knowledge about scientific fish culture exhibited highest positive direct effect on the attitude of fish farmers towards scientific fish culture followed by the variables, cosmopoliteness, economic motivation, occupation and family type. Among the total indirect effects, the highest and lowest favourable contributions were by the variables value orientation, age respectively. Majority of the substantial indirect effects were channelised through value orientation, knowledge, cosmopoliteness, economic motivation, family type. Hence, these factors emerged as most dominant variables in influencing the attitude of fish farmers. Hence, these factors emerged as most dominant variables in influencing the attitude of fish farmers. Hence, in the context of climate change, it is a practical challenge for social science to mitigate the problem through technology dissemination system which must be focused on these variables by organizing extension methods.

Adoption Behaviour of Fish Farmers in Critical Inland Fish Culture Technologies in Tamil Nadu

This study on the factors influencing adoption behaviour of fish farmers towards critical technologies in inland fish culture was carried out during 2009-10 in Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. The data were collected using a well structured and pre tested interview schedule from 120 randomly selected fish farmers. The findings revealed that majority (82%) of fish farmers possessed medium to high level of knowledge and more than three - fourth (76%) of them belonged to medium to high level adopter category. The adoption behaviour of fish farmers towards critical inland fish culture technologies was significantly influenced by the factors like, occupation, annual income, land holding, extent of weed infestation, social participation, mass media participation, extension agency contact, cosmopoliteness, innovative proneness, value orientation, risk orientation, economic motivation, knowledge about critical inland fish culture technologies and negatively by their age. Based on the above findings the study recommends more number of knowledge building activities like meetings, discussions, mass media etc., to increase knowledge and thereby adoption of critical inland fish culture technologies. Economic benefits of critical inland fish culture technologies need to be and cosmopolite methods and channels like exposure visits, study tours etc need to be organized. More number of young fish farmers need to be trained in critical inland fish culture technologies.

Adoption behaviour of fish farmers in relation to scientific fish culture practices in West Bengal

The present study was carried out during 2005-2008 in the purposively selected Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal focused on the factors influencing adoption behaviour of fish farmers towards scientific fish culture practices. The data were gathered using a structured and pre tested interview schedule from 120 randomly selected fish farmers. The findings revealed that majority (74%) of fish farmers belonged to medium to high adoption category. The adoption behaviour of fish farmers towards scientific fish culture practices was positively and significantly influenced by the factors like, occupation, annual income, land holding, extent of weed infestation, social participation, mass media participation, extension agency contact, cosmopoliteness, innovative proneness, value orientation, risk orientation, economic motivation, knowledge about scientific fish culture practices and negatively by their age.

Profile of farm women in imparting knowledge and skills to farm women

The study on socio economic profile of farm women in imparting knowledge and skills to farm women was conducted in the six villages of Sarkarsamakulam block of Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. One hundred and fifty TANWA trained farm women were selected for the study. The study reveled that, majority of the farm women. were young and well educated. Most of them had high level of exposure to information source, extension agency contact and social participation. The correlation and regression analysis revealed that the three variables namely form size, exposure to information. source and innovativeness exhibited a positive and highly significant relationship with knowledge gain and skill acquisition.