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Open Access
Effectiveness of instructor controlled interactive video (ICIV) in dissemination if farm technology
(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2000) Radhakrishnan, D; KAU; Ranjan Karippai, S
The study was aimed at bringing out the effectiveness of Instructor Controlled Interactive Video (ICIV) in popularising agricultural technologies among the farming community. The impact of the different treatments of ICIV with different video formats was also experimented. The study was conducted among 150 vegetable growers from Nadathara grama panchayath of Thrissur district. The respondents were farm women cultivating vegetables. IPM in vegetables was chosen as the message to be disseminated. The dependent variables of the study were knowledge gain and symbolic adoption of IPM practices in vegetables. The set of 11 independent variables chosen covered the psychological and situational factors of the respondents. The distribution of. respondents based on knowledge gain and symbolic adoption showed that majority of respondents were in high category after participating in ICIV. Out of 11 independent variables studied six variables were correlated significantly with knowledge gain. Five variables showed non significant relationship. Multiple regression analysis showed that 62 per cent variation in knowledge gain was contributed by the independent variables. Correlation analysis of independent variables with symbolic adoption showed that five independent variables had a positively significant relationship with symbolic adoption. One variable was negatively significant with symbolic adoption. Remaining five varied showed non significant relationship. Multiple regression analysis concluded that 59.2 per cent variation in symbolic adoption was brought about by related independent variables as a whole. The significant 'F' value indicated that all the treatments were effective in terms of knowledge gain and symbolic adoption. Students 't' test was carried out to compare the treatments. ICIV with 'Feature' mode of video presentation and ICIV with 'Skill demonstration' mode of video presentation were the most effective modes in maximising knowledge gain and symbolic adoption.
Open Access
Techno- socio- economic assessment of farmers practices in the cultivation of cowpea in Thiruvanathapuram district
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Manjjusha, A R; KAU; Shilaja, S
The study aimed at assessing the socio-economic and technical aspects of the farmers' prac- tices in the cultivation of cowpea as perceived by the researchers, extension personnel and the farmers. The study was conducted in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala State. On the basis of dis- cussion with experts, researchers, extension personnel and people's representatives in the district, Kalliyoor panchayat was selected as the locale of the study which is the prominent vegetable cultivat- ing area in the district. Two sets of respondents were selected for the study. Forty practising farmers cultivating cow pea was included as the respondents of the first category. Fifty extension officials and agricultural scientists working with sufficient experience in extension or research related to the culti- vation of cowpea was selected as the second category of respondents. The dependent variables of the study were knowledge of farmers about the recommended practices and extent of adoption of farmers' practices. These dependent variables were quantified us- ing measurement devices developed for the study. Fifteen independent variables were selected for the study which included age, education, main occupation, farming experience, annual income, area under cowpea, exposure to information sources, irrigation index, social participation, extension orientation, economic motivation, innovativeness, cosmopoliteness, credit orientation, risk orientation, participation in PTD and perception about PTD. All these independent variables were quantified with the help of available measurement procedures. For assessing scientifically the socio-economic and technical aspects of the farmers' practices identi- fied, matrix ranking was adopted. The data were collected using both non-participant observation technique and a pre-tested structured interview schedule prepared for the purpose. Different statistical tools like mean, percentage analysis, correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis and step- ) wise regression analysis were used to analyse the data. I'" The study revealed 57 farmers' practices in the cultivation of cowpea. The practices 'applica- tion of neemcake, groundnut cake and bonemeal twenty days after sowing', 'spraying neemoil ernul- sion against American Serpentine Leaf Miner' and 'ploughing the land after adding lime' registered the highest techno-socio-economic indices. The practices 'drying of pods for four to six days', 'application of neem cake, groundnut cake and bonemeal twenty days after sowing' and 'basal application of cattle -;- manure or poultry manure' were considered by the farmers as most efficient. But researchers and extension personnel considered the practices 'basal application of cattle manure or poultry manure', 'drying of pods for four to six days' and 'application of poultry manure ten days after sowing' as most efficient. About 48 per cent of farmers belonged to the low knowledge category and 40 per cent possessed high knowledge about the selected recommended practices. 'Sowing after first week of June is the most suitable time', 'ploughing the land thoroughly two to three times to remove weeds and stubbles' and 'hoeing at the time of application of second dose of nitrogen' were the most known practices to cent per- cent of the farmers selected for the study purpose. About 53 per cent of the farmers belonged to the low adoption category and 38 per cent of the farmers were in the high category with respect to adoption of efficient farmers' practices. 'Drying of pods for four to six days' was the practice adopted by majority of the farmers in this area. Twelve practices out of eighteen were adopted by more than 50 per cent of the farmers. With regard to relationship of knowledge with selected independent variables, variables viz., education, annual income, exposure to information sources, so- cial participation, extension orientation, cosmopoliteness and risk orientation were found to have sig- nificant and positve relationship with knowledge of recommended practices. Extent of adopion of efficient farmers' practices was related positively and significantly with five independent variables viz., education, exposure to information sources, social participation, extension orientation and knowl- edge about recommended practices. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that about 71 per cent of the variation in knowledge and 61.77 per cent of the variation in extent of adoption were explained by the selected independent variables. Step-wise regression analysis revealed that of the 71 per cent of the variation in knowledge, 47 per cent was contributed by exposure to information sources alone, about 6.0 per cent by the variable age and remaining by all the other independent variables. Incidence of pests and diseases, labout scarcity and uneven production were the major production constraints experienced by majority of the respondents and high labour charges, high cost of material inputs and price fluctuation of the produce were the major economic constraints.
Open Access
Role and accountability of women in the farming systems of Madakkathara Panchayath in Thrissur district
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, 2001) Bindu, V S; KAU; Geethakutty, P S
A study on role and accountability of women in the farming systems was conducted in the Madakkathara panchayath of Thrissur District. A sample of 145 women heads selected from five types of fanning systems - homestead with crop components alone (Type-I), homestead with crop components and extended garden (Type-Il), homestead with crop and live stock components (Type-Ill), homestead with crop, extended garden and livestock components (Type-IV) and homestead with agri-business components (Type-V) formed the major respondents of the study. Another category of respondents consisted of 90 development functionaries (30 each of extension personnel, scientists and political functionaries) of Thrissur District. Relevant data were collected through personal interview and questionnaire. Regarding the extent of involvement of men and women and categorization of farm activities, the study could observe that there were female dominant, male dominant and gender neutral practices in the farming systems of the study area. In general, weeding, shed cleaning and feeding of cattle were found to be female dominant practices while marketing, selection of varieties, land preparation, manuring and plant protection were observed as male dominant practices. The practices observed as gender neutral were harvesting, post harvest operations, planting and irrigation. The analysis on farm income contribution by family women members revealed that in the case of farming .sy.stem with crop and live.stock components, family women were contributing the highest i.e. 37 per cent followed by the type with agri-business component; where in women were able to provide 30 percent of mcome. Time utilization pattern of farm women could reveal the better potential of system with crop and livestock components which was using on an average three hours of family women labour per day for farm management activities. The major problems and constraints faced by farm women were lack of economic freedom followed by lack of marketing facilities and low price for milk. The differential perception on the part of the development functionaries brought out the need for gender orientation and sensitivity with respect to the roles and constraints of farm women among the different functionaries. Content and beneficiary analysis of development programmes of Agriculture, Dairy development and Animal Husbandry Department revealed the essential changes in gender orientation to be brought in the programmes of the Department of Agriculture . . ,
Open Access
Leadership in people`s planning programme-swot analysis
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Anjana, S; KAU; Kaleel, F M H
This study on "Leadership in people's planning programme - SWOT analysis" was designed to measure the role perception and role performance of different categories of leaders, as well as the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat elements associated with the role performance of leaders in people's planning programme. This study was conducted in Thrissur district of Kerala state which was purposively selected. The sample selected for the study comprised two categories of leaders consisting 100 non-officials and 25 officials. In role perception, the roles like; proper selection of beneficiaries and identification of felt needs of the people were emerged as the most important by both categories of leaders in planning stage. As in case of implementation stage, they were active involvement of people in the implementation stage, making transparency and effective utilisation of resources. Highlighting the beneficial aspects, involving people. In evaluation stage, monitoring and assessing and submitting the reports before the gramma sabha were perceived as the most important roles perceived by both categories of leaders. Regarding the role performance, in planning stage both categories of leaders performed the roles well together were co-ordination of officials, identification of felt needs, cost' of the projects and decentralisation in decision making. In implementation stage both categories of leaders performed the roles like, the neighbourhood formation and equitable distribution of benefits. Whereas in case of evaluation stage, they were report submission, preparation of accounts of the project, monitoring and assessing results and highlighting the results. The study revealed that majority of non-officials and official leaders belonged to 'high' category of role perception and role performance. It was found that there was no significant difference among the two categories of leaders regarding their role perception and role performance. In case of relationship between role perception and role performance of non-official and official leaders was positive and significant. Different strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats experienced by the non-officials and officials while performing their roles were identified. The study drew attention to the emerging need of taking necessary action to avoid the delay in sanctioning the programmes and fmancial allotment by the higher authorities.
Open Access
Techno-socio-economic assessment of farmers practices in rice cultivation in Thiruvananthapuram district
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Manoj, S; KAU; Bhaskaran, C
In developing countries existing research systems are not always able to generate technologies needed to solve the problems of resource poor farmers. Such farmers are forced to develop their own technologies suited for particular conditions. So farmers’ practices and farmer experimentations have got growing significance now a days. A research study was under taken to asses the socio-economic and technical aspects of farmers’ practices in rice cultivation in Thiruvananthapuram district. Farmers practices included all those practices which were actually followed by farmers in the rice cultivation consisting indigenous and recommended practices. The experimental area selected was Andoorkonam Ela of Kaniyapuram village panchayat. The study was conducted in three phases. Phase-1 consisted of collecting data regarding the profile characteristics of rice farmers. During Phase-II, all farmers’ practices were collected using non-participant observation technique. The third phase consisted of techno-socio-economic assessment and assessing the ecofriendliness of farmers’ practices. For this study, two sets of respondents were taken- the practicing farmers and scientists/ extension officials. The research endeavour identified 51 farmers’ practices in rice cultivation. These practices were documented and described along with their scientific rationale. Majority of the farmers (54.29 per cent) were in the low knowledge group regarding the knowledge of farmers about the recommended practices. However, most of them (54.29 per cent) were in high adoption category regarding the adoption of farmers practices. • The variables education, annual income, exposure to information source, social participation, extension orientation, economic motivation, innovativeness risk preference and participation in PTD were having a positive and significant correlation with knowledge of rice farmers about the recommended practices. Adoption of farmers’ practices was influenced by the variables such as occupation, farming experience, total area under paddy, social participation, economic motivation and innovativeness. Soaking the seeds in water for 18-24 hours, using the variety PTB-9 for the second crop and preparing the main field using tractor were practices which showed cent per cent adoption. About ninety per cent of the farmers adopted the practice of sprinkling cowdung slurry over the soaked seeds. Application of poultry manure in place of FYM was adopted by more than fifty per cent of the rice farmers. The most ecofriendly practice as perceived by farmers was the sprinkling of cowdung slurry over soaked and heaped rice seeds in order to enhance germination. Using poultry manure in place of the costly and unavailable FYM was the most efficient farmers’ practice as rated by farmers and scientists/ extension officials. The other efficient farmers’ practices were the ‘plantain fruit bait for squirrels and mynas’ and bird scaring techniques such as ‘placing coconut leaflets, placing coloured plastic bags, bird scarers and stretching audio and video tapes over the field. A systematic and organised effort should be taken to document and assess these farmers’ practices throughout the state which is inevitable to improve efficiency and productivity in rice cultivation. A multi disciplinary approach is essential for such type of research and a comprehensive feed back should be given to the research system in Kerala.
Open Access
Quality management in agricultural research in Kerala Agricultural University -a critical analysis
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Smitha, Baby; KAU; Joy, Mathew
Summary, etc. The study on "Quality management in agricultural research in Kerala Agricultural University - A critical analysis" was conducted with the objective of analyzing the quality management related to agricultural research in Kerala Agricultural University. The respondents of the study comprised of 55 agricultural scientists who were the principal investigators of the externally aided projects completed after 1995 in the central zone. Ten critical dimensions of quality management in agricultural research were identified and their perceived importance in deciding the final quality of agricultural research were analysed. Research problem identification emerged as the most important dimension of quality management in agricultural research, followed by formulation of objectives, research methodology, literature review, data generation, data analysis, results and implications, project title, reporting, and bibliography in their descending order of importance. A composite scale was developed tor quantifying quality management in agricultural research and applied to the selected sample. A good majority of the respondents (75%) showed a high level of quality management in their research work. The remaining 25% belonged to the 'medium' group of quality management. The influence of selected personal, psychological, job/ organizational characteristics on quality .managementin agricultural research was studied. Scope for personal development and task identity were the two independent variables that showed a positive and significant correlation with quality management in agricultural research. Five independent variables viz. experience, technical competence, scope for personal development, job satisfaction and task identity together contributed 27.64 per cent variation in quality management, out of the total 29.3 per cent variation constituted by all the 14 independent variables. Job satisfaction and task identity showed their maximum indirect effect through scope for personal development. Experience had its maximum indirect effect on quality management through technical competence. The critical problems related to quality management in agricultural research in Kerala Agricultural University were analysed. Inadequate and insufficient mechanism for planning and determining research priorities and cumbersome and time consuming procedures for committing and using research funds were perceived to be the two most important problems. The study, it is believed, could bring out the subtle details of quality management concept in agricultural research, which would provide deeper insight to the policy makers and top management of the University on how to cultivate and foster this vital value in the field of agricultural research.
Open Access
Role of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in empowerment of farmers
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Jyothish, Mannambeth; KAU; Kishore Kumar, N
Developmental programmes implemented through government machinery could not bring about much changes in the rural sector as far as the developmental aspects are concerned. At the same time, many of the NGOs working in the rural areas could bring about attractive results. So a study was undertaken to identify the dimensions of empowerment of farmers through NGOs, to study the roles played by NGOs, to study the extent of people participation and to develop a strategy for empowerment of farmers. Kannur district was selected as the locale of study and ten functional NGOs were randomly selected. From each NGO, ten beneficiaries and ten non beneficiaries were selected as respondents. Data was collected using structured pre tested interview schedule. Nineteen variables were selected for the study and from that fourteen variables identifies as dimensions of empowerment. The beneficiaries were found better compared to non beneficiaries in almost all the variables studied. The perception about the role of NGOs were more with the beneficiaries than non beneficiaries. Extent of participation in. the various activities were also more with beneficiary farmers. Lack of evaluation, Non co-operation from the government side and lack of financial support and lack of follow up were the main constraints faced by •NGOs. The steps for strengthening NGOs include effort from government side, training of staff, constant touch with academic institutes properly documented programmes, coordination between NGOs and experimenting with new ideas. Strategy for empwerment of farmers aims at collection of data, assessing needs, creating awareness, establishing rapport, identification of resources, organising people in subgroups, defining goals and achieving objectives.
Open Access
Protoplast isolation, culture and regeneration in mango (Mangifera indica L.)
(Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Ullas Mony; KAU; Rajmohan, K
Attempts were made to standardise techniques for isolation, culture and regeneration of protoplasts in mango, during 1998-1999 at the Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Centre, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. Efforts were made to standardise the source of explant, optimum concentration, temperature and duration of incubation and osmolarity of the enzyme mixture. Callus induced from nucellus of immature fruits was found to be the best plant material for protoplast isolation. The cell wall digesting enzymes Cellulase 'Onozuka' R-I0 and Macerozyme R-lO at l.0 and 0.5 per cent respectively at a pH of 5.8 yielded the highest number of protoplasts (101 protoplasts per " field). The optimum time of incubation was found to be eight hours. Pre- plasmolysis of the callus was found to be not beneficial. Treatment without pre-plasmolysis and with 9.0 per cent osmolarity recorded the highest yield. Incubation temperature of 28.0 "c was found to be optimum for the best yield of protoplasts. Cell wall formation and microcalli development from the protoplast was observed when Murashige and Skoog medium with half strength of major salts, supplemented with BAP 3.0 mg r', NAA 0.1 mg r ' along with sucrose or glucose 90.0 g r ' was used. Combinations of osmoticums like sucrose 70.0 g r', mannitol 10.0 g r' and glucose 10.0 g r' as . well as sucrose 70.0 g r', mannitol 10.0 g r' and inositol 10.0 g r' were found to be ideal for cell wall formation and micro calli development.
Open Access
Utilization of communication sources by dairy entrepreneurs of Ollukkara block in Thrissur district
(Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Pradeep, C A; KAU; Raj Kamal, P J
The utilization of communication sources and the information and skill needs of 60 dairy entrepreneurs in Ollukkara block of Thrissur district were studied. A multistage random sampling procedure was adopted to select the respondents. The socio-personal, socio-economic and socio-psychological characteristics of the respondents were studied along with •availability, preference, utilization pattern, credibility of communication sources and information and skill needs of farmers by using a structured schedule. Suitable statistical tools were used for analysing the data collected. Dairy entrepreneurs were seen utilizing information source in their system, both institutional and media. Of the various sources, the most accessible to them comparatively were milk co-operatives, radio and newspaper. Though veterinary hospital, veterinary college and other professionally qualified persons were the comparatively most preferred for information regarding dairying, yet these sources were not seen utilized adequately, Instead, the sources comparatively utilized were radio, newspaper and friends. The reasons for this strange finding are to be understood. Feature stories and question-answer items in the farm pages of dailies, farm news, Kerala Agricultural University news and farm and home programme of radio were seen frequently read or heard. Hence, the utility of these items/programmes such as training, symposium and farm clinics were found to be less available and evidently less utilized. These programmes need to be adequately organized inorder to address to the needs of dairy entrepreneurs. It was in general observed that availability or access and preference for communication sources influenced their frequency of utilization. The first three most important and trustworthy communication sources mentioned were other professionally qualified persons, veterinary college and veterinary hospital, those most preferred for information, even as the same were comparatively less utilized by the entrepreneurs. This situation obviously demanded for a more entrepreneur friendly approach adopted by these sources. Of the information needs, the most needed ones were heat detection and artificial insemination followed by bread characteristics and source of good dairy animals for purchase. Hence information on these felt needs are to be imparted through appropriate extension methods preferably through the most utilized media sources such as radio and newspaper but regularly and repeatedly. Skills were most needed about first aid measures, preparing concentrate feed and handling milking machine. Demonstrations can help in this regard. Similarly, proper understanding of the importance of skills such as making milk products, preparing silage and urea treatment of straw which are very relevant to economic dairying is to be developed through suitable extension methods. Although all the independent variables studied had together explained considerable and significant variation in the frequency of utilization of communication sources, yet fixed investment, economic motivation and levels of aspiration were found to be the strong determinants of the frequency of utilization of communication sources. While considering information and skill needs together, the strong determinants were educational status, land holding, fixed investment, innovation proneness and marketing orientation.

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