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20145
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Subject: Agricultural Extension × End date: 2014 × Start date: 2014 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Innovations in e-agricultural extension technology (e-AET): diffusion and adoption of agri-expert systems among extension professionals in Kerala
    (Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Modem, Ravikishore; KAU; Allah, Thomas
    The present study entitled 'Innovations in e-Agricultural Extension Technology (e-AET): Diffusion and adoption of agri-expert systems among extension professionals in Kerala' was conducted at Thiruvananthapuram district during 2012-2014 covering 100 extension professionals. Expert systems allows the use and application of information technology and communications technology (lCT's) to access and obtain information related to agricultural production, marketing, distribution, and prices, and the results of agricultural research, innovations, to raise the level of agricultural production and benefit the farming community. The present study, therefore, is with the objective to conduct a systematic appraisal of existing expert systems in agriculture vis a vis their diffusion among the extension professionals. The findings demonstrate that most of the extension professionals either in State Department, NGO or University have positive attitudes towards expert system. Age, training, innovativeness, retrievability, relevancy, format clarity, information content, availability, accuracy and timeliness affect extension professionals' attitudes. Based on respondent's stage in the adopter categorisation with reference to expert systems, it was found that 10 per cent of the sampled respondents belonged to innovators category, 19 per cent respondents belonged to early adopters' category, 32 per cent respondents belonged to early majority category, 24 per cent respondents belonged to late majority category and 15 per cent respondents belonged to laggards' category. Effectiveness index of expert system applications was worked out using seven statements and the results showed that pedagogy (as a means to effective learning through expert system) having highest effectiveness index. The findings demonstrate that most of the respondents belonged to middle age category, holding with master degrees; attended training on lCT. It was also found that most of the respondents having high innovativeness and accessibility, forinat clarity and information content of the expert system perceived as high. Availability, retrievability, relevancy, timeliness, accuracy and effectiveness index of expert system perceived as medium by the respondents. Hence, the study undoubtedly exhibited affirmative reaction from all three categories of respondents on the applications of expert systems in the field of agriculture, because local information resource centers are gaining importance with computers carrying expert systems to help fanners to make decisions.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Innovations in e-agricultural extension technology (e-AET): diffusion and adoption of information kiosks and mobile initiatives among the farmers of Thiruvanathapuram district, Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Hinduja, N A; KAU; Kishore, Kumar N
    The present study entitled, 'Innovations in e-Agricultural Extension Technology (e-AET): Diffusion and adoption of information kiosks and mobile SMS among farmers of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala' was carried out to analyse the utility of the information support provided to ~arrners through the Information Kiosks and Mobile initiatives in Kerala with forty user farmers for Information Kiosk and sixty user farmers for Mobile SMS from Thiruvananthapuram district. The findings demonstrate that majority of the farmers in both the categories fell under middle age group and had favourable attitude towards these initiatives. Farmers utilizing Information Kiosk became aware through contact of Information Kiosk installed at Krishi Bhavan, markets, had more high school education and disseminated information through communication with fellow farmers. Farmers utilizing Mobile SMS became aware through extension personnel, had more collegiate education and disseminated information through Mobile/Telephone. Medium level of exposure to Information and Communication Technology (ICT), effectiveness, information needs, perception and utility of messages was observed for the information support given through both Information Kiosk and Mobile SMS. Most of the fanners utilized the Information Kiosk messages for 4-5 times and Mobile SMS only once. The major constraint in accessing Information Kiosk is lack of awareness and contents related problems is a major constraint for accessing Mobile SMS. Utility of the messages of Information Kiosk is significantly positively con-elated with education, frequency of use of messages, awareness source, information needs, attitude of the farmers, effectiveness. Perception towards Information Kiosk is positively con-elated significantly with information dissemination ways, awareness source and effectiveness. Utility of messages mobile is significantly positively con-elated with exposure to ICT, information dissemination ways, frequency of use of messages, information needs, advantages and effectiveness. Perception towards mobile SMS is significantly positively correlated with exposure to ICT, awareness source, information dissemination ways, effectiveness and negatively correlated with constraints. Providing adequate infrastructure, content improvement promotion of public private partnership, network development among agricultural institutions periodical monitoring and evaluation, conducting training programmes, developing favourable attitude and orientation of human resources towards ICT extension is the strategy to be followed to scale up the uses ofthese initiatives. Hence the study undoubtedly exhibited that quick dissemination of information from agricultural research system through lnfonnation Kiosks and Mobile SMS can be done and they constitute one of the critical inputs in technology transfer in present agricultural scenano.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Farmer-to-farmer extension in Kerala agriculture: a critical analysis of leads (Lead farmer centred extension advisory and delivery service) project in Kollam distric
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Priya, Peter; KAU; Prakash, R
    The study entitled “Farmer to farmer extension in Kerala agriculture: a critical analysis of LEADS (Lead Farmer Centered Extension Advisory and Delivery Service) project in Kollam district” is mainly dealing with the analysis of farmer centric extension. The respondents selected for the study were 99 farmers, 40 agricultural officers, and 33 field assistants from Kollam district. The main objective of the study was to analyse the farmer-to-farmer extension in the LEADS pilot project in Kollam district and to suggest measures to improve the functioning of the project. It was found that communication effectiveness in LEADS was moderate. Among eight independent variables selected for the study, two variables namely ‘innovativeness’ and ‘farmer’s contact with officials’ were positively and significantly affecting the communication effectiveness. In the case of attitude of respondents towards LEADS, 72 per cent of farmers were having a favourable attitude; however it was only 52.5 per cent for officials. Correlation studies revealed that among eight independent variables, ‘number of trainings attended’ was positively and significantly affecting the attitude of farmers towards LEADS. All agricultural officers and the field assistants used to participate in MTA (Monthly Technology Advice) meetings regularly. Considering the perception of the respondents about MTA, only 3 per cent of the farmers and officers perceived MTA as highly efficient and effective, whereas 75 per cent of both the categories perceived it as moderately efficient and effective. However, 15 per cent of the field assistants perceived MTA as highly efficient and effective. The desk study revealed that the procedure for the selection of lead farmers and satellite farmers were strictly being followed in the district. Comparison between the previous system of extension delivery and the system in LEADS has also been done in the study. The major constraints experienced by the farmers were the unavailability of seeds and other inputs on time for farming activities in the nearest areas and the problems related to the marketing of their produces. Among a number of suggestions put forward after the analysis of the LEADS programme, the major suggestions were to increase the number of agricultural outlets for improving the marketing facility and also creating facilities for the provision of timely input supply for agriculture.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Radio listening behaviour of farm families in the digital age
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Haseena Beevi, A; KAU; Padmanabhan, V B
    Radio is the first electronic mass media. Radio has played a very vital role in the dissemination of agricultural information during the past years . A research study entitled “Radio listening behaviour of farm families in the digital age” was taken up with the objective to identify the radio programmes listened by farm family members and to assess the awareness of farm family members on farm broadcast programmes, to study the information seeking behaviour, information utilization behaviour and information documentation behaviour of farm family head and their relationship with personal and situational variables, to find out the preferences of farm family members on the mode, time, duration and frequency of farm broadcast programmes, to identify the constraints in listening farm broadcast programmes and make suggestion for improving the programmes. The personal and situational of farmers selected through judge’s relevancy rating were age, education, farm size, farming experience, extension contact, extensionparticipation, mass media exposure and cosmopoliteness. Sixty farmers who listened to radio programmes through medium wave of Thiruvananthapuram station of All India Radio were selected through three stage random sampling procedure. Farmers from Nellanad and Pallichalgramapanchayath were interviewed. On analysis of the data it was found that majority (58.33%) of the respondents belonged to 40-60 year age group and 100%of the farmers were literate.Majority (78.33%) of the respondents were cultivating more than 50 cents of land. Majority (40%) of the respondents had 11-25 years of experience in farming, majority (75%) of the farmers were having medium extension contact , 41.66% had medium extension participation and 46 % had medium cosmopoliteness and 58.34% had medium mass media exposure. Majority of farmers and family members listened to morning programmes health programmes and some of the evening programmes. Majority (66.66%) of the respondents had medium information seeking behaviour, majority ( 73.33% ) had medium information source utilization behaviour and majority (83.34% ) of the respondents had medium information utilization from radio. Majoriy (80%) of the farmers had medium information documentation behaviour. Education, extension contact, extension participation, cosmopoliteness and mass media exposure were significantly and positively related with information seeking behaviour and information source utilisation behaviour. Discussion was the most preferred mode of presentation by farmers . Inconvenience of time, use of other mass media and listening of family members to FM radio were the major constraints. Suggestions were provide farm information through FM radio, increase awareness of students ,farmers, farmers groups and Kudumbasree groups on farm broadcast programmes and provide facilities to school students to listen to radio at school .
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Content development for an agricultural expert system on organic vegetable cultivation
    (College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Anupama, S; KAU; Sheiref, A K
    The present study entitled “Content development for an agricultural expert system on organic vegetable cultivation” was taken with a purpose of exploring a methodology for an Expert system. The objectives studied were analysis of information on organic vegetable cultivation, inventorization of the selected information for the different systems in Kerala, and development of a methodology for content development for farmer- friendly interactive multimedia aid suiting the Expert system. One hundred farmers who were having organic certification were selected through simple random sampling procedure from Kannur and Wayanad districts. One dependent variable and ten independent variables were studied and analysed with the help of different scales and techniques. On analysis of the data it was found that most of the respondents (58%) belonged to old age group and all the respondents were literate. Fifty four percent of the respondents were having experience in farming for more than 25 years. Majority (70%) of the farmers belongs to medium category when comes to the possession of livestock. Majority of the respondents belonged to the medium category with respect to extension agency contact (72%), information seeking behaviour (73%), innovativeness (66 %) scientific orientation (73%), and market perception (73%). Seventy eight percent of the respondents were having high level of economic motivation. Extent of knowledge was categorized into three, viz., organic crop production practices, organic crop protection practices and organic crop certification and management practices for the purpose of identifying and inventorizing need based information on organic farming in vegetables. Majority of the respondents were having medium level of knowledge about organic farming. On analysing these three categories separately, 89% of the organic farmers need information on organic production practices, 82% requires information regarding crop protection practices and 93% of the organic farmers need information on organic crop certification and management practices. Extent of knowledge of organic farmers is having a positive and significant correlation with their extension agency contact and a negative correlation with economic motivation. The majority of the famers were having organic certification for more than ten years. The farmers were giving importance to the quality rather than the quantity of the vegetable produced. The number of expert systems available for farmers on organic farming practices is very minimum. The user friendly interfaces available are also lacking in information which farmers are often seeking. The majority vegetable farmers practicing organic farming were also lacking scientific knowledge. Hence the present study entitled “Content development for an agricultural expert system on organic vegetable cultivation” analysed the information need on organic vegetable cultivation and inventorized those information to develop content for a farmer friendly multi-media aid. The study also came out with a methodology for information need analysis and a procedure for content development of an expert system on organic vegetable cultivation for different farming systems in Kerala. This methodology could be adopted by different agencies involved in popularizing organic farming among the farmers in Kerala for developing an expert system on organic vegetable farming