Indian Journal of Extension Education
Vol. 42, No. 1 & 2, 2006 (1-7)
Assessment of Recommended Water Management Technologies
Souvik Ghosh, Dinesh Chandra and P.Nanda
ABST RACT
This study was undertaken to assess the water management technologies from farmers perspective, in the state of West Bengal and Orissa. The data were collected from 150 farmers through interview schedules. The investigation showed that farmers perceived most of the technologies as appropriate, but doubted their adoptability due to various socio-economic and technological constraints.
Agro-technologies inclusive of water management technologies generated so far have been readily accepted by the resource-rich farmers and in resource rich areas but the vast complex, diverse and risk prone (CDR) areas i.e. rainfed agriculture encompassing millions of small and marginal fanners are left outside the realm of technological development (Das, 1996). Recommendations have been made to find solutions to many problems relating to water management in agriculture and efforts have been made to transfer the technology to the fanners. However, a large number of recommended technologies do not find favour with the farmers. They are either being adopted in piece-meal or not at all (Singh and Gill, 1993; Singh and Schiere, 1994; Singh, 1996). To take the benefits of scientific recommendations to the millions of small and marginal faimers it is required to look at technology more from the point of view of appropriateness and overall feasibility (Chambers and Jiggins, 1986; Osten, 1989; Bernadas, 1991). Inspite of being the most fundamental stakeholder, the fai mers often receive the least attention during any impact/ assessment study (Chambers, 1998). Therefore, to draw the insights of technological interventions for agricultural water management a study was undertaken to assess the technologies from the farmers' perspectives.
Indian Journal of Extension Education
42, No. 1 & Z 2006 (8-13)
Field level Utilization Of Microirrigation Technology in Coconut
C. Thanaban1, J. Vasanthakumar2 and S. Arulraj3
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted among the farmers of Kasaragod District in Kerala state with the objective to analyse the utilization of recommended practices for the effective implementation of microirrigation technology in coconut farming. The study was conducted with an ex-post--facto research design among 200 adopters of microirrigation technology engaged in coconut farming. An adoption index was developed for analyzing the extent of adoption of recommended practices of microirrigation technology in coconut farming. The results showed that about one-fifth of the farmers were belonging to the low adoption category. Items, viz., type of filter used, type of emitter used and ensuring field uniformity had higher levels of adoption. None of the farmers adopted the fertigation in their drip irrigation unit. Volume of water applied per palm per day, placement of dripping point and root zone area wetted were the other items which had low adoption scores. It was revealed that variables viz., faun size, annual income, scientific orientation and extension contact had significant and positive relationship with extent of adoption. The results of the study revealed the urgent need to plan and implement appropriate educational efforts for enhancing the adoption of recommended practices by the coconut farmers who had already implemented the technology in their orchards.
Future water shortages and emerging environmental concerns place microirrigation in the forefront of technological alternatives for the sustainable development of agicultural sector. According to Annan. (2002), in order to save two thirds of the world's population from facing serious water shortages in the decades ahead, leakage and wastage of water must be reduced, especially in agriculture by following the approach, what he termed as, 'more crop per drop'. Coconut is the most important crop cultivated in Kerala Stme, which plays a vital role in the agrarian economy of the State. However, the productivity level remained low in the State compared to many other states of India. Lack of inigation is one of the major reasons attributed to the low level of productivity of coconut in Kerala State (Rajagopal et al., 2001). Scarcity of irrigation water is also considered as one of the major constraints in resource use management in coconut farming in Kerala. The northern parts of the State receive 75 per cent of the rainfall during the period from June to August. A prolonged duration of summer results in moisture stress which adversely affects the crop productivity. Farmers became aware of the microirrigation technology for coconut during the early 1980's and consequently many coconut growers have installed microirrigation system in their gardens. Government also implemented programmes that encouraged farmers to adopt water conserving microirrigation technology by providing
Indian Journal of Extension Education
Vol. 42, No. I & 2, 2006 (14-19)
Motivational Profile of Agriculture University Scientists
B. U. Dupare1 and B. P. Sinha2
ABSTRACT
The study was undertaken to investigate the motivational profile of scientists of Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, situated in Maharashtra. The data on motivational profile were collected through Thematic Apperception Test from 47 scientists. The study revealed that the university scientists irrespective of their status as a project leader on associate had a similar motivational profile with expressed need for infleunce and achievement for self and relatively much less concern for social achievement. The study showed the need for enhanced the motivational level with regard to social action.
Research is a creative activity, which needs an atmosphere that provides freedom, challenges and motivation. (Singh et at, 2002). Motivation is a goal directed and need satisfying behavior. It plays a vital role in life. Motive sets an individual into action. It energizes individual to strive and accomplish something remarkable or to do his best in excelling others in any task performance. In the condition of limited resources as in case of developing economies like India and more so in case of State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), where resources and rewards are always limited, persons with higher need for achievement tend to aggressively compete with each other. This creates competitive behavior especially among managers and in turn tends to promote work climate of mistrust and negative images. Keeping this in view, the present study was conducted with the specific objectives of the studying the motivational profile of agricultural researchers who are working in the institutional research projects of SAU either as a project leaders or in the capacity of associates.
Indian Journal of Extension Education
Vol. 42, No. 1 & 2, 2006 (20-24)
Information Need of Farm Women of Iran
Ahmad Rezvanfar l, Hommauon Moradnezhai 2 and Ms. Marjan3
Abstract
This Study investigates the information needs and information seeking behaviour of farm women in Ilam state of Iran. The study was carried out in the rural communities of Shirvan-chardavol district of the state. To study, a sample of 125 farm women were selected using cluster sampling technique. Results show that the information needs of farm women in study area are mostly occupation directed. Their main important sources of information include friends, husband, neighbors and other native sources. The study recommends that the farm women in Ilam state urgently need the formal system of information provision like the services of extension personal and agricultural information officers.
Farm women in Hain State of Iran play an important role in managing different kinds of farm and home affairs. Jamshidi (2004) reported, about 60 percent of women in farm families involved in rice production and related activities in Ilam State. About 90 percent and 86 percent engaged in grain production and dairy farming. So it shows that women not only involved in home activities, but also play a significant role in farm production. Fatin women take decisions in their day-to-day lives that many affect them. In talking decisions, however, farm women are greatly aided by the amount of information available to them about their felt needs. So that, training and dissemination of information to farm women will be a critical input for the modernizing of farm production and home management in rural areas (World Bank, 1992). Keeping the role of farm women in mind, there is a need for training farm women regarding to necessary technologies, so that they can perform those activities with more competences. Meanwhile, a pit-requisite to reach this, is to access information needs and information seeking behavior of farm women.
The advances in information technology have brought an explosion in information flow. In agriculture, for instance, there is a large quantity of information on various sources, channels and web sites on the internet, but the information tends to be one-sided, as it is gathered from research stations in the developed fields. This study is an attempt to identify the information needs and information seeking behavior of farm women in rural areas of Iran, using the experience of farm women in selected agricultural communities of Ilam state, as the primary reference point.
Indian Journal of Extension Education
Vol. 42, No. I & 2, 2006 (25-30)
Constraints Faced by Agri-Business Operators
S. S. Vinayagam1 and P. S. Geetbakutty2
ABSTRACT
This paper is based on a study conducted in Palakkad, Thrissur and Erankulam districts of Kerala state with an objective to identify the constraints, which influence the entrepreneurial behaviour of agri-business operators. Agri-business operators are defined as those who either cultivate any crop or undertake any on-farm business activities related to agriculture or agricultural produce with commercial perspective and motives. Based on this, the respondents were classified into commercial farmers, on-farm (poultry and nursery units) and off-farm (poultry and nursery units) agri-business operators. Crops like rice, banana, coconut and rubber were selected covering 240 agri-business operators in eight panchayats of three districts. The findings highlight the constraints commonly faced by the different categories of respondents influencing entrepreneurial behaviour and their agri-business performance in the following descending order -finance, marketing, raw materials, labour, technical and managerial assistance and electricity. The entrepreneurial behaviour index and agribusiness performance index of the agri-business operators exhibited highly significant correlation with their score on perceived constraints.
Five-year plans undertaken by the government as well as scientific break-through in agricultural front have resulted in spectacular increase in agricultural production with a compound growth rate of 2.5 percent per annum over the last three decades. The food production in country has increased from 50 million tonnes in the fiftees to 212 million tones in 2002. However, with this comfortable agricultural situation, seasonal rains affect agricultural growth in India, which poses serious problems in increasing production and productivity of crops, particularly during the year when monsoon fails creating drought conditions. Again, sometimes untimely, unseasonal, or excessive rains also damage the crops. It is rightly said that agriculture in India is a gamble for the farmers, particularly those dependent solely on monsoon. To mitigate the effect of such situations to a certain extent, of course, research emanated technologies are available, but remarkable growth in agriculture may be obtained if proper entrepreneurial skill and hard work are geared up amicably (Patel, 1995).
The importance of agri-business in nation's development is being increasingly recognized and financing for agri-business enterprise has grown considerably in recent years. Policy makers have rediscovered that creating a strong agri-business sector is prerequisite to achieve viable industrialization. Agri-business can only be as strong as its agro-industry and vice versa. In developing countries, both agricultural and on-farm/off-farm components become increasingly significant and preserve the overall economic contribution of agri-business (Austin, 1992). In Kerala, the state government has come out in a big way with a number of promotional programmes for agri-business entrepreneurs, to motivate and train them through organised programmes and through different agencies. On the whole, in the trade scenario of Kerala there is steady increase in the number of entrepreneurs, which has been felt in the state economy (Beegam and Sarngadharan, 1994). This study is an attempt to identify the constraints perceived by the entrepreneurs in performing their agri-business in relation with their entrepreneurial behavior.
Indian Journal of Extension Education
Vol.42, No. I & 2, 2006 (31-35)
Farm Opinion Leaders and Transfer of Aquaculture Technology
M.Kumaran1
ABSTRAC
Identification and use of faun opinion leaders whose early adoption of innovations will trigger other adoptions could be a novel idea to reach the aqua farmers pervading across the coastal States and Union territories of India. Nine such farm leaders highly trusted by fellow farmers were identified in three coastal districts of Tamil Nadu State using sociometry. The leaders are local residents and pioneers in aquaculture who had access to new information through their close rapport with R&D agencies of aquaculture. Most of them dealt shrimp/fish feed and other inputs on credit basis and had powerful influence on the farming community. Identification such opinion leaders of aquaculture, establishment of communication links with them through district level extension officials, creating awareness and capacity building of opinion leaders by R D organizations in innovations, guidelines, best management practices etc., would assure sustainable coastal aquaculture in India.
The guiding theme for diffusion and adoption research in agriculture was a two-step flow of communication - a process of information moving from the source to opinion leaders and from opinion leaders to the fellow farmers (Muthiah, 1981; Rogers, 1995 & 1998; Ronald Burt, 1999 Sundaramari, 1989). Opinion leaders of a community/ society are persons on whom the people have faith due to their social, cultural, economic or political standing. Generally People approach opinion leaders to seek advise on the Problems faced by them in all facets of life. Opinion leaders ire more precisely opinion brokers who can carry information across the social and economic boundaries. They act as legitimizers of planned change and could influence the decision of the opinion seekers. An opinion leader is expected to have more formal education, higher socio-economic status, progressive, cosmopolite, more social participation and exposure to mass media. They amplify the message dissemination in the society and often counter the possible impact of unfavourable propaganda (Ray, 1991).
Earlier studies conducted on the sources of information for aqua farmers have indicated that inputs dealers/ representatives and fellow farmers were the major sources of information (Immanuel and Alex, 1998; Kumaran et al., 2003; Meeran and Jayaseelan 1999 and Ponnusamy et al. 1999). Since the R&D institutions had minimum impact on the information dissemination it is very essential that a two-step communication pattern of Research institutions/ Extension departments (major sources of information) - to - Opinion Leaders - to - Fellow farmers has to be established. In this context opinion leader who is also a progressive farmer could contribute significantly in aquaculture extension and play a decisive role in influencing the decisions of fellow farmers. Identification of people whose early adoption will trigger other adoptions and use them in the process of technology transfer and obtaining field feedback could be a novel approach to reach the hitherto unreachable end-users. Keeping this in view an investigation was carried out in Tamil Nadu State of India to identify the opinion leaders among the shrimp farmers who can influence the decisions of fellow farmers.