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ThesisItem Open Access Evaluative perception of appropriateness of the recommended fertiliser management practices(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1989) Rasheed Sulaiman, V; KAU; Muraleedhara Prasad, RA study was undertaken to investigate into the extent of knowledge, extent of adoption and evaluative perception of appropriateness of the recommended fertilizer management practices among rice farmers (n=200) and Agricultural Demonstrators (n=54) in Palghat and Cannanore Districts of Kerala State. The study revealed that farmers of Palghat and Cannanore differed significantly with respect to their knowledge and adoption of fertiliser management practices with farmers of Palaghat having higher level of knowledge and adoptionThesisItem Open Access Influence of leaders in the development of rural areas(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1981) Shilaja, S; KAU; Tampi, A MThesisItem Open Access Entrepreneurial behaviour of rural women in Thiruvananthapuram district(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Jayalekshmi, G; KAU; Shilaja, SThe 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.ThesisItem Open Access Study on the Perception and the Role Performance of the Convenors of Group Farming Committees of Rice Cultivation(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1993) Jayasree Menon, KAU; Rajan Karippai, SThe study on role perception and role performance of the convenors of Group Farming Committee was carried out using 150 respondents selected from Trichur and Palghat districts. The opinions of respondents towards the programme were collected by personally interviewing them Analysis of the data thus collected indicated that cosmopoliteness and training need were the most important independent variables positively influencing role perception. Training revceived by the convenors exerted a negative effect on the perception of their roles as convenors. Communication behaviour came first followed by knowledge and training need among the independent variables influencing role performance. In the case of role perception as well as role performance, constraints in implementing the programme exerted maximum indirect effect on other independent variables. It was also found that role perception was strongly correlated with role performance.ThesisItem 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 SA 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.ThesisItem Open Access Analysis of saelected development programmes for promoting coconut production in Kerala(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Jinadevan, R; KAU; Prakash, RThe present study under the title “An analysis of selected development programmes for promoting coconut production in Kerala” was undertaken to understand the level of awareness, attitude, knowledge and adoption behaviour of farmers in relation to selected coconut development programmes. The analysis covered the response pattern of both beneficiary and non – beneficiary farmers to different variables. The constraints faced by both the group of farmers in the adoption of recommended practices and by the Agricultural officers in the implementation of the programmes were also analyzed. The study was conducted in Alappuzha district and covered the following development programmes : i) Scheme for expansion of area under coconut. ii) Scheme for providing assistance for developing irrigation facilities. iii) Integrated farming in coconut small holdings for productivity improvement. The sample consisted of 120 randomly selected beneficiary farmers, 40 each under each programme and 60 non beneficiary farmers and 50 agricultural officers. Data were collected using interview schedule and questionnaire and suitable statistical techniques were employed in the analysis of data. The study revealed that beneficiary farmers awareness, attitude, knowledge and adoption of the recommended practices, though partial in some aspects, was significantly influenced by the coconut development programmes. Practice wise adoption by farmers revealed that use of hybrid varieties of seedlings for new planting was the least adopted practice. There was a tendency among the farmers to switch over to west cost tall and other varieties. Comparison of adoption behaviour of farmers under the three selected development programmes showed that the extent of adoption of recommended practices was higher in new planting area compared to other areas. It was also found that the level of awareness, attitude, knowledge and adoption was higher in the case of beneficiary farmers compared to non beneficiaries. The results of the constraint analysis revealed the need for more attention to timely supply of coconut seedings, adoption of the labour saving group management practice and training programme of coconut development Board for the unemployed youths in plant protection and palm climbing. The results pointed out the need for proper co-ordination and linkage between various agencies involved in implementing coconut development programmes, simplifying the procedure in availing assistance under the programmes, starting field level offices, by Coconut Development Board in the model of Rubber Board and for proper planning and improvement in the pattern of implementation of coconut development programmes for accomplishing the cherished goals.ThesisItem Open Access Communication behaviour of women,heading farm families in Neyyattinkara taluk(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Anitha Menon, K; KAU; Babu, BA study on the Communication Behaviour of women heading farm families was carried out in five Krishibhavan areas under Neyyanttinkara taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district. Fifty women engaged in paddy cultivation and fifty from coconut cultivation formed the total sample of hundred respondents. The study was aimed to measure Communication Behaviour including Inward Exposure and Outward Exposure and to compare between the women cultivating paddy and the women cultivating coconut with regard to the dependent and independent variables of the study. It was also aimed to find the characteristics of women which influence Communication Behaviour, the relationship and the direct and indirect effects of these characteristics on Communication Behaviour. The data were collected using pre- tested structured interview schedule. The study revealed that the farm women in paddy cultivation had a high level of Inward Exposure. Women cultivating paddy were equally distributed in the low and high level of Outward Exposure categories and low level of Inward and Outward Exposure was noticed in majority of women cultivating coconut. The farm women had a low level of Communication Behaviour. Irrespective of the difference in the crop cultivated, the women did not differ significantly with regard to Inward Exposure, Outward Exposure, Communication Behaviour, and other selected characteristics. The characteristic profile study revealed that the respondents were middle aged and had a medium level of education (ie., upto high school) with a marginal farm size below 0.4ha. The women cultivating paddy had high level of social participation, cosmopoliteness, management orientation, scientific orientation, adoption of improved agricultural practices in paddy and knowledge about improved agricultural practices in paddy. With regard to women cultivating coconut, a medium level of social participation, high level of cosmopoliteness, scientific orientation, adoption of improved agricultural practices in coconut and a low level of management orientation were noticed. The women in coconut cultivation were distributed equally in the low and high level of knowledge about improved agricultural practices in coconut. The correlation co-efficients revealed that the selected characteristics of women were significantly correlated with Communication Behaviour and the correlation was positive except with the variable ‘age’. Path analysis results revealed that the maximum positive direct effect on Communication Behaviour was exerted by ‘knowledge about improved agricultural practices’ and ‘social participation’ with regard to women cultivating paddy and coconut respectively. The maximum positive indirect effect was exerted by ‘Adoption of improved agricultural practice’ and ‘knowledge about improved agricultural practices’ with regard to women cultivating paddy and coconut respectively.ThesisItem Open Access Adoption of improved agricultural practices by pepper growers of Idukki district(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Gangadharan, K K; KAU; Padmanabhan, V BThe study on the adoption of improved agricultural practices in pepper was conducted in Idukki district of Kerala with the following objectives: 1) To study the extent of awareness of improved agricultural practices in pepper by pepper growers. 2) To study the extent of knowledge about improved agricultural practices in pepper by pepper growers. 3) To study the attitude of pepper growers towards improved agricultural practices in pepper. 4) To study the extent of adoption of improved agricultural practices in pepper. 5) To study the relationship between the extent of awareness, knowledge, attitude and adoption with the socio- psychological and economic characters of pepper growers; 6) To identify the constraints in adoption of improved agricultural practices in pepper and to suggest solutions to overcome the constraints. A total of 200 pepper growers were selected from 10 krishi bhavans for the study, using stratified two- stage sampling procedure. Data were collected by using a structured interview schedule during the months of June and July 1992. The important findings of the study were the following. A majority of pepper growers in the study area had medium level of awareness of improved agricultural practices in pepper. The independent variables, namely, education, scientific orientation, economic motivation, risk orientation, cosmopoliteness, information source used, social participation, innovativeness, contact with extension agency and market orientation were positively and significantly related with awareness. But age was found negatively and significantly correlated with awareness of improved agricultural practices in pepper. Majority of pepper growers had medium level of knowledge about the improved agricultural practices in pepper. The independent variables, namely, education, scientific orientation, economic motivation, risk orientation, cosmopoliteness, information source used, social participation, innovativeness, contact with extension agency and market orientation were positively and significantly related with knowledge of improved agricultural practices in pepper, whereas age was found negatively and significantly correlated with knowledge. In the case of attitude of pepper growers, majority of pepper growers had a medium level of attitude towards improved agricultural practices in pepper. Education, scientific orientation, economic motivation, risk orientation, cosmopoliteness, information source used, social participation, innovativeness, contact with extension agency and market orientation were positively and significantly related with attitude of pepper growers towards improved agricultural practices in pepper. Age was found negatively and significantly correlated with attitude. A majority of pepper growers in the study area had medium level of adoption of improved agricultural practices in pepper. The independent variables namely, education, scientific orientation, economic motivation, risk orientation, cosmopoliteness, information source used, social participation, innovativeness, contact with extension agency and market orientation were positively and significantly related with adoption of improved agricultural practices in pepper. Age was found negatively and significantly correlated with adoption. Step-wise regression analysis revealed that education was the most important variable in prediction of the extent of awareness, followed by scientific orientation, economic motivation, risk orientation, cosmopoliteness, information source used, innovativeness, contact with extension agency and market orientation. The seven variables jointly explained 65 per cent of variation in extent of awareness of improved agricultural practices in pepper. Education alone contributed 41 per cent of variation in prediction. In the case of knowledge about improved agricultural practices in pepper, education was found as the most important variable in prediction, which alone contributed 50 per cent of variation in the extent of knowledge. The independent variables, namely, education, contact with extension agency, innovativeness, social participation, scientific orientation, risk orientation, information source used and market orientation had jointly explained about 74 per cent of variation in the extent of knowledge about improved agricultural practices in pepper. Scientific orientation was found as the most important variable in prediction of attitude of pepper growers towards improved agricultural practices in pepper. The variables, namely, scientific orientation, market orientation, educational status, risk orientation, innovativeness, social participation and age had jointly explained 67 per cent variation in the attitude of pepper growers towards improved agricultural practices in pepper. Scientific orientation alone contributed 41 per cent of variation in prediction. Education was found as the most important variable in the prediction of adoption of improved agricultural practices in pepper. This variable alone contributed 42 per cent of variation in prediction. Fifty nine per cent of variation was explained by the seven variables, namely, education, contact with extension agency, social participation, information source used, innovativeness, scientific orientation and market orientation. The pepper growers perceived the following as the major constraints in adoption of improved agricultural practices in the descending order of magnitude, extensive prevalence of pests and diseases, high cost of production inputs, lack of awareness of improved agricultural practices in pepper, traditional systems of cultivation, inadequate extension support, lack of sufficient good quality planting materials, inadequate research support, long duration of rainless period, fluctuating prices of black pepper, non-availability of literature on improved agricultural practices, non-availability of input materials and small and marginal size of holdings. The following were the solutions suggested to overcome important constraints in adoption of improved agricultural practices by pepper growers: Develop low cost technologies for the control of pests and diseases. Develop disease and drought tolerant varieties. Production and distribution of good quality planting materials. Adequate training to farmers about improved agricultural practices. Implementation of soil and moisture conservation measures. Proper marketing network coupled with remunerative price of black pepper. Supply of newer high yielding varieties to farmers.ThesisItem Open Access Promotional strategy for integrated pest management in rice in Thrissur district an experimental study(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1999) Deepa, C B; KAU; Ranjan Karippai, SThe study was aimed at popularising the Integrated Pest management practices among the rice growers of Thrissur district and to formulate a strategy to facilitate the idea using the best combination of extension method and audio visual aids. The effectiveness of different treatments in terms of gaining knowledge, attitude and symbolic adoption were arrived at. The study was conducted among 120 rice growers of Pananchery Grama Panchayat of Thrissur district. The respondents were divided into groups of 30 each The dependent variables of the study were the knowledge about IPM in rice, attitude towards IPM practices and symbolic adoption. The independent variables included the personal, socioeconomic and psychological characteristics of the farmers. The distribution of respondents based on dependent variables showed that majority of the respondents where in high category regarding knowledge and in low category regarding attitude and symbolic adoption regarding IPM rice. Out of 18 independent variable studied 11 of them were significantly and positively correlated with knowledge. Seven variables showed non significant relation. Multiple regression analysis showed 65% variation with the variables related to knowledge. Correlation analysis of attitude showed a significant and positive relation with 14 variables out of 18 variables studied. The most important being scientific orientation, progressiveness, extension participation, cosmopolitness, information seeking behavior, management orientation, status of pest in field and competitiveness. Multiple regression analysis results showed a significant R- square value of 0.648 which explained 65% of the variation. The most important variables status of pests, progressiveness Correlation analysis of symbolic adoption revealed that out of 18 variables studied 14 were positively correlated with symbolic adoption. The most important variables being scientific orientation, achievement motivation, economic motivation, extension participation, extension orientation, cosmopolitness and information seeking behavior. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that 76% of the variation was explained by the selected independent variables. The variables like economic motivation, management orientation, status of pest in field and training in IPM were positively significant. Student's t- test was carried out to compare the changing knowledge, attitude and symbolic adoption of farmers after being exposed to different treatments. Significant changes were noticed after each treatment. Maximum changes were observed after T 3. ie lecture+ slide show + discussion. The major constraint observed by the farmers was the lack of expert guidance regarding IPM practices.