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Open Access
Entrepreneurial behaviour of rural women in Thiruvananthapuram district
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Jayalekshmi, G; KAU; Shilaja, S
The present study under the title ''Entrepreneurial behaviour of rural women in Thiruvananthapuram district was undertaken to assess the entrepreneurial behaviour of rural women to study the personal and sociopsychological factors influencing entrepreneurial behaviour and the constraints experienced by the rural women in starting an enterprise. Rural women trained in mushroom cultivation and fruit and vegetable preservation were selected from College of Agriculture, Vellayani and Mitraniketan Vellanad. Thirty rural women each were selected from each centre for each enterprise. Thus 120 trained rural women were selected. Another 60 untrained rural women were also selected as control. Thus the total sample comprised of 180 with five groups of respondents. Data was collected using interview schedule and suitable statistical techniques were employed in the analysis of data. An entrepreneurial development index was developed and found that the factors such as economic motivation, risktaking ability, decision making ability, achievement motivation, management orientation, competition orientation and self confidence were the major dimensions of entrepreneurial behaviour. With regard to the profile of rural women, the rural women selected, both trained and untrained belonged to young age group and majority of them belonged to backward caste. Educational status and family educational status of the selected respondents were high school and above. More than 50 per cent of them have land holding ranging from 15-20 cents and annual income between Rs.15000-20000. More than 55 per cent of the rural women have taken up self employment. Above 50 per cent of the rural women have high information seeking behaviour, mass media contact, social participation, level of aspiration and attitude towards self employment. Majority of the rural women have low cosmopoliteness. Cent per cent of the trained rural women have high knowledge of the technology. Except rural women in group II & V all others have high entrepreneurial behaviour. Comparison of the five groups revealed that they were on par with respect to age, landholding, annual income and social participation. Majority of the trained rural women belonged to backward caste and untrained belonged to scheduled caste. The trained rural women differed significantly with the untrained in their educational status, family educational status, occupation, information seeking behavior and perceived knowledge of the technology. There was significant difference among the groups with respect to mass media contact, level of aspiration, cosmopoliteness and entrepreneurial behavior. Relationship of the personal and socio-psychological factors with the entrepreneurial behavior showed that in the case of group I, variables namely educational status of the family, information seeking behavior, mass media contact, level of aspiration, attitude towards self employment and perceived knowledge of the technology were positively and significantly correlated. In the case of group II, caste educational status of the respondents and family, information seeking behavior, mass media contact, social participation, level of aspiration, cosmopoliteness, attitude towards self employment and perceived knowledge of the technology were positively and significantly correlated with the entrepreneurial behavior. Only educational status of the family was found to have a positive and significant relationship with the entrepreneurial behavior of group III. In the case of group IV, caste, educational status of the respondent and family, annual income, information seeking behavior, mass media contact, cosmopoliteness, level of aspiration, attitude towards self employment and perceived knowledge of the technology were positively and significantly correlated with the entrepreneurial behaviour. In the case of group V a positive and significant relationship exists between entrepreneurial behavior and educational status of the respondent and family, annual income, information seeking behavior, mass media contact, social participation, cosmopoliteness, attitude towards self employment and perceived knowledge of the technology. With regard to the constraints experienced by the rural women, ‘Marketing problem and lack of financial assistance were the constraints in both the enterprises followed by non-availability of spawn in mushroom cultivation and high cost of fruits in fruit and vegetable preservation.
Open Access
Agricultural information source utilisation pattern of neo-literate farmers in rural areas
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Beena, Boniface; KAU; Padmanabhan, V B
With a view to identify the agricultural information source utilization pattern, availability and credibility of the sources by the neo- literate farmers, a study was conducted in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala State. It was also aimed at studying the information need of neo- literate farmers on important aspects of cultivation of certain crops. The study was conducted in five Krishibhavans of Neyyattinkara Agricultural Subdivision. Multi- stage random sampling was followed to select the neo- literate farmers as respondents. Data were collected from the respondents using separate interview schedules. Suitable statistical techniques like mean, frequency, percentage analysis, simple correlation and paired comparison technique were employed in the analysis of data. The study revealed that literacy centre was the most utilized source of agricultural information by the neo- literate farmers followed by radio, newspaper, television, Akshara Sangham, friends, neighbours, relatives, Jana vidhya kendram, Krishibhavan, fertilizer dealer, pesticide dealer, Block office, Agricultural college and Kerala Horticulture Development Programme in that order. The readily available source of agricultural information for the neo- literate farmers was identified as literacy centre followed by friends, radio, neighbours, relatives, akshara sangham, Krishi bhavan, newspaper, pesticide dealer, fertilizer dealer, television, Jana vidhya kendram, block office, Agricultural college and Kerala Horticulture Development Programme in that order. Of the eight sources selected to study their credibility, ‘literacy centre’ was ranked as the most credible source of agricultural information by the neo- literate farmers, followed by newspaper, television, radio, friends, krishi bhavan, fertilizer dealer and pesticide dealer in that order. The information most needed for neo-literate farmers for the crop banana was about the dose of fertilizers and for vegetables, it was the dose of plant protection chemicals. The age of 36% of neo- literate farmers was in the range of 31-40 years and 70% of the neo- literate farmers interviewed were female. About 38% of family members had undergone secondary education. More than half of the respondents were undertaking coolie, as their subsidiary occupation and 57% of them were earning below Rs.250 per month from subsidiary occupation. Sixty two per cent of respondents were cultivating on leased as well as on own land. Garden land was possessed by 57.3% of the neo- literate farmers. In radio, ‘vayalum veedum’ programme was consulted very often by 46% of the respondents and 42.3% consulted ‘Karshika meghala varthakal’ occasionally. In television ‘nattinpuram’ programme was consulted by 88% of the respondents ‘occasionally. In newspaper, ‘farm pages’ was consulted by 60% of the neo- literate farmers ‘occasionally’ and 67% consulted market price column occasionally. Articles were the most preferred item by 70% of the respondents. Eighty eight per cent ranked ‘Group management in coconut’ as the most preferred agricultural programme in krishibhavan. About 90% possessed high level of attitude towards scientific agricultural practices and ninety three per cent of the respondents possessed high level of attitude towards adult literacy. Knowledge level of 88% of the respondents was low. There was significant and positive relationship between attitude towards scientific agricultural practices and adult literacy.
Open Access
Multy-dimensional analysis of kuttimulla cultivation in Alapuzha district
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Nizamudeen, A; KAU; Prakash, R
The study ‘A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of ‘Kuttimulla’ Cultivation in Alapuzha District’ was carried out with the following objectives. 1. To study the socio-economic profile of the ‘Kuttimulla’ growers. 2. To study the extent of adoption of the cultivation practices. 3. To study the entrepreneurial behavior of the ‘Kuttimulla’ growers. 4. To study the motivational pattern of ‘Kuttimulla’ growers. 5. To identify the marketing channels prevailing in the area. 6. To study the constraints as perceived by the growers. 7. To develop an extension model to popularize ‘Kuttimulla’ cultivation In Kerala. The study was conducted in three purposively selected panchayats of Alapuzha district. A sample of 150 growers, ie. 50 selected randomly from each panchayat, formed the respondents of the study. Personal interview was conducted with the help of a well structured and pre-tested interview schedule. The data so collected was analysed with the help of suitable statistical techniques. The extent of adoption and the entrepreneurial behavior formed the dependent variables of the study. The selected profile characteristics of ‘Kuttimulla’ growers were taken as independent variables which included farming experience, socio-economic status, economic motivation, social participation, mass media exposure, information seeking behavior, cosmopoliteness, contact with extension agency, market perception, credit orientation, management orientation, attitude towards self employment and knowledge about ‘Kuttimulla’ cultivation. The motivational pattern influencing the adoption was also studied. Majority of the ‘Kuttimulla’ growers were found to have low farming experience, high socio-economic status, high economic motivation, low social participation, high mass media exposure, low information seeking behavior, high cosmopoliteness, high contact with extension agency, low market perception, high credit orientation, high management orientation, favorable attitudes towards self employment and high knowledge level. Majority of the ‘kuttimulla’ growers have high level of adoption and high entrepreneurial behavior. The most governing motive behind the adoption of ‘Kuttimulla’ was the economic security. Of the 13 variables studied, information seeking behavior, economic motivation and knowledge level were found to have a positive and significant correlation with the two dependent variables. Farming experience, cosmopoliteness, and credit orientation were found to have a positive and significant correlation only with adoption. All the other variable are having an non-significant correlation with the two dependent variables. The most important marketing channel of ‘Kuttimulla’ prevailing in the study area was Producer-Collection agent-Collection centre-Florishops-Consumer. The important constraints experienced by the ‘Kuttimulla’ growers were ‘difficulty in availing inputs’(production), ‘non availability of credit’(technological) and ‘inability of small growers to find market’(marketing). The major suggestions given by the respondents were ‘evolving high yielding varieties’(research), ‘establishing separate floricultural scheme’ (extension) and ‘installation of flower based industry’ (Marketing).
Open Access
Multi- dimensional analysis of self - employment among farm women
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Priya, Varma H; KAU; Kishore, Kumar N
The present study entitled “ A Multi-dimensional Analysis of Self-employment among Farm Women” was done with the following major objectives. 1. To analyse the attitude of farm women towards self-employment in agriculture and allied fields. 2. To study the personal socio-psychological factors that would influence the attitude of farm women towards self-employment in agriculture and also their entrepreneurial behaviour. 3. To analyse the preferences of farm women regarding the various self-employment avenues in agriculture. 4. To analyse the training needs of farm women in the various avenues. 5. To suggest a suitable training strategy for farm women. 6. To identify the constraints faced by farm women in doing self-employment in agriculture. The study was conducted in Neyyattinkara Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram District. Using a 2 stage randam sampling procedure, a total of 120 farm women were selected from four panchayats. Personal interview was conducted with the help of well structured and pre-tested interview schedule to collect data from the respondents. The collected data were analysed using suitable statistical procedures. The results thus obtained were as follows Majority of the respondents were found to be having high educational status, small size of holdings, low farming experience, low annual income, low social contact, high massmedia contact and high information source utilisation. A favourable attitude towards self –employment in agriculture was recorded for majority of respondents. Their entrepreneurial behaviour was also high. Other attributes which are necessary for entrepreneurship like self-confidence, innovativeness, economic motivation, management orientation, participation in implementing decisions and risk orientation were also high. Two thirds of the respondents were having low knowledge level. Age, farming experience and economic motivation showed negative correlation with attitude. Regarding preferences of farm women for the various self-employment avenues, vegetable production was the most preferred one followed by poultry and mushroom cultivation. Training needs were analysed for the major areas by computing the weighted mean training need score. In vegetable production, preparation of insecticide and fungicide solution had the high score. Majority of the farm women preferred peripatetic type of training, medium duration of training and the summer season for training. The most preferred venue was farm/residence of progressive farmers and the methodology chosen was demonstration. Lack of sufficient financial assistance was identified as the most important constraint by majority of the farm women.
Open Access
Feasibility and utilisation of improved vegetable production technologies in family farming by agricultural labourers in the Thrissur district
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Abdul, Jabbar P K; Rajendran, P
The research study entitled “Feasibility and Utilization of Improved Vegetable Production Technologies in family farming by agricultural labourers in the Thrissur district” was conducted to analyse the feasibility and utilization of vegetable production technologies in family farming by the agricultural labourers in Thrissur district in relation to their personal and socio-economic factors and to assess the constraints and consequences these of. The study area comprised of five panchayats namely, Pananchery, Puthur, Nadathara, Mattathur and Thekkumkara and a total of 100 agricultural labourers engaged in family farming were selected as respondents. Data were collected from the agricultural labourers using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Appropriate statistical techniques like correlation analysis, regression analysis and path analysis were done to analyse the data. The perception of feasibility of technologies and extent of utilization were measured using arbitrary scale developed for the purpose. Five crops namely, brinjal, bittergourd, pumpkin, ladies finger and amaranthus were selected for the study with five selected practices under each crop. The study revealed that amaranthus received the highest feasibility score, while bittergourd and brinjal received feasibility perception scores below the average feasibility score. Foliar fertilization in amaranthus received the highest feasibility perception score. Among crop varieties, pumpkin varieties were the most preferred while bittergourd varieties got the least scores. Majority of agricultural labourers belonged to the medium category in extent of utilization and only 19 per cent were low adopters. Amaranthus production technologies received the highest utilization score while bittergourd received the lowest. Split application of fertilizer received the high utilization index in brinjal and bittergourd cultivation. The correlation analysis revealed that all independent variables except experience in vegetable cultivation were positively correlated with feasibility perception. Variables like farm size, annual income, innovativeness, economic motivation, management orientation and knowledge were significant in influencing the feasibility perception. All variables except experience in vegetable cultivation were found positively correlated with utilization of IVPT. Knowledge on IVPT exerted the largest direct effect. Information seeking behaviour, FFT-Actual, social participation and attitude towards scientific agriculture, management orientation, area under vegetables and extension orientation were found to influence significantly. Plant protection was cited to be the most preferred area where training was required, followed by improved varieties of crops harvesting and post harvest aspects and manures and fertilizers respectively. Constraints such as uneconomic holding size, inadequacy of capital, increased cost of plant protection chemicals and lack of leisure time, availability were cited as most important.Economic utilization of leisure time, enhancement of family income, generation of additional employment and promotion of family integrity were the important consequences. Lack of time to care children and other house operations and drudgery were cited to be the negative consequences.
Open Access
Indigenous practices in coconut farming in Thrissur district
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Manju, S P; KAU; Kumari, Sushama N P
The study was carried out in Thrissur district of Kerala on the indigenous practices followed in coconut cultivation. The study aimed at identifying the indigenous practices, analyzing the knowledge about, extent of adoption and evaluation perception of these practices in coconut farming. The respondents consisted of 120 farmer respondents selected from three panchayats of the district, 30 extension personnal and 30 research personnal from the district. Sample selection was carried out using multistage sampling procedure. The dependent variables of the study were, the knowledge about and the extent of adoption of selected indigenous practices by farmers which were quantified using measurement devices developed for the study. The independent variables included the personnal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of farmers. In total, 83 indigenous practices were identified out of which, ‘collection of seednuts in summer’ and ‘bringing down the nuts with the help of ropes or coir baskets’ were the most known practices, while, the least known was ‘crushed onion + salt application in basins’. ‘Green leaf manuring’ was the practice adopted by most of the farmers whereas, ‘wick irrigation using clay pot’ was the least adopted. Overall evaluate perception was medium for all the three categories of respondents. ‘Education’ was the single variable which showed a significant positive correlation with knowledge whereas, ‘exposure to information sources’ was the only one variable exhibiting a significant positive relationship with the extent of adoption of indigenous practices.
Open Access
Comparative analysis of characteristics of women labourers engaged in rice farming in the social systems of Kollam and Kanyakumari districts
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Rajula Shanthy, T; KAU; Babu, B
The study aimed at analyzing the labour efficiency of women agricultural labourers. The study was conducted in Kollam district of Kerala and Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. A total of 300 women agricultural labourers were selected, 150 from each district using random sampling. The labour efficiency was measured with the help of a scale consisting of 32 items developed for the study. The data on the labour efficiency of women agricultural labourers and on the nineteen socio-personal and psychological characteristics of the women agricultural labourers were collected using a structured interview schedule. The dimensions of labour efficiency identified empirically were ’determination in work situation’, ‘inter – personal relationship’, ‘confidence’, ‘adjustability’, ‘team spirit’, ‘commitment’, ‘work environment’, competency, ‘socio-economic’ and ‘situational’. In general, the women agricultural labourers of both the districts were low in labour efficiency. The dimension – wise analysis of labour efficiency showed that majority of them belonged to high group under the dimensions ‘adjustability’ and ‘competency’ whereas majority had low efficiency with respect to the other dimensions. The factors influencing labour efficiency was in the order of period of employment, supervision by employer, wages and incentives provided, availability of alternative work, training of labourers, nature of tools and implements used, introduction of new machinery and progressive technology, increasing standard of living, adaptability to different tasks and physical condition of labourers. The variables namely caste, intrinsic motivation, independence, cosmopolite orientation, economic motivation, values related to agriculture, satisfaction, gregariousness, attitude towards scientific agriculture, innovativeness and alienation were found to be significantly contributing to labour efficiency. Total number of days of employment of women agricultural labourers in Kollam district was 207 (82 as agricultural and 125 as non-agricultural labour) and in Kanyakumari district it was 182 (78 as agricultural and 104 as non-agricultural labour). The peak season of employment was January – March in both the districts. There was relatively slack in employment during July – August and November –December in Kollam district and during August – September and December in Kanyakumari district. The average annual income from agricultural and non-agricultural labour was Rs. 3610.00 and Rs. 5447.50 in Kollam district, whereas it was Rs. 2695.00 and Rs. 3327.50 in Kanyakumari district respectively.
Open Access
Work motivation- a multivariate analysis among teachers of the Kerala Agricultural University
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) alexander, George; KAU; Bhaskaran, C
Work motivation, the inner urge that energises, directs and sustains work, was the dependent variable while the independent structure consisted of eighteen variables: Locus of control, achievement motive, power motive, affiliation motive, equity- sensitivity, growth need, relatedness need, existence need, preferred organizational culture, variety in job, identity of job, significance of job, autonomy in job, feedback through job, work climate, communication patterns, management style and morale. The sample of 150 teachers constituted 21.6 per cent of the total population of teachers in the Kerala Agricultural University. Distribution of teachers with respect to the variables mentioned above, relationships between the variables and determinants of work motivation were studied. Cadre-wise comparison of teachers was undertaken and teachers in teaching, research and extension institutions were also compared using ANOVA. All independent variables studied had strong correlations with work motivation. The relationship of affiliation motive preferred organizational culture and equity- sensitivity with work motivation was negative. Bunch-map analysis was used to confront the problem of multicollinearity and identify the determinants of work motivation: affiliation motive, existence need and identity of job. The study proposes a cohesive and unifying model to explain work motivation. Relevance of work motivation theories and practices with reference to the Indian socio-cultural context and applicability of existing models to educational and service sector organizations are discussed. Recommendations are made for the design and dynamics of human resource management practices applicable to the around 30,000 agricultural scientists in the country.

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