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1996 - 199927
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Subject: Agricultural Extension × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1996 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen 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, S
    The 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Gaps In The Adoption Of Plant Protection Practices By Commercial Vegetables growers Of Thrissur District
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1998) Manoj, M; KAU; Joy Mathew
    It is commonly observed that there is a wide gap between the technology generated in research stations and its actual use by the clientale. It is with this view in mind that the present study was undertaken to identify the gaps in the adoption of plant protection practices by commercial vegetable growers in Thrissur District. The relationship between personal, situational and psychological characteristics of commercial vegetable farmers and their adoption was also studied. The constraints in the adoption process were also subjected to analysis. The study was conducted in Thrissur district. The sample consisted of 150 farmers from the three selected panchayats for the study. Data were collected using pretested and well structured interview schedule and suitable statistical techniques were employed in the analysis of the data. A prime aspect observed during the course of this study was the non- availability of simple and more compatible plant protection technology thus forcing the farmers to accept the failures of applying complex plant protection technology. Lack of adequate and effective linkage between various extension o agencies and research institutions in transfer of technology has led to the confinement of the improved plant protection technology within the research institutions. This has resulted in the non-availability of many an improved technology to the farmers thereby resulted in an unwaranted gap in the adoption of improved plant protection practices by commercial vegetable farmers. The results of multiple regression analysis indicated that cosmopoliteness, information source utilisation and scientific orientation as the important variables tDJ explaining maximum variation in the extent of adoption and level of knowledge about improved plant protection practices by commercial vegetable farmers. The important constraints perceived by the farmers were increased cost of plant protection chemicals, difficulty in preparation/application of pp chemicals, difficulty in the selection of alternate chemicals, inadequacy of capital, non- availability of labour and lack of knowledge about technology. The results point vividly to the prime need for strengthening the extension education efforts of the field functionaries to reduce the gap with respect to the adoption of improved plant protection practices by commercial vegetable farmers.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Endangered skills in the farming systems of Mukundapuram Taluk, Thrissur District
    (Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1999) Sulaja, O R; KAU; Geethakutty, P R
    A research study was conducted to identify and analyse the endangered skills in the farming systems of Mukundapuram Taluk, Thrissur District. The study also aimed at analysing the relationship of participation of farm youth in farming and their acquisition of indigenous skills with their behavioural characteristics. The factors associated with the endangered conditions of farm ski lis and the constraints in relation to the participation of farm youth in farming were analysed. The study was conducted in two phases - phase I and phase H. The sample selected for the study was of 100 farm youth which consisted of 50 each of young farmers and young farm labourers. The phase I of the study covered all the 27 panchayats of Mukundapuram Taluk, and the phase II was conducted in five selected panchayats of the Taluk. The research endeavour identified 73 indigenous farm skills of which 38 skills were endangered, 33 still popular and two extinct skills. The factors associated with the endangered conditions of farm skills were identified. The phase II revealed significant variaticn In the indigenous skill acquisition index (ISAI) of farmers. Majority (54%) of the farm youth were in the range of very Iow to Iow ISAI. Index of participation in farming (IPF) revealed that almost half of the farm youth had very low to Iow participation in farming. The physical participation of majority of young farmers were low to very Iow but they had high to moderately high participation as supervision, in farming. The young farm labourers had high to moderately high physical participation while they had low to very low supervision in farming. Statistical analysis revealed that 39.24 per cent of the variation in the participation of farm youth in farming was influenced by six variables namely self confidence, risk orientation, social participation, agricultural background, attitude towards self employment in agriculture and allied fields and econorrnc moti vation. About 19.7 per cent of variation in the acquisition of indigenous skill by farm youth was explained by five variables namely primary occupation, attitude towards self employment in agriculture and allied fields, self confidence, sense of responsibility in farming and farming experience. Among the constraints perceived by farm youth in relation to their participation in farming, risk and uncertainty involved, drudgery of labour and low profit from agriculture were perceived as important. These imply that farming should be viewed as an enterprise and strategies and programmes should be devised to inculcate the entrepreneurial skills in the farm youth. Concerted efforts for evolving appropriate, small machines and promotion of farm mechanisation are also needed in this context. Identification, documentation and utilisation of the extinct/endangered farm skills can form the starting point of such efforts of applied research.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Prospects and constraints of commercial cutflower production in Thiruvananthapuram district
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1997) Sindhu, S; KAU; Mothilal Nehru, S
    The present study under the title "Prospects and constraints of cutflower production in Thiruvananthapuram district" was undertaken with the following objectives. 1. To delineate the components of conceptual skill and to measure the conceptual skill of growers. 2. To study the relationship of personal, socio-situational and economic factors with the conceptual skill of growers. 3. To study the production practices of cutflowers followed by the growers. 4. To identify the different marketing channels existing in cutflower marketing in consultation with the growers. 5. To identify the constraints related to cutflower production and marketing as perceived by growers. The study was conducted among the respondents of five cutflower societies functioning in Thiruvananthapuram district. A sample of 100 growers were selected from the societies by adopting stratified random sampling technique with proportionate sampling procedure. Data was collected with the help of well structured, pre tested interview schedule and suitable statistical tests were employed in the analysis of data. In the study conceptual skill has been considered as dependent variable. The factors such as planning, risk-orientation, decision-taking ability, supervision and market perception were the major dimensions of conceptual skill. The selected personal, socio-situational and economic factors of cutflower growers were taken as independent variables which included education, cutflower growing experience, attitude towards cutflower growing, knowledge on cut flowers, self confidence, orientation towards competition, orientation towards skill development in farm workers, information seeking behaviour (personal), operational area, infra structural facilities, extension participation, social participation, mass media exposure (socio-situational), annual income and credit orientation (economic). Relationship of the personal, socio-situational and economic factors with the conceptual skill showed that in the case of Group I, none of the variables correlated with conceptual skill. In the case of Group 11 attitude towards cutflower growing, knowledge on cutflowers were positively and significantly correlated while mass media exposure was negatively and significantly correlated with conceptual skill. In the case of Group Ill, variables like cutflower growing experience, attitude towards cutflower growing, knowledge on cut flowers, orientation towards skill development and information seeking behaviour were correlated positively and significantly with conceptual skill. In the case of Group V a positive and significant relationship exists between conceptual skill and cutflower growing experience and orientation towards skill development in farm workers. In the case of Gr. V, a positive and significant relationship exists between conceptual skill and variables like cutflower growing experience, attitude towards cutflower growing, knowledge on cutflowers, self confidence, orientation towards skill development ill farm workers, information seeking behaviour and operational area. None of the socio-situational factors related significantly with conceptual skill of the respondents of Group I, Group 11, Group III and Group IV except for mass media exposure which was negatively and significantly correlated with conceptual skill of respondents of Group 11. None of the economic factors correlated with conceptual skill of the respondents of Group I, Group 11, Group Ill, Group IV and Group V. Regarding the production practices followed by anthurium growers, majority of growers have ordinary varieties. Majority of the growers follow pot planting using potting media containing sawdust, charcoal, brick and tile pieces, coconut husk and leaf-mould. Orchid growers have the collection of both monopodial and sympodial orchids and majority of the growers plant monopodial orchids in coconut husk alone and sympodial orchids in charcoal pieces alone. Regarding organic manure application, majority of the growers use diluted solution of fermented groundnut and neemcake in both the case of anthuriums and orchids. Majority of the growers apply 17: 17: 1 7 complex fertilizer solutions to both anthuriums and orchids. Majority of the growers apply organic manure and fertilisers once in a fortnight. Majority of the growers apply fungicides and pesticides once in a week regularly. Thus an indiscriminate use of fertilisers and plant protection chemicals was noticed in the study. Majority of the growers harvest flowers whenever there is demand. Flowers are cut during early mornings and late evenings. In the study various marketing channel ha been identified. in which the most important marketing channel of cutflowers identified was 'producer - collection centre - florishop- consumer'. Various production, technological and marketing constraints has been identified in the study. The important constraints perceived by the growers were 'high price of planting materials' (production), 'no standardised practices to follow' (technological) and 'inability of small growers to find market (marketing).
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    ThesisItemOpen 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).