State Department Of Agriculture Research Articles

TRAINING NEED ASSESSMENT OF AGRI-INPUT DEALERS

In India, research and extension are two crucial components of agricultural growth. To achieve continuous expansion in agriculture, an effective extension system can quickly disseminate farm technology throughout farming communities. Agricultural input dealers play a significant role in the production and sale of agricultural products in addition to the extension services provided to farmers by the state Department of Agriculture and other organizations. Due to their easy accessibility in rural regions, they build a solid connection and help to enhance the agricultural extension system by offering the farming community useful services in a way that disseminates technology. Therefore, it is crucial that they take refresher training courses to provide themselves with the most recent agricultural expertise and information. Hence keeping this in mind, the present investigation was conducted in Jorhat, Golaghat, Morigaon and Udalguri districts of Assam during 2021-22 to ascertain training needs of agro-input dealers. A total 120 numbers of Agri-input dealers were selected as respondents by proportionate allocation method from each of the four districts. Data were collected by using pretested structured interview schedule. The needs assessment were done in the training areas viz., manures and fertilizers , pesticides, seeds, farm machineries, computer application and record keeping with three point continuum of 'much needed', 'needed' and 'not needed' having the value of 3,2 and 1 respectively. The data were analyzed with the help of proper statistical techniques and it was revealed that 96.66 percent of the respondents require training on integrated nutrient management practices, 70 percent have much need for pest protection of stored seeds, training on certification techniques of seeds (76.66 %), latest farm implements and machinery (78.06 %) and 75.97 percent have much need for training on record keeping software. A few characteristics of the dealers like age, experience in dealership, input supply and annual income have significantly negative relationship with their training needs.

An Analytical Study on Growth Performance of Major Food Grain and Oilseed Crops in Context of Food Security: Rajasthan, India

Background: Productivity, as a source of growth has been a significant premise of analytical investigation in economics all along, however it gained an empirical momentum in the recent years only and has become a necessary index to growth. Present paper estimates growth rate of area, production and productivity of food grain and oilseed crops in Rajasthan. Methods: To analyse growth performance of food grain and oilseed crops Rajasthan time series, data on area, production and yield were collected from 1976-77 to 2018-19. The time-series data were collected on area, production and yield of selected crops from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), Directorate of Agriculture (DOA) and Rajasthan State Agriculture Department. The compound growth rates (CGRs) of area, production and productivity of selected crops in Rajasthan were calculated using the exponential function. Result: The study revealed that production, productivity and area of total food grains was recorded a positive and highly significant annual growth at the rate of 3.18%, 2.19% 0.63% per annum, respectively. The production, productivity and area of total oilseed was observed a positive and highly significant annual growth rate of 7.63%, 2.07% and 4.27% per annum, respectively. The area under barley, gram and sesamum reduced during the study period. Therefore, the technological support through the varietal improvement and extension support is required.

Status and trends of biological control research, extension, and education in the United States

Abstract The number of public-sector biological control scientists and practitioners in the United States was determined by a survey conducted in 2019. A total of 344 personnel were identified in 49 states and Washington DC; 218 employed by universities, 86 by the federal government and 36 by state departments of agriculture. There were 10-34 personnel in eight states, 6-9 in 11, and 0-5 in 31, overall averaging less than 50% of their combined effort on biological control. Applications for biological control agents included about 30% for row crops and vegetables; 12% each for orchards, urban landscapes, outdoor ornamentals, and forests; and 22% for the remainder. The federal government provided an average of 42% of the funding for university, federal, and state biological control research and extension. The states contributed 29-35%, commodity groups supplied 19-24%, and the remaining funds were from private sources. Of 54 universities in the United States, 18 conducted in-person classroom education and training in biological control, with seven offering courses via distance. However, another 18 universities had discontinued their comprehensive courses. Biological control instruction was incorporated into courses and workshops on integrated pest management and sustainable agriculture at 50 universities. Correspondingly, during the past 24 years, biological control has gradually developed from primarily an independent discipline to increasingly being part of integrated pest management. Classical, augmentative and conservation biological control have nevertheless remained distinguishable high priority subdisciplines. Funding continues to be essential for advancing biological control, requiring societal understanding and acceptance. Advancement of biological control in the United States will require increased investment in personnel and their education and training, along with delivery of effective pest management technologies.

Responding to outbreaks of illness linked to unpasteurized milk: A needs assessment of state health and agriculture departments.

Consumption of unpasteurized milk can result in severe illness or death. In the United States, the number of people who regularly consume unpasteurized milk is relatively low, but outbreaks resulting from unpasteurized milk outnumber outbreaks linked to pasteurized milk. The sale of unpasteurized milk for human consumption through interstate commerce is prohibited at the federal level, but laws among states vary considerably with respect to the sale of unpasteurized milk. Each state has a different perspective on responding to and preventing outbreaks of illness linked to consuming unpasteurized milk. We conducted a needs assessment of state health and agriculture departments to gather information on state-level strategies to prevent illnesses linked to consuming unpasteurized milk, characterize challenges states face, and identify areas where partners can support state efforts to prevent illnesses. We deployed a survey from 6 January 2021 to 1 March 2021, using a snowball sampling strategy and had 158 respondents. Of 115 respondents, 46 (40%) believed that state laws were ineffective in preventing illnesses, and 92 (80%) agreed that consumers continue to find ways to get unpasteurized milk despite laws restricting sale. Respondents from 19 states were aware of future legislative or regulatory efforts surrounding unpasteurized milk in their state, with 14 (74%) indicating these efforts would expand consumer access. The most common outbreak prevention strategies respondents mentioned included sharing knowledge and experiences with other public health and agriculture officials, providing information to inform legislative efforts, and communicating to the public about outbreaks. Most respondents (41/50, 91%) were interested in pursuing further efforts to prevent unpasteurized milk-associated illnesses in their state. The results from this needs assessment can be used to inform future strategies for preventing illness outbreaks associated with unpasteurized milk consumption.

Integrated Pest Management Technology in Cotton in Parbhani District of Maharashtra State: An Economic Analysis

The present investigation pertinent to this study was conducted in Manwat and Parbhani tahasil of Parbhani district. For the present study 70 cotton growers who follows IPM technology were selected in consultation with KVK subject matter specialists, Officials of State Agriculture department and Extension Agronomists. Further the sample of 70 farmers were divided into three categories viz., Low adopters, medium adopters, high adopters, based on their levels of adoption. To assess extent of adoption of various IPM technology of cotton the concept of TAI was used According to the study, only 17.14 per cent respondents were high level of IPM technology adopters, 14.28 per cent have adopted IPM at low level while highest i.e. 68.57 per cent farmers had adopted IPM technology at medium level.

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on vegetable growers of Maharashtra

The world is struggling to fight the pandemic, the COVID-19 and the following lockdown has affected all walks of lives. Importantly, the farming community is the major victim of this. The present study was conducted purposively in the Rahuri and Ahmednagar tahasils of Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra State with the objectives to study the profile of the vegetable growers, to assess the effect of the COVID -19 pandemic on Marketing of vegetables, to document the constraints faced and suggestions offered by vegetable growers for future strategies. The five villages from each tahsils and nine respondents from each village thus total 90 respondents i.e. 45 farmers from Rahuri tahsil and 45 farmers from Ahmednagar tahsil were selected for the study purposively. The findings concluded that, to face the pandemic situation in future like COVID-19 and to motivate vegetable growers Government should focus on vegetable growers for adoption of sustainable and natural resources like zero energy cool chambers (79%), organizing massive public awareness and trainings campaign to popularizing the Farmer Producer Organizations and e-agriculture platforms for vegetable production and marketing (93%), utilize the services of Agro-Input dealers to enhancing more participation of the farmers and to create the Producers to Consumer marketing system (91%) and providing inputs and financial support by the Govt. (79%) is highly needed . The research study recommended that the State Department of Agriculture, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Agricultural Universities and Agricultural Inputs Dealers jointly conduct a comprehensive public awareness and training campaign on zero energy cool chamber, Farmer Producer Organizations, e-agriculture platforms and Producers to Consumer marketing system to strengthen the agricultural extension system through Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

FLDs on need based plant protection in oilseeds: impact in enhancing productivityand profitability under farmers' conditions

Frontline demonstrations in oilseed crops were conducted on farmers' fields in different agro-ecological situations on need based plant protection during 2015-16 to 2021-22 to show the productivity potential and profitability of Improved Technologies (IT). The results indicated that, the IT plots recorded higher mean seed yield, gross returns, additional net returns and B:C ratio than the farmers' practice plots indicating the technical and economic feasibility of IT. To speed up the dissemination of plant protection technologies and scale-up the demonstrations, partnerships between extension agencies, state departments of agriculture and input agencies, must be established.

Understanding agricultural grower’s information seeking: An analysis of Internet sources

Information is indispensable for the sustainability and growth of every type of business. Farmers are also among those who cannot survive without the proper acquisition and application of Information. However, very few studies have considered the farmer’s need for and the seeking of information which is why to fill this gap, the study looked into the information sources used by farm growers to get the required information, the influence of land size on the utilization of information sources, and how different characteristics related to sources and individuals influence attitude toward the usage of internet sources and provided a model that takes into consideration crucial factors and their influence on attitude toward searching for information from Internet sources. Data were acquired from 400 farmers using a multistage stratified disproportionate sampling procedure and a standardized questionnaire. For evaluating the given data, various analysis techniques were utilized such as Descriptive statistics, Correlation analysis, One-way ANOVA, Factor analysis, and Multiple regression Analysis. The data were evaluated by using SPSS version 25. Farmers, according to the findings, mostly rely on other farmers and input dealers, and mass media sources of information like radio, television, magazines, and newspapers, to acquire information associated with agricultural activities. They commonly utilize mobile social media apps when surfing the internet. Furthermore, the findings discovered that there is a significant difference in the usage of various sources of information, including television, radio, newspapers/magazines, other farmers, input dealers, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Krishi melas, the state department of agriculture, state agriculture universities, and the Internet on mobile phones-social media applications, depending on the farmers’ farm size. The findings also revealed that the factors that were significantly positively associated with farmers’ attitudes about internet use were, perceived usefulness, ease of use, information quality, facilitating conditions, and social influence. The technology Acceptance Model was used as the foundation for the research framework. By examining past research, the study has discovered additional factors that may influence technology adoption in addition to the two main components of the Technology Acceptance Model, namely perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. The proposed model may assist information providers in their attempts to lessen and overcome barriers to farmers’ usage of technology. When building effective extension and dissemination programs, the preferred information-gathering modalities of a certain group of farmers should be considered. Intervention techniques must take into account the wide range of information that needs to be seen in farming communities. As a result, information providers must provide context-specific information through the sources that farmers prefer, while also considering the factors that influence their adoption and overcoming those barriers that prohibit farmers from using such sources. The study categorized farmers into four categories based on land size, which would assist information providers in acquiring a thorough grasp of each category of farmer and in developing separate and unique strategies for each type of farmer.

Job performance of women extension personnel of state agriculture department

Job performance of women extension personnel of state agriculture department

Effectiveness of different Extension Methods in Transfer of Green Technologies for Agriculture: A Conceptual Framework

The present study was conducted in Trichy and Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. From each district two blocks were selected. The total sample size of 240 were selected for the present investigation. More than half (59.58%) of the respondents perceived that farm and home visit by NGO as the most effective method in transferring the green technology. It was clear that more than half (53.33%) of the respondents reported that farm and home visit as the most effective method in individual contact method in transfer of green technology by KVK. It was ostensible that 62.08 per cent of the farmers reported that farm and home visit as the most effective method in the category of individual contact method in transfer of green technology by State Department of Agriculture. It could be observed that F= 37.22 is significant at one per cent level of probability. It indicates that there is significant difference in effectiveness among the NGO’s, KVK’s and State Department. KVK’s (53.54) had a highest mean value.

Seed-use behaviour of castor growers in Andhra Pradesh

The seed-use behaviour of castor growers in Andhra Pradesh was assessed through the response of 192 randomly selected castor growers in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh in 2010. In order to understand the productivity potentials and profitability of castor cultivars as vital information necessary for interpreting the seed-use behaviour, secondary data pertaining to frontline demonstrations (FLDs) in castor for the period from 1997-98 to 2008-09 was analysed. Similarly, to understand the operational cost of castor cultivation (` /ha) and output price of castor (` /q) in Andhra Pradesh as support information, secondary data of FLDs in castor for the period from 1994-95 to 2007-08 were analysed. These analyses revealed that all the castor growers purchase seeds every year. Better performance of the improved cultivars over the locals was the reason for annual seed-purchase behaviour exhibited by all respondents. Peer group, input dealers, extension personnel of State Department of Agriculture (SDA) and progressive farmers were the information source for seed-purchase. Yield, seed weight and extent of seed filling were the major criteria for choosing the improved castor cultivars. Input dealers and SDA were the major sources of seed purchase. The seed source was selected based on the accessibility of the source, timely availability of seeds, credibility of the source and adequacy of information about the improved cultivars. GCH-4 and Kranthi were the major castor cultivars used by the castor growers. Susceptibility of the improved cultivars to pest and diseases, lack of guarantee about the performance of the cultivars at the time of seed purchase, lack of awareness about the new cultivars and costliness of the seeds of improved cultivars were the major constraints perceived in use of purchased seeds. Implicative strategies were suggested, based on the results of the study to improve the seed-use behaviour of castor growers in Andhra Pradesh.

Performance Effectiveness Index of Technology Dissemination System of State Departments of Agriculture in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh

Technology dissemination to the farming community and evaluation of adopted technologies among the farming community are the ultimate goals of Agriculture Departments working at the state level. Considering the utmost importance of the State Departments of Agriculture (SDA) in terms of technology dissemination, a research was carried out to develop the Performance Effectiveness Index (PEI) of the State Departments of Agriculture (SDA) with respect to technology dissemination system in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.With this objective, a survey was conducted among extension personnel from Kerala and Andhra Pradesh with a total of 200 respondents, comprising 100 respondents from each of the states Kerala and Andhra Pradesh to rate the statements about Performance Effectiveness Index (PEI) of technology dissemination system. The data collected through a structured questionnaire were analysed using the framework devised to measure the Performance Effectiveness Index (PEI) of technology dissemination system. The framework comprises the three indices namely: Human Performance Effectiveness Index (HPEI), Technology Dissemination System Effectiveness Index (TDSEI) and Organisational Effectiveness Index (OEI). The study also depicted the comparative analysis of Performance Effectiveness Index (PEI) among Kerala and Andhra Pradesh states using parametric standard normal deviate test. Results revealed that, nearly half (45%) of the Kerala respondents and more than half (52%) of the Andhra Pradesh respondents perceived that the Performance Effectiveness Index (PEI) of SDA was medium and comparative analysis of PEI among the states showed that, there was significant difference between Kerala and Andhra Pradesh states with respect to technology dissemination systems of SDA. In order to improve the PEI of technology dissemination systems of SDA, the SDA should act on effective management strategies to enhance the individual competencies and refine the technology dissemination methods with the best possible organisational support at the farmer level. The study also suggested that, regular capacity building programmes and timely performance assessment with appropriate tools could upgrade the performance of extension personnel in developing farming communities through best suitable extension services.

Constraints Experienced by Extension Professionals in using Technology Dissemination System of State Department of Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh

Extension Professionals were the grass root level workers who worked directly with the farmers implementing the development activities. Competency and satisfaction of extension Professionals on their job makes all the difference in smooth functioning of the development initiatives. However, there are constraints experienced by extension professionals in using technology dissemination systems of State Department of Agriculture (SDA) which needs to be studied for effective implementation of the programmes and schemes of State Department of Agriculture. Hence, A survey was conducted among Andhra Pradesh extension professionals, with the sample size of 100 respondents who were actively involved in the fields of State Department of Agriculture through simple random sampling. The constraints were ranked based on the mean scores and also categorized the constraints based on their relative importance. Results showed that the major constraint faced by Andhra Pradesh extension professionals was technical and infrastructure problems associated with the SDA was the most important and first ranked constraint among fourteen constraints. Lack of training to employees on technology dissemination methods, accessibility to the ICT tools, uncontrollable changes in technology delivery methods, availability of required inputs to conduct demonstrations and lack of awareness on new approaches of technology dissemination were other most important constraints. In order to overcome these constraints so as to enhance the capability of extension professionals in utilizing technology dissemination systems of SDA, extension professionals expressed that, the vacant posts in the Department should be filled regularly to reduce the overburden on existing extension professionals as a most important suggestion with regular and relevant training programmes on latest technology dissemination methods for successful implementation of the extension delivery system.

Mpact of KVK Interventions in Enhancing Knowledge Level of Pulse Growers on Yield Maximizing Technologies in Tiruchirappalli District of Tamil Nadu

In India, Pulses are considered as poor man’s protein. Pulses contain higher levels of protein compared to any other grains and vegetables. The net availability of pulses has come down from 60 gm/day/person in 1951 to 53 gm/day/person in 2017. Therefore, the present study was attempted to assess the knowledge level of farmers in Tiruchirappalli district with regard to yield maximising pulse technologies which in turn enhance the production and productivity of pulses. A total of 200 farmers @ 50 farmers per category of pulse crop were surveyed for the study using simple random sampling technique and purposive sampling. Percentage analysis and knowledge gap index was used to compute the data. It is clearly evident that through KVK interventions like Trainings have resulted in a horizontal spread of 108 ha area under various pulses cultivation followed by farmer participatory seed production through NFSM seed hub (92 ha) and On Farm Trials, Frontline demonstrations and Field days (76 ha). The pulse growing farmers gained knowledge on recommended TNAU newly released short duration, drought tolerant varieties of red gram (CO (Rg) 7), green gram (CO (Gg) 8), black gram (VBN 6, VBN 8 & MDU 1) and horse gram (Paiyur 2) varieties, seed rate, seed treatment with bio fertilizers, mechanized sowing behind seed drill, pre and post emergence application of weedicides, TNAU pulse wonder foliar spray, DAP foliar spray and seed treatment for storage through various KVK interventions. There existed a medium knowledge gap index irrespective of pulses grown among the farmers of Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu mainly due to interventions of KVK like OFT, FLDs, CFLDs, trainings and mass awareness programmes. There is a need to enhance the knowledge of pulse growers on pest and disease management practices and other yield maximising technologies, through joint efforts with State Department of Agriculture, NGOs and through FPO linkages.

Attitude of Extension Personnel towards Technology Dissemination System of State Departments of Agriculture in Southern India

The main purpose of the study was to ascertain the attitude of extension personnel towards technology dissemination system of State Departments of Agriculture (SDA) in Southern India. The study was conducted in two highly diversified south Indian states, namely Kerala and Andhra Pradesh with a total of 200 respondents, comprising 100 respondents from each of the states Kerala and Andhra Pradesh to rate the statements on attitude towards technology dissemination systems of SDA. The data collected through a pre- tested interview schedule wherein an attitude scale was developed and administered the scale to the respondents. The study also depicted the comparative analysis of attitude towards technology dissemination system of SDA among Kerala and Andhra Pradesh extension personnel using parametric standard normal deviate test. It was found that more than half of the respondents (55%) belonged to moderately favourable category followed by unfavourable category (25%) and highly favourable category (20%) respectively with respect to Kerala. With respect to ‘Andhra Pradesh extension personnel’ distribution, exactly half of the respondents (50%) belonged to moderately favourable category followed by highly favourable category (27%) and un favourable category (23%) respectively and comparative analysis of attitude among the states showed that, there was significant difference between Kerala and Andhra Pradesh states with respect to their attitude towards technology dissemination systems of SDA. Therefore, understanding extension workers’ attitudes towards the use of technology dissemination methods of SDA is important. The moderately favourable attitude would convert highly favourable attitude towards technology dissemination system of SDA in both the states with regular capacity building programmes to the extension personnel on technology dissemination methodologies.

Job Performance and Participation of Subject Matter Specialists in Extension Activities of KVK’s

Although Indian agriculture started journey towards mechanized farming from last few decades but the change is very slow and noticed in few pockets of country. The modernized agriculture largely depends upon development and dissemination of technology. The State Department of Agriculture, SAU’s, NGO’s and Krishi Vigyan Kendra are the main extension agencies working towards the transfer of technology. The Subject Matter Specialists playing vital role in generating knowledge, testing the technology and communicating the same towards the farming community as well as the extension functionaries. The present investigation was undertaken to access the job performance and participation of SMSs in diff erent extension activities working in eight Krishi Vigyan Kendra of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra State. Forty-Eight SMSs working in the KVKs were selected purposively and interviewed with a structural interview schedule. The fi ndings revealed that larger proportion (89.58%) of the SMSs were observed under good job performance category, while none of the SMS’s were noticed with poor and below average job performance category. Organization of training’s, frontline demonstrations, management & supporting activities were noticed as the main areas in the job performed by the SMS’s. Almost all the SMS’s using diff erent extension activities for dissemination of technology towards the farming community, 1058 fi eld visit, 686 diagnostic fi eld visits were made, while 152 FLD, 140 OFT were organized, 476 guest lectures were delivered, 183 radio talks were broadcast and 429 extension publication were brought out all the SMS’s working in the studied area during the period of one year

Biodiversity Conservation of National Parks and Nature-Protected Areas in West Africa: The Case of Kainji National Park, Nigeria

Due to rising global warming and climate change, biodiversity protection has become a critical ecological concern. Rich biodiversity zones are under threat and are deteriorating, necessitating national, regional, and provincial efforts to safeguard these natural areas. The effective conservation of national parks and nature-protected areas help to improve biodiversity conservation, forest, and urban air quality. The continuous encroachment and abuse of these protected areas have degraded the ecosystem over time. While exploring the geophysical ecology and biodiversity conservation of these areas in West Africa, Kainji National Park was selected for this study because of its notable location, naturalness, rich habitat diversity, topographic uniqueness, and landmass. The conservation of national parks and nature-protected areas is a cornerstone of biodiversity conservation globally. This study is aimed at the target United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 13, 2030—Climate Action targeted at taking urgent action towards combating climate change and its impacts. The study captures both flora and fauna that are dominant in the study area. The 15 identified tree species were selected from over 30 species with 563,500,000 (an average of 3,700,000 in each sample frame) trees for every tree species/type with a total of 63% tree green canopy cover. The study areas divided into three zones were randomly sampled within a stratum of 25 × 25 km frames divided into 150 sample frames for proper analyses using the i-Tree Eco v6.0.25. It is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service peer-reviewed application (software) designed which includes tools for urban and rural forestry study and benefits evaluations. The following microclimatic data were captured and analyzed photosynthetically active radiation, rain/precipitation, temperature, transpiration, evaporation, water intercepted by trees, runoff avoided by trees, potential evaporation by trees, and isoprene and monoterpene by trees. This study also further discusses the tree benefits of a green, low carbon, and sustainable environment within the context of biodiversity conservation, considering carbon storage, carbon sequestration, hydrology effects, pollution removal, oxygen production, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). There is a quick need for remotely-sensed information about the national parks, protected areas and nature reserves at regular intervals, and government policies must be strict against illegal poaching, logging activities, and other hazardous human impacts.

A geospatial analysis of healthy food resource access to combat obesity in endometrial cancer survivors living in the deep south: Is it equitable?

e18507 Background: Obesity is a known risk factor for primary endometrial cancer. Several reports demonstrate a higher rate of mortality and shortened life span in obese patients with endometrial cancer, attributable at least in part to obesity-related comorbidities. This study examined endometrial cancer survivors’ access to healthy food resources recommended by ASCO and the Commission on Cancer (CoC) survivorship guidelines to combat obesity. Methods: Participants included women seen between 2015 – 2020 at an academic medical center in the Deep South for treatment of endometrial cancer who lived in South Carolina. Demographic and comorbidity data were abstracted from medical records. A socioeconomic status (SES) score (SES-1 = low, SES 5 = high) was generated for each patient using census block-group-level data. Food desert data were obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). A social vulnerability index (SVI) was assigned to each patient using data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to evaluate the negative effects of neighborhood external stresses on human health. SVI is a composite of 15 factors including socioeconomic status, household composition and disability, and minority status and language. Food resources were obtained from a publicly available database. Geospatial techniques assessed patient geospatial access (driving distance, i.e., recommended resource access of ̃½-mile radius in an urban area, 10-mile radius in a rural area around a patient’s home) to healthy food resources in relation to patient’s sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Of the 712 endometrial cancer survivors included in the analysis, 23% identified as African American and 29% lived in the lowest SES census block-groups (SES-1 and SES-2). More than half of the patients had low grade cancer; more than two-thirds had Stage I or Stage II disease. The mean BMI for African Americans was 41 and 37 for Caucasian Americans. Forty percent of survivors lived in a food desert. Survivors living in a food desert with low SES (SES-1 and SES-2) had significantly higher social vulnerability (p = 0.0001), higher poverty rates (p = 0.0001), and lower median income (p = 0.0001). The average driving distance was 0.1 miles (range 0.017 – 12.0 miles) with those in lower SES (SES-1 and SES-2) and those living in a food desert driving further (p = 0.05). Conclusions: Obesity rates were high among endometrial cancer patients living in the Deep South. Endometrial cancer survivors with higher social vulnerability and lower income were more likely to live in food deserts. Oncologic providers of survivorship care must understand healthy food resource access and patient SES to help women with a history of endometrial cancer fulfill ASCO and CoC recommended guidelines targeting obesity. Survivorship programs should be focused on meeting these social needs for holistic care.

Scale to Measure Performance of Extension Personnel in Promoting Sustainable Dry Farming

The scale was developed to measure the performance level of extension personnel in promoting sustainable dry farming in central dry zone of Karnataka. Dry farming areas are the areas which receives an annual rainfall of 750 mm or less than that and there is no irrigation facility for raising crops. Dry farming is the scientific management of soil and crops under dry lands without irrigation. In total 38 statements were framed in scale with review of literature, experts’ suggestion and the role & responsibilities prescribed by State Department of Agriculture, Karnataka to their staff. The edited statements in form of questionnaires were sent to 109 judges to rate the relevancy of statements with the help of online platform ‘Google Forms’. Out of 109, 21 completely filled questionnaires were received in the span of 3 months with many reminders through mail and phone calls. In total 20 statements were selected out of 38 which were having mean relevancy score more than 4.00 and relevancy percentage more than 80. Then t-test has been administered for item analysis and all the 20 selected statements were found to have t-value more than the standard value i.e., 1.75 and hence all 20 statements were retained to the final scale. The r-value was found to be 0.78 and hence the scale was found to be reliable and valid to use in future for the similar investigations.

The Honey Pond and the Flapjack Tree

AbstractThis article analyzes and compares the vision for the future of agriculture presented at two Depression-era world fairs—the 1933 Chicago World's Fair and the 1940 American Negro Exposition—to highlight double standards in agricultural policy. An examination of correspondence, federal records, promotional materials, photographs, and news articles related to the two fairs reveals that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) envisioned a subordinate and ancillary role for African Americans in its vision of industrial agriculture. The exhibits at both fairs embodied the perspective that informed the USDA's unequal approach to lending and administering federal farm programs, an approach that endures in similar ways today.