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Open Access
Performance of samatha self help groups in the empowerment of rural women in Ulloor panchayat
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, 2001) Meera M J; Kumari Sushama N P
The study was carried out in Ulloor panchayat of Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala among four major Samatha production units identified. Twelve groups were selected based on probability proportionate to size from among the four major production units. The study aimed to' analyse the performance of characteristics and profile characteristics of members, to study the structure and functions of Samatha groups, perception of officials (including people's representatives) about Samatha groups, constraints faced by members and officials and suggestions for improvement. The respondents consisted of 120 members selected from the 12 production units, out of the four major units identified. The second category of respondents included officials and people's representatives associated with the working of Samatha groups. Two control groups consisting of 15 respondents from Samatha banks and 15 respondents of rural women who are not members of any group. The dependent variables for the study were the dimensions of . empowerment namely leadership propensity, self confidence, employment generation, income generation and decision making. The group characteristics were also studied. The independent variables included the profile characteristics of members .• .:', ,c" t!orrelation analysis was done to find out the relationship between the dependent variables and the independent and group characteristics. Group characteristics score of the Samatha production units was found out for each of the groups. Group 2 and Group 1 had the highest scores respectively and the Group 7 had the lowest score. Empowerment index of the Samatha production unit respondents were found out and the respondent were classified into three group namely Low, Medium and High. Majority of the respondents were found to have high Empowerment Index values. Comparison of Samatha production units and rural women without group activities was done with percentage analysis which showed that respondents of production units were In the high group with respect to the dimensions of empowerment whereas the rural women without group activities were in the low group. To compare Samatha production units and Samatha Banks, analysis of variance was done, which revealed that there is no significant difference between the production units with respect to or most of the variables and all of the dimensions of empowerment (dependent variables). The analysis of perception of officials about Samatha groups revealed that all of them had fairly high perception about Samatha groups. The major constraint felt by both members and officials was difficulty in marketing of products.
Open Access
Rice seed production and distribution strategies in Palakkad district
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2002) Jinesh Jills, George; KAU; Ahamed, P
The present study on Palakkad rice seed system was basically aimed at understanding farmer-preferred varieties and attributes, the constraints to rice seed production and distribution at sub system level, public sector rice seed production status of the district for five consecutive years (1996-'97 to 2000-'01) and streamline a seed system strategy for Palakkad district. PRAIPLA investigations were conducted in ten ADBs (except Mannarkad and Agali) with 330 farmers (FSS), 41 AOs/AAs (ESS), 20 farm officials from the SSFs (SISS) and the rice researchers (RSS) of central zone as the respondents of the study. The analyses of data elicited through matrix ranking exercises was done using special 'preferential indices' developed namely MRI, VRI, ARI, CRI, MSAI. The results of the study confirmed the existence of a large number of rice varieties/cultivars (54 nos) raised in diverse agro climatic and micro-farming situations. Three unique systems apart from the traditional virippu and mundakan, namely Koottumundakan, Karingora and Poonthalpadams were identified. The major crop establishment system for virippu and mundakan were dry sowing and transplantation respectively. There was a huge gap in the demand and supply of quality rice seed facilitated by the SSFs, RARS, Pattambi, NSC unit, Alathur and RSGP. Together they accounted only for around five per cent of the rice seed requirement of the district. According to the latest estimates (2000-2001), 94.70 per cent of the rice seeds were farmer-produced, 1.51 per cent was contributed by SSFs, 0.66 per cent by RARS, Pattambi, 1.98 per cent by the NSC unit, Alathur and 1.15 per cent by RSGP. The 34 farmer-preferred rice varietal attributes were classified into eight categories namely, traits related to grain quality, multiple adaptability, pest/disease tolerance, straw quality, traits related to harvest and post harvest operations and traits related to inputs. The constraints to rice seed production and distribution at the various stakeholder systems (FSS, ESS, SISS and RSS) were classified into eight categories namely input constraints, socio-economic constraints, infra structural constraints, technological constraints extension and policy constraints, biological constraints, information constraints and psychological constraints. The constraints to the evolution and spread of rice varieties perceived by the RSS of the district were categorized into research, production and extension and policy constraints. Comparison of the FSS and the ESS of Palakkad district on the ranking of rice varieties, varietal traits and prioritization of farmers' constraints to rice seed production and distribution revealed that there was significant disagreement between the two sub systems, on the ranking of both virippu and mundakan varieties, while their perception on preferred varietal traits and farmers' constraints were more or less similar. Results of the study indicate the need for decentralized participatory rice varietal selection coupled with community level seed production, to tackle the inadequacies and problems of Palakkad rice seed system. Hence, a decentralized participatory nee varietal selection and seed production model was prepared for Palakkad district.
Open Access
Women entrepreneurs in agri-business
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2002) Sindhu Narayanan, S; KAU; Geethakutty, P S
The study "Women entrepreneurs in agri business" was undertaken in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Palakkad District of Kerala to understand the profile of women entrepreneurs in agribusiness, the push and pull factors of women entrepreneurship, the major problems perceived by women entrepreneurs and to measure their level of success. The sample selected for the study was 60 women entrepreneurs (20 from each district). The entrepreneurs were classified based on the products and services-into seven major typologies as traditional, innovative, on-farm, off- farm, on-farm cum off-farm, formal and informal enterprises. The food industry and floriculture were the major areas of agri business in which large number of women entrepreneurs were engaged. The profile of women entrepreneurs revealed that 50 per cent of the respondents entered business at the age of 31 to 40 years. Majority of respondents were married with nuclear family and most of them possessed medium level of entrepreneurial traits. Support from family and group members, support from developmental institutions, extent of media utilization, training received for enterprise management and labour relationship along with motivational factors such as need for independence, earning money/ income, recognition in society and need to do something new etc., acted as push or pull factors depending on the profile of respondents. The most important problem perceived by women entrepreneurs was lack of timely finance. The high cost of raw materials and low price received for the final product were also major issues. The study revealed that majority of respondents had medium to high level of success in their respective fields. This was measured using Entrepreneurial Success Index (ESI) developed for the purpose, with eight dimensions viz., profitability, social recognition, consumer satisfaction, produce/brand recognition, employee's satisfaction, quality of produce, capacity utilization and diversification. Detailed case studies of selected six successful women entrepreneurs belonging to different typologies revealed the interacting factors of entrepreneurial management. Lack of technical knowhow and managerial capacity were observed to hinder the women entrepreneurs from reaching high levels of success in their respective fields. The study drew attention to the need for target oriented, and strategic entrepreneurial training programmes to promote entrepreneurial capacity building, among rural women of Kerala.
Open Access
Role and accountability of women in the farming systems of Madakkathara Panchayath in Thrissur district
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, 2001) Bindu, V S; KAU; Geethakutty, P S
A study on role and accountability of women in the farming systems was conducted in the Madakkathara panchayath of Thrissur District. A sample of 145 women heads selected from five types of fanning systems - homestead with crop components alone (Type-I), homestead with crop components and extended garden (Type-Il), homestead with crop and live stock components (Type-Ill), homestead with crop, extended garden and livestock components (Type-IV) and homestead with agri-business components (Type-V) formed the major respondents of the study. Another category of respondents consisted of 90 development functionaries (30 each of extension personnel, scientists and political functionaries) of Thrissur District. Relevant data were collected through personal interview and questionnaire. Regarding the extent of involvement of men and women and categorization of farm activities, the study could observe that there were female dominant, male dominant and gender neutral practices in the farming systems of the study area. In general, weeding, shed cleaning and feeding of cattle were found to be female dominant practices while marketing, selection of varieties, land preparation, manuring and plant protection were observed as male dominant practices. The practices observed as gender neutral were harvesting, post harvest operations, planting and irrigation. The analysis on farm income contribution by family women members revealed that in the case of farming .sy.stem with crop and live.stock components, family women were contributing the highest i.e. 37 per cent followed by the type with agri-business component; where in women were able to provide 30 percent of mcome. Time utilization pattern of farm women could reveal the better potential of system with crop and livestock components which was using on an average three hours of family women labour per day for farm management activities. The major problems and constraints faced by farm women were lack of economic freedom followed by lack of marketing facilities and low price for milk. The differential perception on the part of the development functionaries brought out the need for gender orientation and sensitivity with respect to the roles and constraints of farm women among the different functionaries. Content and beneficiary analysis of development programmes of Agriculture, Dairy development and Animal Husbandry Department revealed the essential changes in gender orientation to be brought in the programmes of the Department of Agriculture . . ,
Open Access
Role of labour force (thozhil sena) in agricultural development implemented through people's plan in Kerala
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2002) Geetha, Nath G; KAU; Prakash, R
The study entitled "Role of labour force (Thozhil Sena) in agricultural development implemented through people's plan was undertaken to study the structure, function and role of Thozhil Sena. It was also aimed to study the employment generation and income generation due to the implementation of Thozhil Sena, to study the attitude and perception of its members and farmers towards it and to identify the constraints as perceived by the members/officials/people' s representatives.
Open Access
Performance and potential of gramasabhas in crop production in Athiyanoor block of Thiruvananthapuram district
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2002) Beena, S; KAU; Sherief, A K
The study entitled 'Performance and potential of gramasabhas in crop production. in Athiyanoor block of Thiruvananthapuram district was undertaken to study the effectiveness, attitude and perception and to identify the constraints as perceived by the farmers, officials and people's representatives regarding the functioning of gramasabhas. The study was conducted in Venganoor, Vizhinjam, Athiyanoor and Kottukal panchayats of Athiyanoor block. A sample of 200 respondents were selected using multistage random sampling technique. Data were collected through well structured and pre-tested interview schedule. Sixty per cent of the farmers, fifty five per cent of the officials and sixty per cent of the people's representatives perceive the gramasabhas as effective in planning and implanting agricultural development programmes. Regarding the attitude towards gramasabhas, 58.43 per cent of the farmers and 87.50 per cent of the people's representatives possessed a very favourable attitude. Among the officials, 65 per cent were favourable towards gramasabhas. Eighty per cent of the people's representatives had very good perception about the functioning of gramasabhas. The study revealed that 57.50 per cent of the officials and 61.67 per cent of the farmers belonged to high group with respect to perception. Majority of the farmers had education upto high school level with farming as the main occupation. Most of the farmers expressed a high level of political orientation, cosmopoliteness, social participation and extension participation. Information source utilisation and orientation of the farmers towards incentives were also found to be high for majority of the respondents. Personal, socio-psychological variables viz., education, political orientation, cosmopoliteness, social participation, information source utilisation, leadership propensity, attitude towards people's plan and orientation towards incentives had shown a positive and significant relationship with effectiveness. Annual income had negatively significant relationship with effectiveness. Education, main occupation, political orientation, social participation, attitude towards people's plan, economic motivation and orientation towards incentives had shown a positive and significant relation with attitude of the farmers towards gramasabhas. Annual income was found to be negatively correlated with attitude. Education, main occupation, political orientation, social participation, attitude towards people's plan, economic motivation and orientation towards incentives had shown a 'positively significant relationship with perception of the farmers about. the functioning of gramasabhas. Annual income had negatively significant relation with perception. Venganoor and Kottukal panchayats differed significantly with respect to leadership propensity. The respondents of Venganoor panchayat had high level of leadership propensity as compared to those in Kottukal panchayat. Venganoor and Kottukal panchayats differed significantly with respect to perceived effectiveness. The respondents in Venganoor panchayat perceived the gramasabhas as highly effective in planning and implementing agricultural development progarammes. There was no significant difference among Venganoor, Vizhinjam, Athiyanoor and Kottukal panchayats with respect to attitude and perception about the gramasabhas. The officials and the people's representatives exhibited non- significant relationship regarding the perceived effectiveness of gramasabhas in planning and implementing agricultural development programmes. . As far as attitude towards gramasabhas is concerned, the officials and the people's representatives differed significantly. It was observed that the people's representatives had a more favourable attitude towards gramasabhas than the officials. Significant difference was observed between the officials and the people's representatives regarding the perception about the functioning of gramasabhas. As compared to officials, people's representatives possessed a better perception about the functioning of gramasabhas. Lack of active group discussions was perceived as the most important constraint by the farmers, officials and people's representatives.
Open Access
Adaptation behaviour of vegetable growers in crisis situations
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2002) Boban Paul; KAU; Jose Joseph
Kerala, the green stretch, in the south west cost of India, is delineated from other states by Western Ghats stretching around six hundred kilometers of its Eastern boundary. These hill ranges creates an exclusive climatic conditions in this land. The soil and whether factors have lead to diversity of plant population and also the crops cultivated here. Like other states of India, the crop loss and consequent economic crises occur in Kerala farming also. However the root causes of the crises are different here compared to other states. There it happens as a results of flood, droughts and storms where in Kerala the economic loss results mainly from pest and disease incidence, land slides etc. Kerala is well known for the production of spices and plantation crops. In last two or three decades the commercial cultivation of vegetables also was started in the state. Still a major portion of state's requirement of vegetables are met by products from neighbouring states. The government through its Department of Agriculture and the Vegetable and Fruits Promotion Council of Kerala are trying to increase vegetable production in the state. It was in this context, the present study was undertaken with the objectives such as identifying the different crisis situations encountered by commercial vegetable growers, identifying the methods of adaptation in these crisis situations, rationality behind those methods of adaptation and finally the perception of commercial vegetable growers about the external intervention of developmental agencies in crisis situation. The study was conducted in Ernakulam district which was a traditional vegetable growing area. More over the activities of Department of Agriculture and vegetable and fruits promotion council of Kerala was in progress for the promotion of vegetable production. A two stage sampling technique was used to select three panchayats for the selection of respondents. From the selected panchayat fifty vegetable growers each were randomly identified and they formed the respondents. Data were collected with the help of a pretested and well structured interview schedule. The crops selected were Bitter gourd (Momordica), Snake gourd (Trichosanthus anguina), Oriental pickling melon (Cucumis melo), Ash gourd (Benincasa hespida), Cowpea (Vigna anguiculata var. sesquipedalis). Data was collected classifying crop wise and season wise. The data regarding methods of adaptation were delineated as anticipatory measures, measures for mitigation and contingent measures. The rationality of the methods of adaptation was studied by the rating from three groups of respondents which included scientist, extension personnel and progressive farmers. An index was developed for measuring the level of adaptation. The salient findings are as follows: The commonly adopted anticipatory measures by farmers to insulate themselves from the impact of a possible economic loss were mixed cropping in vegetables, crop diversification with perennial crops, crop rotation with seasonal crops, crop diversification in annual crops, vocational diversification by other enterprises, vocational diversification by other jobs, adjusting planting time to get yield during high demand season and minimising hired labour by employing maximum family labour. The measures taken by the majority of farmers for mitigating the impact of an already occurred economic loss in a crisis were compensating for the loss with the profit from other crops, loan renewal, obtaining new loans on land and gold mortgage and government subsidies. The unexpected price fall was tackled by the contingent measure of pooling the produce from neighbouring farmers and transporting to distant markets. Majority of the respondents reported that VFPCK was intervening in the crisis situations. Only a minor section of respondents reported that Department of agriculture was making interventions. With regard to effectiveness of interventions majority were of the opinion that both the agencies mentioned above were effective in making interventions. With regard to the level of adaptation, majority of the respondent belonged to the category of medium level of adaptation.
Open Access
Leadership in people`s planning programme-swot analysis
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Anjana, S; KAU; Kaleel, F M H
This study on "Leadership in people's planning programme - SWOT analysis" was designed to measure the role perception and role performance of different categories of leaders, as well as the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat elements associated with the role performance of leaders in people's planning programme. This study was conducted in Thrissur district of Kerala state which was purposively selected. The sample selected for the study comprised two categories of leaders consisting 100 non-officials and 25 officials. In role perception, the roles like; proper selection of beneficiaries and identification of felt needs of the people were emerged as the most important by both categories of leaders in planning stage. As in case of implementation stage, they were active involvement of people in the implementation stage, making transparency and effective utilisation of resources. Highlighting the beneficial aspects, involving people. In evaluation stage, monitoring and assessing and submitting the reports before the gramma sabha were perceived as the most important roles perceived by both categories of leaders. Regarding the role performance, in planning stage both categories of leaders performed the roles well together were co-ordination of officials, identification of felt needs, cost' of the projects and decentralisation in decision making. In implementation stage both categories of leaders performed the roles like, the neighbourhood formation and equitable distribution of benefits. Whereas in case of evaluation stage, they were report submission, preparation of accounts of the project, monitoring and assessing results and highlighting the results. The study revealed that majority of non-officials and official leaders belonged to 'high' category of role perception and role performance. It was found that there was no significant difference among the two categories of leaders regarding their role perception and role performance. In case of relationship between role perception and role performance of non-official and official leaders was positive and significant. Different strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats experienced by the non-officials and officials while performing their roles were identified. The study drew attention to the emerging need of taking necessary action to avoid the delay in sanctioning the programmes and fmancial allotment by the higher authorities.
Open Access
Quality management in agricultural research in Kerala Agricultural University -a critical analysis
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Smitha, Baby; KAU; Joy, Mathew
Summary, etc. The study on "Quality management in agricultural research in Kerala Agricultural University - A critical analysis" was conducted with the objective of analyzing the quality management related to agricultural research in Kerala Agricultural University. The respondents of the study comprised of 55 agricultural scientists who were the principal investigators of the externally aided projects completed after 1995 in the central zone. Ten critical dimensions of quality management in agricultural research were identified and their perceived importance in deciding the final quality of agricultural research were analysed. Research problem identification emerged as the most important dimension of quality management in agricultural research, followed by formulation of objectives, research methodology, literature review, data generation, data analysis, results and implications, project title, reporting, and bibliography in their descending order of importance. A composite scale was developed tor quantifying quality management in agricultural research and applied to the selected sample. A good majority of the respondents (75%) showed a high level of quality management in their research work. The remaining 25% belonged to the 'medium' group of quality management. The influence of selected personal, psychological, job/ organizational characteristics on quality .managementin agricultural research was studied. Scope for personal development and task identity were the two independent variables that showed a positive and significant correlation with quality management in agricultural research. Five independent variables viz. experience, technical competence, scope for personal development, job satisfaction and task identity together contributed 27.64 per cent variation in quality management, out of the total 29.3 per cent variation constituted by all the 14 independent variables. Job satisfaction and task identity showed their maximum indirect effect through scope for personal development. Experience had its maximum indirect effect on quality management through technical competence. The critical problems related to quality management in agricultural research in Kerala Agricultural University were analysed. Inadequate and insufficient mechanism for planning and determining research priorities and cumbersome and time consuming procedures for committing and using research funds were perceived to be the two most important problems. The study, it is believed, could bring out the subtle details of quality management concept in agricultural research, which would provide deeper insight to the policy makers and top management of the University on how to cultivate and foster this vital value in the field of agricultural research.

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