Garrett Ranking Research Articles

Impact of COVID-19 on food outlets: symmetric or asymmetric? A case study of Amritsar

PurposeThe present study is an intra-industry analysis, which aims to investigate whether the impact of COVID-19 on employment level, clientele rate, liquidity constraints and sustainability aspect of different food outlets is symmetric or asymmetric in nature.Design/methodology/approachWith the help of well-structured questionnaire, the study has surveyed 80 food outlets in total by interviewing the managers and owners of these outlets. Food outlets have been classified into four categories namely international, national, local and street food outlets. Econometric techniques like MANOVA and Garret ranking have been employed to fulfil the objective of the study.FindingsThe results depict that the impact of COVID-19 on employment level and liquidity constraints is significantly asymmetric amongst different groups of food outlets, even though the decline in extent of clientele is somewhat same for all groups. The survival aspect of outlets also witnesses clear-cut asymmetry in results as big outlets have greater potential to survive for longer if lockdown happens again when compared to street food outlets as their financial availability and stability differ.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample size of study is restricted, mainly due to lesser number of national franchise's food outlets available in Amritsar, though other categories of eateries were sufficient in number. Further, the study is restricted only to one district of Punjab state, whereas for future research, inter-district comparison can be done.Practical implicationsThe findings reveal that the street food outlets may gain by fostering its online functioning. Similarly national food outlets are encouraged to alter their business strategies to revive their sales against their competitors.Originality/valueThis study is one of the explorer studies to analyse the impact of COVID-19 by making an intra-industry comparison for the eatery industry – considering four different categories of eateries. The classification of eateries helps in analysing whether the employment level, clientele rate, liquidity constraints and survival perspective have been affected symmetrically for the whole eateries industry or does severity of being affected differ asymmetrically. The study makes a contribution by adding a new string of dimension to the existing load of literature in the domain of hospitality.

Management barriers to innovation performance in Nigerian manufacturing sector

Innovation is an essential strategy for businesses to increase performance and profitability. While current literature focuses on technology and other technical barriers to innovation, many businesses in developing countries are unaware of the significance of organizational policy and practices on a firm's capacity to innovate, thus being confronted with stagnant or low innovation performance. A quantitative survey (n = 351) study was conducted to investigate the importance and impact of management barriers to innovation within production and manufacturing plants in Nigeria. Five hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM). A questionnaire was developed based on relevant constructs adapted from previous studies. These were validated using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and Composite Reliability Index. Garrett's ranking technique was used to determine the order of importance of identified barriers. Results indicate that all five management barriers investigated (i.e., management support, low motivation, resistance to change, risk avoidance behaviour, and financial resource) inhibit innovation performance in the sampled organizations. Furthermore, resistance to change, risk avoidance behaviour, and lack of management support ranked as the most significant management barriers. The study findings inform managers, senior executives, and policymakers how to reduce innovation barriers during the formulation and implementation of management strategies. The distinct characteristics of innovation barriers within Nigerian manufacturing businesses were highlighted, expanding the body of knowledge in this context.

Livelihood Status of Neem Seed Pickers and Constraints in Seed Collection and Procurement in Tamil Nadu

Aims: Neem Seeds have considerable economic significance due to a variety of commercial usages. Realising the significance of neem, the present study aimed to understand the rural households’ participation in neem seed collection and issues in collection and sales.
 Study Design: Simple random sampling method was followed. 
 Place and Duration of the Study: The present study was conducted in Tamil Nadu state covering seven districts namely Coimbatore, Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Sivagangai, Thoothukudi and Vellore. A total of 450 households who involved in neem seed collection was selected and studied. The data collected was pertaining to the year 2019-20.
 Methodology: Simple mean, percentage analysis, standard deviation and Garrett Ranking techniques were employed.
 Results: Ninety seven percent of the neem seed collectors are above 30 years. Majority of the neem seed collectors are illiterate mostly belong to the category of more than 50 years and 30 to 50 years. Agriculture based households members generally involved in neem seed collection. Majority of the neem seed collectors (61 per cent) collect neem seeds in local village itself. Around 26 per cent of the respondents visit nearby villages to collect neem seeds. To collect neem seeds, the rural households travel 4.65 km daily, with a minimum of 2.0 km and maximum of 7.0 km in a day. The constraints in seed collection are time consuming, travel long to collect seeds, less remunerative, less productive etc. The major constraints in selling include poor price offered by the traders, lack of awareness on price in other markets, lack of awareness about quality.
 Conclusion: Programmes like price support, market intervention in the form of price dissemination, market and transport infrastructure will help the rural people to fetch better price for their collected neem seeds.

An Economic Analysis on Production of Hill Banana in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu, India

This study was primarily concentrated on hill banana cultivation. The purpose of this study is to find the economics of hill banana cultivation and the problems faced by the hill banana farmers during the production of hill bananas in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. Economics of the hill banana cultivation was done by finding the cost and returns associated with the hill banana cultivation and constraints faced by the hill banana farmers with Garrett's ranking technique. Many previous research on the production of various agricultural commodities was focused on a specific area and/or a specific commodity. There was a little study on banana production and limitations in some regions in Tamil Nadu. As a result, the focus of this research will be on hill banana production in the Dindigul district. Purposive and convenience sampling technique was used in this study. Primary data were collected by the personal interview with a well-structured interview schedule. The cost and returns of hill bananas were calculated per hectare. The average cost of production of hill bananas was estimated to be ₹2.04 lakh/ha. The average gross return was ₹5.04 lakh/ha and the average net return was estimated to be ₹2.99 lakh/ha. The result of the study shows that hill banana cultivation was highly profitable and the benefit-cost ratio (BC Ratio) was more than unity (2.46). The major constraints faced by hill banana farmers in the cultivation of hill bananas were pest attack (insects) followed by disease attack, lack of labor availability, animal attack, and drought. The findings will assist policymakers in developing appropriate programs and adjusting strategies for improving hill banana production in Tamil Nadu.

CONSTRAINTS FACED DURING THE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF CABBAGE AND POTATO CROPS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MANIPUR AND NAGALAND STATES OF INDIA

The present study was carried out by purposively simple stratified random sampling technique to select 300 respondents from both the states of Manipur and Nagaland, while to highlight the constraint faced by the growers during the production and marketing of cabbage and potato crops with Garrett Ranking Technique. For the production viz.; seed, labour, manures and fertilizers, irrigation, PPCs and other issues like animals, pests and diseases, have hampered of the potato and cabbage in the selected areas. While for marketing high price of the seed, not available in time, inferior quality of seed, low reliability of the seed, high wage rates of labour, skill & unskilled labour not available in time, irrigation facility not available, perennial sources are not available and irrigation facility not reliable etc; While for the market related issues, grading by hand & mechanical means, lack of knowledge regarding packaging, packing materials, high cost of transportation, lack of market infrastructures, unauthorized & illegal tax collections, use of improper scales in weighing, lack of support prices, lack of reliable & timely availability of market information and distant market along with the lack of cooperation among the producers and frequent ban & social boycott are some of the problems and constraints encountered by the entire producers and market intermediaries in the region.

Constraints Perceived by Veterinarians of Tamil Nadu State of India in Providing Veterinary Services

Objective: To determine the constraints faced by veterinarians in rendering services to the livestock farmers.
 Study Design: Ex-post facto study design
 Methodology: Data were collected from the Veterinarians in State Department of Animal Husbandry (SDAH) of Tamil Nadu, India during the year 2019 through pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire and Garret ranking was used for analyzing the data. A total of 36 constraints were identified through focused group discussion and included in the questionnaire under different heads viz., Organizational, Job content Psychological, Institutional and Information delivery and administrative related constraints.
 Results: The results revealed that inadequacy of front line officers, arbitrary fixation of targets, less avenue for promotions, inadequate supporting staff and inadequate research extension linkages were identified as the major constraints that hinders the service delivery.
 Conclusion: this study suggested that the effectiveness of service could be further accentuated if the policy makers address the above constraints by strengthening research extension linkage, filling up of vacancies, down top approach in planning pro-poor livestock development policies with due recognition to the veterinarians.

A Study on Production and Marketing Constraints of French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Growers in Bishnupur District of Manipur

The study was conducted to analyze the production and marketing constraints of French beans in the Bishnupur district of Manipur. The primary data was collected through a personal interview technique from 100 respondent farmers. Garrett's ranking technique was used for the analysis. Higher cost of labor, pesticide and fertilizer, inadequate irrigation facilities, high seed cost, non-availability of labor, credit, and seed on time, and lack of technical guidance and credit facilities were the main constraint’s found during the production. In case of marketing constraints, price fluctuation high perishability of the produce, high transportation cost and lack of transportation and storage facilities, presence of an exploitative middleman, bandhs and strikes, untimely payment of sale, lack of price and market information, and absence of regulated markets were the major constraints. These constraints are giving huge hindrances to the farmers during the production and marketing and hence proper remedies should be imposed so that the production and marketing of this particular crop can be improved efficiently.

Adoption and compliance with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research recommended maize production practices in Ashanti region, Ghana

PurposeThere is a huge gap between actual and achievable yields of maize which threatens household food security in Ghana. Low adoption of improved maize production technologies coupled with poor compliance with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) recommended maize production practices is identified as the cause of low yields. This study assessed farmers' compliance with CSIR recommended production practices and its effects on yield.Design/methodology/approachUsing a structured questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey of 150 respondents were interviewed for the study. Descriptive statistics, awareness and compliance indices, probit model and Garret ranking technique were the methods of analysis employed in the study.FindingsThe results showed that farmers are highly aware, have adopted and hardly comply with standards of applications of CSIR recommended production practices. Farm size, age, educational level and female gender significantly influenced compliance with recommended production practices. Also, compliance with recommended production practices increase maize yield.Originality/valuePolicies aim at addressing yield gap in maize production should be targeted at improving farmers' level of compliance with production practices by addressing some constraints through farmer credit and subsidy programmes to help farmers increase their level of compliance. The fact that farmers have adopted recommended production practices does not necessarily mean they will have higher yields. The study generates important insights about how well farmers have been adhering to standards of adoption of recommended production practices.

Ranked List of Effective Measures for COVID-19 Preparation in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Garret Ranking Method Approach

In the current times of COVID -19, most healthcare providers are struggling to ensure patient safety and keep the healthcare-associated infection under check. However, various measures are adopted by tertiary care hospitals to provide safe and effective healthcare services in the current pandemic situation. However, various healthcare professionals have different perceptions about the effectiveness of the measures adopted. The current study is carried out in a tertiary care hospital of Noida city of India, where a questionnaire containing demographic data and the measures adopted in the hospital were given to twenty-seven medical professionals to rate the measures following their effectiveness in times of COVID-19. The collected responses were analysed with the help of the Henry Garret Ranking Method. The analysis of the results revealed that the top three effective measures out of all the measures adopted by the hospital included spreading awareness about modes of transmission of infection (First Rank), Creation of isolation ward in the hospital for contagious diseases (Second Rank), providing adequate care in intensive care and high dependency unit in a systematic manner (Third Rank). This study provides a ready reckoned list arranged in the ranked order for the effective measures in times of COVID-19, from medical professionals' perspectives to all the healthcare institutions who are struggling to adapt .to the COVID-19 requirements.

Consumer preferences for health insurance, in the wake of covid-19: Ranked features and customer segments

The current study is conceptualized to assess the perception of the general population towards health insurance providers and the policy features, to segment them based on their attitudes. The mixed-method design is used in this study. One fifty health insurance users response were analyzed. The data analysis technique includes focus group discussion, henry garret ranking method, factor analysis and cluster analysis. This study concludes that health insurance providers needs to devise insurance policies incorporating the features of home health, telemedicine and income protection features. The existing users should be offered customization option due to covid-19 to prevent customer switch.

Drivers of Home Healthcare Industry: Contrasting Views of Users and Providers in a Developing Country

Home healthcare fills an important void in a country's healthcare system; factors promoting home healthcare growth vary. In this study, the perceptions of the users and providers are analyzed to identify the important factors. Survey analysis was done for ten identified factors on 378 nurses and 394 patients. Responses were analyzed with Garret Ranking Method. The systematic random sampling method was used after acquiring the list of nurses working in home health organizations. The preference should be given to the user's perception as the customer is the king; it is encouraging for Indian home health providers that users are feeling they are deriving benefits from home health service usage; however, this feeling can be further enhanced by focusing on the right factors such as doctors recommendation, the rise of chronic diseases and the cost advantage associated with home health over Institutional care. Results revealed a disparity between the perceptions of the providers and users. This study suggests that home health agencies highlight features, such as cost-effective care, medical professionals' recommendation, and utility in providing relief to chronic disease patients.

Constraint’s Analysis of Sugarcane Cultivation in Sant Kabir Nagar District

The study was conducted using multistage stratified, purposive cum random sampling procedure and hundred respondents were selected from a block of district. Primary data was collected through personal interview technique and required secondary information for the reference was taken from the records available at district and block offices. Simple tabular, functional analysis using Garrett ranking method was used to cook the inferences. As per the results found and seen from the analysis, lack of technical knowledge was found as the first rank followed by labor constraints in peak time at the second position. Seeds unavailability at the third rank and irrigation facility and unavailability of finance facility were found at fourth and fifth ranks respectively. Rest all problems were found afterwards.

An economic analysis of milk production in Haryana

Dairying is an important supplementary enterprise enhancing the livelihood of farmers and hence analyzing its profitability as well as identification of production constraints paves way for policy implications. An attempt was made to determine the costs, returns and constraints involved in milk production at Karnal and Jind districts of Haryana state in 2019-20. Primary data were collected from 120 milk producing households and subjected to tabular analysis and Garrett’s ranking technique. The overall net maintenance cost per animal per day was highest in the case of crossbred, followed by buffalo and indigenous cow. The overall cost of milk production was highest for buffalo (₹40.35/litre), followed by crossbred (₹32.48/litre) and indigenous cow (₹31.88/litre). A major portion in the total variable cost was contributed by the feed and fodder, followed by labour. Net return obtained per litre of milk was positive across animal categories, but it was highest in the case of crossbred owing to higher productivity as compared to buffalo and indigenous cow. Distant location of artificial insemination centres and high price of concentrates were identified as the major production constraints faced by the farmers. The study advocates for adoption of better scientific breeding and management practices, mobile services for quality semen delivery as well as providing feeds at subsidized price channelizing through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Key words: Cost and returns, Standard animal units, Capital recovery cost, Garrett ranking

THE LEVEL OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION AND CROPPING PATTERN SHIFT IN THIRUVARUR DISTRICT OF TAMILNADU, INDIA

Crop diversification provides the farmers a wider choice in cultivation so that profit would be maximised and the risks would be minimised. Understanding the merits of the concept of crop diversification a study was undertaken to analyse the level of crop diversification and cropping pattern shift and to rank the reasons for non – adoption of crop diversification in Thiruvarur district of Tamilnadu. Thiruvarur district was considered as universe of the study. The analyses relied on both preliminary and secondary data. Simple random sampling techniques were adopted for collection of primary data. The estimated Herfindhal and Simpson indices revealed that the crop diversification was much limited in Thiruvarur district. Further the Garrett ranking analysis revealed that “Lack of awareness on the relevance of crop diversification in risk management” was the prime reason for non - adoption of crop diversification in Thiruvarur district. Needed efforts should be initiated by the relevant institutional authorities to improve the awareness among the farmers of Thiruvarur district on crop diversification and its relevance in risk mitigation and the technical know – how on cultivation of new crops should also be provided to the farmers.

Assessing labour mobility in marine fishing operations in Karnataka

Mobility of labour across the country continues as a major source of labour supply in ensuring economic development across all sectors including the primary sector. The migrant labour in search of better employment emancipates better living conditions through meaningful employment and better financial status. The coastal states of Maharashtra with commendable marine fish landings provides states with commendable marine fish landings provide ample opportunities for migrant fishing labour across the year. The migrant labors are involved in harvest and post harvest operations. The present study tries to assess the major factors leading to labour migration and its effect in the state of Karnataka state. About 100 respondents were met for a primary survey and result reveals that the migration leads to the increase in savings. Majority (57 percent) of the respondents were youth (Below 30). Most respondents completed high school levels of education. The respondents migrated from 5 different states with majority from Jharkhand (36%), Assam (23%) and Orissa (13%) to Mangalore district in Karnataka and the 54 percent respondents migrated in the year 2000. Garrett ranking method assessed the main reason and problems of migration and also used to find the effect of migration on socioeconomic status. The main reason for migration is the low income and the major difficulty during migration was the difficulty in language. The major achievement of the migrant labour had been the quality education provided to their children.

Constraints to adoption of soil and water conservation technologies: Some insights from semi-arid region of Karnataka

In Karnataka state, land degradation, climate change and its variability are the major threats to agricultural sustainability. Under such conditions, the adoption of soil and water conservation measures is of prime importance due to their multiple synergetic positive effects on natural resources. The main objective of the study is to identify the constraints and problems in adoption and repair and maintenance of soil and water conservation measures in the drought prone areas of Karnataka State. Following multistage proportionate simple random sampling, primary data from 593 farmers were collected for this study. Garrett's ranking technique was used to prioritize the farmers’ response on constraints. It was found that major constraints in adoption of soil and water conservation measures were waiting for watershed programme on their fields, lack technical support and lack of interest of land owners. Major constraints in repair and maintenance of soil and water conservation measures were lack of technical support, non-utilization of watershed fund and fragmented land holdings. Involvement in multiple schemes, merging of watershed department with agriculture department, short window for implementation, difficult in community mobilization, mismatch between the fund requirement and its release, lack of convergence of resources from different schemes and shortage of technical resource persons were identified as major problems faced by watershed implementation agencies in the State. Therefore, concerted efforts are need to be made to overcome these constraints for an effective and efficient implementation of soil and water conservation programmes.

Contract farming: A constraint study using garrett ranking technique

Identification of problem is of great important for any decision making process. This study discussed about the constraints faced by contract farmers as well as the sponsors using Garrett ranking and its calculation technique. This is an effective method as it prioritizes the problems for decision maker in identifying the significant problems. The result of the present discussion showed that susceptibility to pest and disease is the main constraints faced by the farmers and dependent on seed firm for providing raw materials is the least. Most prominent constraints faced by the sponsors are fixing the contract price of the product due to fluctuation of price in the market. Government has to make necessary reforms to make the environment favourable for sponsors as well as farmers to involve in contract farming in order to overall economic development of the society.

Factors that Needs Improvement in Participatory Budgeting Projects to Achieve Community Development Goals in Port Loko District and City Council

The purpose of the study is to find out and recommend the factors that need improvement in the future implementation of participatory budgeting in Port Loko District and City Council in order to achieve community development goals. As our study is based on primary data, we collected 420 questionnaires to analyse our findings. A lot of factors were identified and analysed using Garret Ranking Techniques.

Perceptions and Adaptation Strategies to Changing Climate: Evidence from Farmers of Northern Dry Zone of Karnataka

This study elicits and understands farmers’ perceptions and indigenous adaptation strategies to mitigate climatic variability in northern dry zone of Karnataka. Pre-tested and structured interview schedule was used to collect data from the farmers using multi-stage random sampling technique. Statistical tool like Garret ranking technique was employed to identify and rank various adaptation strategies practiced by farmers towards changing climate. Results revealed that farmers experienced varying climatic condition in terms of decreasing and unpredictable rainfall, increase in temperature in recent years and frequent failure of monsoon. Climatic variability affected farming in terms of declining crop yields, frequent crop failure, sinking water level in bore wells and open wells and increased emergence of new pest and diseases. Farmers manifested resilience against changing climate by adopting combination of indigenous and modern scientific adaptation strategies such as crop diversification, mixed farming, water conservation structures, changing planting dates, seeking off-farm employment and adopting drought and heat tolerant varieties. Main barriers to adaptation were lack of knowledge about climate change, lack of timely availability of weather information and farm inputs. To enhance access and timely dissemination of weather forecasts information, timely availability of farm inputs and crop insurance mechanisms will have the scope to enhance farmers’ resilience to changing climate and adaptation.

Constraints in Utilization of Market Led Extension Practices by the Farmers

Market led extension is the market orientation of agriculture through extension, with a blend of economics, which aids in reaching the doorsteps of the farming community with the help of appropriate technologies. The present study was conducted with the objective of analyzing the constraints faced by the farmers in utilization of market led extension practices in grape, arecanut and maize crops. Ex-post-facto research design was used for carrying out the study. The study was conducted considering Uttara Kannada district for arecanut, Bagalkot and Vijayapura districts for grapes and Belagavi and Haveri districts for maize. The sample for the study was 240. The Garrett ranking technique was used to rank and analyze the constraints in utilization of market led extension practices as expressed by the farmers. The primary production constraint in all three crops was the higher cost of labour. Existence of numerous middlemen in the value chain was major marketing constraint in grapes, unstable market prices was major marketing constraint in arecanut and inadequate storage facilities which lead to distress sale was major marketing constraint in maize. The significant extension constraint was found to be lack of follow up activities by extension personnel in grapes and maize where as lack of credibility of online channels was significant extension constraint faced by arecanut growers.