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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
Role of non-govermental organisations in transfer of technology for rural development- a study in Thrissur district
(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1997) Indu, Bhaskar; KAU; Geethakutty, P S
A study was undertaken to analyse the effectiveness of NGOs in transfer of technology for rural development. It also aimed to identify the major programmes conducted by the selected NGOs and its consequences. The study was carried out in two selected NGOs, Kuriakose Elias Service Society (KESS) and Apex Voluntary Association for Rural Development (AVARD) of Thrissur district of Kerala during 1995-96. The sample selected for the study consisted of 100 beneficiaries, 60 non- beneficiaries, 30 NGO workers and 30 workers of other development agencies in Thrissur District. The study revealed that the major programmes of the NGOs were agri- cultural, health, HRD, community development and industrial and trade promotion programmes. The programmes consisted of components which aim at the desired changes like behavioural, health and hygiene, education, employment generation, ecological preservation, community development, leadership development, economic improvement, saftey and security, welfare, technology, self-reliance etc. which in general aimed at the overall development of rural community. Ninety per cent of the beneficiaries considered the consequences of programmes of NGOs as most beneficial to them. On analysing the respondents evaluative perception about the effectiveness of the NGOs, seventy three per cent of beneficiaries, twenty seven per cent of non-beneficiaries and ninety per cent of NGO workers and seventy per cent of development workers rated the NGOS as most effec- tive in rural development work. Significant characteristics of beneficiaries to predict their evaluative perception about the NGOs were farm size, annual income, level of aspiration and attitude towards NGOs. The beneficiaries of NGOs was significantly different from non-beneficiaries with regard to their farm size, extension contact, organisational participation, level of aspiration and attitude towards NGOs. The major constraints the NGOs face in their work for rural development were complexes of caste and religion among the rural people and lack of involve- ment from beneficiaries. The study draw attention to the emergent need of effective utilisation of the experiences and services of NGOs for rural development.
Open Access
Differential adoption of plant protection technology by farmers of Kerala - a critical analysis
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) Meera, B; KAU; Thyagarajan Nair, G
Indian agriculture has undergone intensive farming with the introduction of high yielding varieties of crops. Adoption of improved technology and management practices for boosting up production of food grains have resulted in serious pest and disease complexes warranting intensive and extensive use of plant protection chemicals. A number of limitations and adverse side effects such as pest resistance to pesticides, pesticide residues, health hazards, environmental pollution and ecological imbalance have been identified recently. The components of plant protection technology were taken to study the differential adoption in important crops like paddy and vegetables by the farmers and explained the variations in their cognitive, affective and connative components of behaviour with a selected set of independent variables. The study analysed the indigenous practices of plant protection being followed by farmers and also their perception about the impact of pesticides on environmental aspects. The major constraints experienced by the farmers in the adoption of plant protection technology along with the suggestions to overcome the same were also studied. The study was undertaken in two districts of Kerala viz., Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha. A sample of 120 farmers each from the two districts was selected and the total sample size for the study was 240.The data were collected using an interview schedule and analysed using suitable statistical techniques. There was significant difference among the farmers of Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts with regard to their knowledge about chemical and cultural methods of plant protection. Majority of farmers of both the districts belonged to low knowledge group. The farmers of both the districts were ignorant about biological, physical and integrated methods of plant protection methods. Majority of the farmers of both the districts possessed favourable attitude towards chemical method of plant protection. The farmers of Alappuzha district were significantly higher adopters of plant protection methods than the farmers of Thiruvananthapuram district. Majority of the farmers of both the districts belonged to low perception category with regard to their perception about the utility and practicability of plant protection methods. Crops yield index and scientific orientation emerged as significant independent variables in the correlation and multiple regression analysis with regard to the farmers of both the districts. The practices, viz., controlled application of nutrients for reducing pest and disease attack in paddy and use of ‘thulsikeni’ in ‘pandals’ to trap and kill fruit flies in vegetables were judged as the most effective and scientifically rational practices adopted by farmers. The farmer’s perception about the impact of pesticides on environmental aspects was very low and majority of them belonged to low perception category. The constraint ‘untimely supply and high cost of imputs’ was the most important constraint experienced by the farmers of Thiruvananthapuram district, while ‘lack of proper drainage facilities’ was the most serious constraint experienced by the farmers of Alappuzha District. The most important suggestion given by the farmers to overcome the constraints was to ‘develop simple and more compatible plant protection technologies’ and the most important suggestion given by the experts to overcome the constraints experienced by the farmers was to ‘impart adequate training to farmers as well as extension workers on IPM practices’. The strategic model developed by integrating the salient findings of the present study, emphasized the importance of popularizing effective plant protection technology among the farmers in ecologically sensitive rice and vegetable production systems in Kerala.
Open Access
Analysis of the Characteristics of Womens Groups and Their Role in Rural Development
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1997) Sherin Muller; KAU; Mohammed Hussain, M
The present study under the title "An analysis of the characteristics of women's group and their role in rural development" was undertaken to assess the group characteristics of wornens group which were conducive for rural development and also to find out means to improve these group characteristics. 20 women's group were selected based on their proportion from 12 NES blocks of Thiruvananthapuram district Among these 20 groups 10 groups selected were effective groups comprising 98 members and 10 were non effective groups comprising 102 members selected based on a performance appraisal by the DRDA officials. Thus the total sample comprised of 200 women selected from the women's groups started under the DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) programme of DRDA. Data was collected using an interview schedule and suitable stasticial technique was employed in the analysis of data. The group characteristics found conducive for rural development are ; interdependence of members, group interaction, group decision making, group leadership, group co-operation, group cohesiveness, participation in group activities, interpersonal liking, group goal achievement, need satisfaction, interpersonal communication, group competition, interpersonal trust and group motivation. 2 The results of the correlation anulysis indicate thut interdependence of members is positively and significantly correlated with social participation, information source utilisation, DRDAl Block visit andtraining and negatively and significantly correlated with age, educational status of family and period of group work in the effective groups. In the noneffccuvc groups the variables land holding, social participation, extension participation, infoi n.ation source utilisation and period of group work showed a negative signi ficunt correlation with interdependence of members while training showed a positive correlation. There is a negative significant correlation shown between the vuriablcs age, educational status of family, trade union participation, extension participation, annual income, period of group work and cosmopoliteness with group interaction, while social 'participation and training showed a positive correlation to group interaction in effective groups. In the noneffective groups annual income showed a negative significant correlation with group interaction. The group characteristic group decision making in the effective group showed a positive and significant correlation with extension participation, information source utilisation, cosmopoliteness, DRDA visit, land holding and training while a negative significant correlation was shown with the variable educational status of family. In the noneffective groups the variables educational status of family, annual income, trade union participation. DRDA visit and training showed a positive and significant correlation with group decision making while a negative and significant correlation was shown with period of group work and cosmopoliteness. -s, 3 In the effective groups the variables information source utilisation, DRDA visit and training showed a positive and significant correlation with group leadership while the variable educational status of family showed a negative significant correlation, In the nonctfecuvc groups the variables educational status of respondent, information source utilisation, and DRDA visit showed a positive significant correlation while the' variable annual income and period of group work showed a negative significant correlation with the group characteristic, group leadership, In effective groups the variables educational status of respondent, land holding, social participation, extension participation, information source utilisation, cosmopoliteness, DRDA visit and training showed a positive correlation with group co-operation while the variable, period of group work showed a negative significant correlation, In the noneffective groups the , ., variable social participation, period of group work and trui ni IIg showed u • I negative significant correlation with group co-operation. The variables educational status of family, annual income and period of group work showed a negative significant correlation while the variables extension participation, information source utilisation, cosmopo/iteness, and training showed a positive significant correlation with group cohesiveness in the effective groups. In the noneffective groups the variables age and cducuuonul status of fumily, showed u positive sil,l.lIificnnt corrchuiuu while the variables period of group work and cosrnopoliteness showed a negative significant correlation with the group characteristic, group cohesiveness. 4 In the effective groups the variables age and period of group work showed a negative significant correlation with participation in group activities while the variables educational status of respondent, extension participation, information source utilisation, DRDA visit and training showed a positive significant correlation. In the noneffective groups the variable educational status of respondent showed a positive significant correlation while the variables social participation, and extension participation showed a negative significant correlation with participation in group activities. In effective groups the group characteristic namely interpersonal liking is seen to be positively and significantly correlated with social participation, while it is negatively and significantly correlated with the personal and socio-psychological variables namely educational status of family, land holding," annual income, trade union participation, extension participation, information source utilisation, period of group work, cosmopoliteness and DRDA visit In noneffective groups the variable age is positively and significantly correlated " "' with interpersonal liking- while the variables period of group work and training are negatively and significantly correlated. The group characteristic namely group goal achievement is shown to have a positive and significant correlation with extension participation, information source utilisation, period of group work, cosmopoIiteness and training and a negative and significant correlation with educational status of family, annual income and social participation in the effective groups. In the non effective groups the variables, social participation, trade union 5 participation and land holding showed a positive and significant correlation with group goals achievement while the variables period of group work and cosmopoliteness 'showed a negative and significant correlation with group goals achievement. In effective groups the variables land holding, extension participation, information source utilisation, period of group work, cosmopoliteness, DRDA visit and training showed a positive and significant correlation with need satisfaction while the variables educational status of family and annual income showed a negative significant correlation. It is seen that in the noneffective group the variable educational status of family, trade union participation, information source utilisation and DRDA visit showed a positive and significant relationship with need satisfaction while the variables period of group work and cosmopoliteness showed a negative and significant relationship with need satisfaction. The group characteristic, interpersonal communication showed a positive and significant correlation with educational status of respondent, land holding and training in the effective groups. In the noneffective groups, the variable educational status of respondent showed a positive significant correlation and the varia~le period of ,group work showed a negative and significant correlation with the gr~)Up characteristic interpersonal communication. The variables age and land holding showed a negative and significant correlation while extension participation, cosmopoliteness and DRDA visit 6 showed a positive and significant correlation with group competition III the effective groups. In the noneffective groups the variables educational status of respondent and' information source utilisation showed a positve and significant correlation while the variable period of group work showed a negative and significant correlation with group competition. The group characteristic interpersonal trust showed a positive and significant correlation with so.cial participation and a negative and significant correlation with educational status of family, annual income, trade union participation, extension participation, information source utilisation and period of group work in the effective groups. In the noneffective groups land holding, social participation, extension participation, information source utilisation and period of group work showed a negative and significant correlation with interpersonal trust while the variable annual income showed a positive and significant correlation with interpersonal trust. The group characteristic, group motivation showed a positive and significant correlation with information source utilisation and DRDA visit in the effective groups. In the noneffective groups, group motivation is positively and significantly correlated with educational status. of respondent and negatively and significantly correlated with: period of group work. With regards to the constraints experienced by the women's group comparative high cost of raw materials, low economic status of members, improper repayment of loans, non availability of adequate raw materials, lack 7 of local demand for the products produced, lack of interest of officials at block / district level, lack of follow up activities by department, inadequacy of revolving fund, wrong selection of members, lack of team spirit, drop out of members due to marriage and other reasons, lack of homogeniety among, members, lack of effective leadership, lack of initiative and interest at desired level among members, fear to avail loans, lack of co-operation among members, lack of quality consciousness among members about products, lack of co- operation and lack of group cohesiveness were identified as the major constraints for effecti ve group action.
Open Access
Role of Agricultural Labourers in Decision Making in Paddy Production by Farmers in Thiruvananthapuram District
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Jiju Alex, P; KAU; Padmanabhan, V B
A research study entitled, “Role of agricultural labourers in decision – making in paddy production by farmers in Thiruvananthapuram district” was under taken with a view to identify the areas of decision – making by agricultural labourers with the employer farmers in paddy production, to identify the role perception and role performance of male and female agricultural labourers in decision – making, to study the role of male and female agricultural labourers in decision – making as perceived by the farmers employing them and to analyse the characteristics of male and female agricultural labourers in relation to their role perception and role performance. The study was conducted in the three Agricultural sub – divisions of Thiruvananthapuram district, namely Attingal, Neyyattinkara and Nedumangad. Stratified two – stage random sampling was followed to select 60 farmers, 60 male Agricultural labourers and 60 female agricultural labourers. Data were collected from farmers and labourers using separate interview schedules. Suitable statistical techniques like percentage analysis, simple correlation analysis, step – wise regression analysis, path analysis and student’s t test were employed in the analysis of data. Thirty one areas of decision – making in paddy production were identified in which agricultural labourers had their role with the employer farmers. The study indicated that the role perception and role performance of agricultural labourers, though not excellent was generally good in activities they involve most frequently. A vast majority of male labourers were found to have considerably higher role perception in decision – making with the farmers in agricultural practices such as variety to be selected, type of manures and fertilizers to be used in basal application, type of fertilizers required for top dressing and irrigation of crop in the mainfield. Remarkably higher fractions of female labourers were observed to have significant role perception in decision – making areas namely, spacing to be adopted for transplanting, time of weeding and harvesting number of labourers required for transplanting, weeding, harvesting, threshing, winnowing and processing of straw. Significantly higher fractions of the male respondents were reported to have high role performance in deciding the variety to be selected, interval of irrigation required, type of fertilizers required in the nursery and mainfield, number of ploughing required for top dressing, time of weeding, time of application of plant protection chemicals and number of labourers required for weeding. Role performance of majority of female agricultural labourers was higher in deciding various aspects of transplanting, weeding and harvesting. Role perception and role performance of Agricultural labourers were found to be significantly correlated to each other. Significant difference was observed among male and female agricultural labourers with regard to overall role perception and role performance. Majority of farmers perceived the role of male agricultural labourers, ‘as important’ in deciding the number of labourers required for transplanting, type of manures and fertilizers to be used in basal application, irrigation of crop in the mainfield, time of weeding, number of labourers required for weeding operations, time of application of plant protection chemicals and quantity of plant protection chemicals. Role of female agricultural labourers in deciding various aspects of transplanting, weeding and harvesting was ascribed significant importance by the employer farmers. Significant positive correlation was observed for three characteristics of both male and female agricultural labourers, namely, attitude towards job, attitude towards scientific agricultural practices and knowledge of scientific agricultural practices with their role perception as well as role performance. ‘Period of employment under the farmer’, contributed as much as 53.84 per cent variation in the role perception of male agricultural labourers. ‘Knowledge of scientific agricultural practices’ accounted for 37.76 per cent variation in the role perception of female labourers. With regard to role performance, knowledge of scientific agricultural practices accounted for 46.06 per cent variation in the case of male agricultural labourers and ‘period of employment under the farmer’ accounted for 58.20 per cent variation in the case of female agricultural labourers. ‘period of employment under the farmer’ had maximum direct effect on the role perception of male agricultural labourers, whereas, it was ‘knowledge of scientific agricultural practices’ which had maximum direct effect on the role performance.
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
Farmer-labourer relationship in rice production systems -a case study
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) Ramanathan, S; KAU; Thyagarajan Nair, G
The study was undertaken with the objective of analyzing the farmer – labourer relationship in paddy production systems. The study was conducted in two districts of Kerala namely, Thiruvananthapurm and Alapuzha representing two distinctly different paddy production systems. Dyadic approach was used in the conduct of the study and altogether 150 farmer – labourer dyads were selected, 75 dyads each from the selected districts using random sampling. The farmer – labourer relationship was measured with the help of a scale developed for the study having 33 items. A pilot study was conducted for the selection of items to be included in the scale. The response for the items was obtained on a 5 point continuum with bipolar adjectives at the extreme ends as in the case of semantic differential technique. The data on farmer – labourer relationship and on 11 common variables, 7 farmer – related variables and 4 labourer – related variables were collected using a structured interview schedule. The relationship dimensions identified empirically were ‘facilitation’, ‘empathy’, ‘equity’, ‘tolerance’, ‘guidance’, ‘recognition’, ‘economic’, ‘social’ and ‘priority’. In general, a little more than half of the farmer – labourer dyads had high relationship. Like wise, in case of relationship dimensions such as facilitation, equity, tolerance, guidance, social and priority majority of the dyads came under high group. There was no significant difference between the overall relationship of the two study districts and among the three union membership categories. However, there was significant difference between the labourer categories with male labourers having significantly higher relationship than their female counterparts. The dimension – wise performance of farmer – labourer dyads on the whole was in the order of ‘tolerance’, ‘economic’, ‘empathy’, ‘recognition’, ‘social’, ‘guidance’, ‘priority’, ‘facilitation’ and ‘equity’. While there existed a vast dissimilarity in the relationship performance of dimensions of the two study districts, the two labourer categories and the three union membership categories were in agreement with regard to dimension – wise relationship performance. The socio – economic and psychological factors namely, management orientation, persuasiveness, gregariousness, education, ability to handle conflicts and labour use efficiency put together contributed significantly to the relationship of farmer – labourer dyads and explained 68 per cent of the variation in the relationship of farmer – respondents. In case of labourer – respondents, the variables participation in decision making with farmers, employment days and education were observed to be significantly contributing to the farmer – labourer relationship and explained 20 per cent of variation in the relationship.
Open Access
Evaluative perception of homestead farmers in relation to appropriateness of farming systema and cropping patterns
(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1995) Babu, M N; KAU; Bhaskaran, C
The study was undertaken in 18 selected panchayats of central zone comprising of Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts, with a view to identify the farming systems and cropping patterns adopted in homesteads. The evaluative perception of the farmers in relation to the appropriateness of farming systems and cropping patterns adopted in homesteads, their level of knowledge on scientific practices and extent of adoption of scientific and indigenous practices were also studied. The sample consisted of 180 homestead farmers selected at random. Data were collected using a well-structured interview schedule developed for the purpose. Suitable statistical techniques were employed in the analysis of data. The study revealed that the homesteads of central zone were of unique nature in the sense that they comprised of a dwelling unit, with/without extended garden of wet land rice, monocrop rubber or additional crop land which acted as satellite units of the homestead. The major farming system identified was homesteads with crop components, livestock and extended garden, of which coconut based homesteads were predominant. In many of the homesteads, a multi- storied cropping pattern was in vogue whereas that of wet land was rice- rice- fallow. A good majority of the farmers were in the medium category with reference to their evaluative perception, level of knowledge and extent of adoption. Among the independent variables, extension participation, information sources used, economic motivation and annual income were found important in predicting the variations in evaluative perception. Education, extension participation, information sources used and value orientation were significantly correlated with level of knowledge. Education, farm size, extension participation, annual income and economic motivation were significantly correlated with extent of adoption. Evaluative perception of farmers was positively and significantly correlated with their level of knowledge and extent of adoption. Nearly half of the respondents were found adopting indigenous practices. Prohibitive cost of inputs was perceived as most important constraint followed by high labour cost. The study pointed out to the urgent need of effective measures to control the escalating rate of conversion of crop land to monocrop rubber and for purposes other than agriculture, and also the important role of these homesteads in conserving the agro- ecosystem and maintaining the environmental equilibrium. It also emphasized the need for an appropriate strategy for development of the homesteads, preferably on watershed area basis, by co-ordinating all the agencies directly or indirectly involved to ensure realistic, meaningful and sustainable agro-ecosystem management.
Open Access
Interaction of psychological economic, sociological and technological determinants of the entrepreneurial behaviour of agricultural students
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1997) Seema, B; KAU; Babu, B
The study aimed to identify the factors which are conducive for the entrepreneurial behaviour of agricultural .students. The study was conducted among the students of the two Agricultural colleges of Kerala Agricultural University and the unemployed graduates who have passed out from these colleges. Two hundred and fifty respondents were selected for the main study which comprised of 100 undergraduate students, 100 postgraduate students and 50 unemployed graduates. The entrepreneurial behavior of agricultural students was measured with the help of a scale developed for the study. Based on relevancy rating twenty four independent variables were selected Data were collected through mailed, and distributed questionnaire. The maximum likelihood solution for entrepreneurial behavior extracted 12 factors About 43 per cent of the total variability in the extent of entrepreneurial behavior was accounted by twelve factors. Majority of the respondents in the undergraduate group and unemployed graduates were found to have high level of entrepreneurial behavior. Similarly majority of the male respondents were found to have high level of entrepreneurial behavior. Self esteem, sociability, innovation proneness, Self confidence, attitude towards competition, management Orientation, persuasiveness, and self reliance were found to * be significantly and positively related to entrepreneurial behaviour of undergraduate students. In the case of postgraduate students attitude towards competition, self esteem, innovation proneness, management orientation, self confidence, persuasiveness, sociability, self reliance and attitude towards self employment were found to be significantly and positively related. ■* • . As to the unemployed graduates significant positive relationship was observed between entrepreneurial behaviour and persuasiveness, management orientation, innovation proneness, self confidence and credit orientation. Sociability, self reliance, self confidence, attitude towards competition, self esteem, persuasiveness, management orientation, innovation proneness, attitude towards self employment and technical competency were found to be significantly and positively related with entrepreneurial behaviour of male students. In the case of female students, self confidence, self esteem, self reliance, attitude towards self employment, sociability, management orientation, persuasiveness, annual income, innovation proneness and attitude towards competition showed significant positive relationship with enfrepreneurial behaviour. Attitude towards self employment, innovation proneness, self confidence, credit orientation, self reliance, sociability, marks obtained in Pree-Degree, marks obtained in B Sc. and management orientation explained 36.74 per cent of the variation in entrepreneurial behaviour of undergraduate students. In the case of postgraduate students 49.19 per cent of variation in entrepreneurial behaviour was explained by attitude towards competition, self esteem, sociability, innovation proneness and O.G.P A. (work experience). Persuasiveness and innovation proneness explained 25.12 per cent of variation in entrepreneurial behaviour of unemployed graduates. » As much as 43.28 per cent of variability in entrepreneurial behaviour of male students was explained by sociability, self reliance, persuasiveness, attitude towards •self employment, O.G.P A ( work experience) management orientation, innovation proneness and attitude towards competition For variables viz., self esteem, sociability, innovation proneness and credit orientation were responsible fof 36.65 per cent of-variation in entrepreneurial behaviour of female students. Capital investment, availability of labour, availability of resource and infrastructural facilities were ranked high as factors influencing entrepreneurial behaviour of agricultural students as perceived by different category of respondents.

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