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ThesisItem Open Access A STUDY ON TECHNOLOGICAL GAP IN ADOPTION OF SCIENTIFIC PRACTICES OF TEA CULTIVATION BY THE SMALL TEA GROWERS IN SONITPUR DISTRICT OF ASSAM(AAU, Jorhat, 2017-07) Parasar, Suman; Das, P. K.The study entitled ‘A Study on Technological Gap in Adoption of Scientific Practices of Tea Cultivation by the Small Tea Growers in Sonitpur District of Assam’ was conducted in Sonitpur district of Assam with the following objectives: 1. Study the socioeconomic characteristics of Small Tea Growers of Sonitpur district of Assam 2. Determine the extent of technological gap in adoption of scientific practices of tea cultivation by Small Tea Growers 3. Identify the factors influencing the extent of technological gap in adoption of scientific practices of tea cultivation by Small Tea Growers 4. Identify the problems in production and marketing of green tea leaves as perceived by the Small Tea Growers Sonitpur district has three sub-divisions, namely, Tezpur, Biswanath and Gohpur. Out of which two sub-divisions (Tezpur and Biswanath) were selected at random. The sample of the study consisted of 100 respondents, out of these 50 respondents were selected from Tezpur sub-division and 50 respondents were selected from Biswanath sub-division. The data were collected with the help of a pre tested schedule by personal interview method. The statistical tools employed in the study included frequencies, percentage, mean, standard deviation, co-efficient of variation, multiple correlation co-efficient, multiple regression analysis and t- test were the statistical techniques used for analysis and interpretation of the data. Altogether 19 independent variables, viz., age, education, family type, family size, occupational status, institutional linkage, experience as tea grower, area under tea net annual income from tea , exposure to training, working capital availability for tea, utilization of information source, farm mechanization, economic motivation, management orientation, risk bearing ability, scientific orientation , decision making ability and knowledge level on scientific practices of tea and 1 dependent variable viz., extent of technological gap in adoption of scientific practices of tea cultivation were included in the study. The procedure followed by Das (2013) was used to measure the extent of technological gap in adoption of scientific practices of tea cultivation. Findings revealed that majority of the respondents (56.00%) belonged to the middle aged group while 25.00 per cent of the respondents belonged to the old aged ii group. Majority of the respondents (27.00%) had high school level of education followed by 24.00 percent respondents with middle school level of education. An equal proportion of them had higher secondary level of education. Majority of the respondents (77.00%) belonged to the nuclear family and had small family size (79.00%). Majority of the respondents (69.00%) had only cultivation as occupation followed by 18.00 per cent of respondents having cultivation + business as occupation. Majority of the respondents (38.00%) had membership of two or more organizations. Majority of the respondents (85.00%) had medium term (5 to 10 years) experience as a small tea grower followed by 15.00 per cent respondents with long term (more than 10 years) experience as a small tea grower. Most of them (78.00%) respondents having land area from 1.00 to 2.00 ha under tea cultivation followed by 18.00 per cent respondents having land area from 2.10 to 4.00 ha under tea cultivation. Majority of the respondents (82.00%) had medium net annual income from tea cultivation, medium level of working capital availability (90.00%) from tea cultivation. Majority of the respondents (83.00%) were not exposed to training on scientific tea cultivation. Majority of the respondents (59.00%) had medium information source utilization followed by 25.00 per cent with low information source utilization. Majority of the respondents (75.00%) had medium level of farm mechanization. Majority of the respondents (65.00%) had medium level of economic motivation, medium level of management orientation (55.00%), medium level of risk bearing ability (75.00%), medium level of scientific orientation (78.00%) and medium level of decision making ability (57.00%). Majority of the respondents (72.00%) had medium level of knowledge on scientific practices of tea cultivation, followed by 15.00 per cent respondents with low level of knowledge on scientific practices of tea cultivation. With regards to technological gap majority of the respondents (71.00%) had medium overall technological gap in adoption of scientific practices of tea cultivation followed by 17.00 per cent respondents with low overall technological gap in adoption of scientific practices of tea cultivation. A small percentage of them (12.00%) were found with high overall technological gap in adoption of scientific practices of tea cultivation. The findings also revealed that practice wise maximum average technological gap was found in adoption of Doses of YTD mixture (70.90%) followed by Size of planting pit and Number of ploughing and harrowing with average technological gap scores being 61.71% and 57.21% respectively. iii The findings of correlation analysis revealed that variables family type, area under tea, economic motivation, management orientation, scientific orientation, risk bearing ability, exposure to training, decision making ability, knowledge level on scientific practices of tea cultivation and working capital availability had significant negative correlation with the extent of technological gap in adoption of scientific practices of tea cultivation by the small tea growers. Variables age, education, family type, family size, institutional linkage, occupational status, net annual income from tea and farm mechanization had no significant positive correlation with the extent of technological gap in adoption of scientific practices of tea cultivation by the small tea growers. The variables which were significantly correlated with the extent of technological gap in scientific practices of tea cultivation were further considered for multiple regression where the value of R2 (0.5466) indicated that 10 independent variables could explain 54.66% of the variation in the extent of technological gap in adoption of scientific practices of tea cultivation by the small tea growers. The most important problems faced by the small tea growers in production of green tea leaf in order of importance were scarcity of labour (rank I), incidence of Tea Mosquito Bug in green tea bushes (rank II), lack of knowledge regarding organic tea cultivation (rank III), lack of knowledge on scientific tea cultivation (rank IV), lack of land patta to avail incentives/facilities given by TBI (rank V), lack of cooperation from bought leaf factories (rank IV), lack of opportunity for training on scientific tea cultivation (rank VII), threat from stray animals (rank VIII), erratic climate factors (rank IX), high cost of irrigation (rank X) and high cost of chemical(rank XI). The most important problems faced by the small tea growers in marketing of green tea leaf in order of importance were low price of green leaves provided by the factories (rank I), lack of market information (rank II) and limited number of bought leaf factories (rank III).ThesisItem Open Access ASSESSMENT OF TRAINING NEEDS OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION ASSISTANTS IN RECENT ADVANCES OF EXTENSION EDUCATION: A STUDY IN DIBRUGARH AND TINSUKIA DISTRICTS OF ASSAM(AAU, Jorhat, 2017-07) Senchowa, Jahnabi; Mishra, P.The economy of the state of Assam is basically based on Agriculture as the dependence of rural labour on Agriculture and allied activities was nearly 53 percent as per population census 2001. Majority of the Assamese community survives on Agriculture and its allied aspects as their livelihood. Improvements in the field of Agriculture is solely dependent upon the improvement of the personnel of the State Departments associated with this discipline. The Agriculture Extension Assistants has to play a vital role in effective transfer of agricultural technology. The Agriculture Extension Assistants has to motivate, educate and guide farmers to adopt new ideas and practices. Keeping this in view, the present study entitled , “Assessment of training needs of Agriculture Extension Assistants in recent advances of Extension Education – a study in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam” was undertaken with the major objective of Assessing training needs of Agriculture Extension Assistants in recent advances of Extension Education. The Findings of this study revealed that majority (65.00 %) of the Agriculture Extension Assistants were middle aged .Majority (47.50 %) of the respondents had educational qualification up to HSLC. Majority (62.50 %) of the respondents had Total Service Experience of 13-24 years. Majority (65.00 %) of the respondents had Training Exposure between 3- 14 in their service tenure. It is evident from the study that 100 per cent of the respondents had attended training on Subject Matter, 93.33 percent of them had attended training on Extension Methodology and 61.66 percent on other categories apart from Subject Matter and Extension Methodology. A very high majority (71.67 %) of the Respondents had moderately favourable Attitude towards Extension work. Maximum (74.16 %) Respondents are Moderately Satisfied in their Job. The study revealed that most important Sources of Information of the respondents is the “Progressive farmer”, and the Least Important Source is “Agents of Input Organizations”. The Motivational Profile of the study reveals that “Better Relationship with Superiors of the Department” is the most important Motivational Factor and “Better Relation with Co-Workers” is the least important motivational factor for the Respondents. Majority (67.50 %) of the Respondents had shown medium Role Conflict. Majority (70.83 %) of the Agriculture Extension Assistants had shown medium level of Role Awareness in their Designation. The Training need areas for AEAs were categorized into ten aspects- Application of ICT Based Extension, Prospects of Market led Extension, Prospects of Group led Extension, Approach to Participatory planning, Perspectives of Human Resource Management, Approach to Liberalization of Economy, Preparation of module for skill development of farmers, Knowledge on Private Extension and Privatization, Perspectives of Farm Journalism and Agri-preneurship Development. The most needed training need areas of Agricultural Extension Assistants identified were – “Fundamentals of Internet Browsing” (WMS= 2.94), “Concept of Market led Extension” (WMS= 2.95), “Promotion and practices of Group farming” (WMS=2.99), “Knowledge on PRA tools” (WMS=2.95), “Mainstreaming gender in Agriculture” (WMS=2.94), “Knowledge on Globalization of Economy” (WMS=2.91), “Formulation of Training design” (WMS=2.95), “Public Private Partnership in Agriculture” (WMS=2.96), “Knowledge and role of Mass Communication” (WMS=2.90), and “Concept of Agripreneurship” (WMS=2.96). The Study conducted revealed that majority (69.16%) of Agriculture Extension Assistants have Medium level of training needs , followed by high level of training needs (20.00%), and low level (10.84%) of Training needs. The findings of Co-relation analysis of the various selected Socio-personal characteristics of Agriculture Extension Assistants and their training needs revealed that Age (r=0.04); Service Experience (r=0.02), Attitude towards Extension Work (r=0.02), Job Satisfaction (r=0.01), Motivational profile (r=0.12), Role Conflict (r=-0.04) was found to be Non significant with Training needs, whereas Role Awareness (r=-0.15) was found to be negatively significant with Training needs.ThesisItem Open Access ROLE PERCEPTION AND ROLE PERFORMANCE OF ELECTED MEMBERS OF PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTION IN RELATION TO IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMES IN UPPER BRAHMAPUTRAVALLEY ZONE OF ASSAM(AAU, Jorhat, 2014-07) Bordoloi, Sanjib Ranjan; Bhattacharrya, A.K.Overall development of country is the main objective of Indian government since its independence. Keeping this in view Panchayati Raj Institutions have been introduced under the 73rd Amendment Act of the Constitution of India. Accordingly in view of the historic Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992, the Assam Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 [1] was enacted and comes to effect from 5th May, 1994 and it has expected that the new Panchayayti Raj System will be fruitful if executed in the true sense of the term. Activity mapping were prepared and notified vide notification No- PDA 336/2001/pt-III/32 dated 25th June 2007 for devolution of function, functionaries and funds to Zilla Parishad , Anchalik Panchayats and gaon Panchayat. At present there are about 25991 elected representatives at all the levels of the Panchayat fifty per cent of which are women. These member represents more than 266.55 lakhs rural population, 2223 Gaon Panchayats, 188Nos. Anchalik Panchayats and 20Nos. Zilla parishad. The new Panchayats cover about 24247 villages i.e. 87% of rural population. It was realized that the all round development is possible only through the development of agriculture. Elected members of Panchayati Raj at various levels are the direct carrier of knowledge of agricultural development programmes. The study aims to obtain the answers of how best the members of PRI’s able to perceive the designated roles? What may be the effect of socio-personal and socio psychological attributes of the respondents on performance? What is the level of performance as ratted by the members and as per ratting of the beneficiaries? What are the problems faced by the members of PRI’s in performing their roles? What are the opinions of beneficiaries about role performance of PRI members? The study was conducted during 2012-14 in Upper Brahamaputra Valley zone of Assam. Out of the five district Golaghat, Sibsagar and Jorhat district were selected following purposive cum random sampling method. From each District 1 President of Zilla Parishad Constituency, 3nos. of member of Zilla Parishad Constituency, 3nos of President of Anchalik Panchayat, 9nos. President of Gaon Panchayat (G.P), 9nos. of Member of Anchalik Panchayat, 27nos. of Unit members and 27nos. of beneficiaries were selected for the study and making a total sample size of 237 for three districts. The important findings of the study were; 52.56 per cent of PRI members and 50.62 per cent of beneficiaries were of middle age group. 57.69 per cent of PRI members and 39.51 per cent of beneficiaries were graduate. 44.23 per cent of PRI members and 45.68 per cent of beneficiaries were OBC/MOBC caste. 42.30 per cent of PRI members possessed medium level social participation and 58.97 per cent PRI members were office bearer in various social organizations and 64.74 per cent PRI members shows regular participation in various social organizations. 63.46 per cent PRI members from nuclear family. 42.30 per cent of PRI members possessed medium level leadership behaviour and more than half (>60%) of them possessed medium level in 7 dimensions of leadership behaviour. 72.44 per cent PRI members possessed medium level extension participation. 60.25 per cent of the respondents were medium level cosmopolite ness. 46.79 per cent of the respondents have medium level decision making ability. 60.25 per cent of the respondents have medium personality level. 56.41 per cent of the PRI members have medium level role perception. 77.77 per cent of the members of Zilla Parishad have high level role perception. Each of the presidents of Zilla Parishad have high level role perception 44.45 per cent of the members of Anchalik Panchayat have medium level role perception. 77.77 per cent of the presidents of Anchalik Panchayat have high level role perception. 62.96 per cent of the presidents of Gaon Panchayat have medium level role perception. 71.60 per cent of the unit members of Gaon Panchayat have medium level role perception. 54.49 per cent of the PRI members possessed medium level role performance. 66.67 per cent of the members of Zilla Parishad medium level role performance. 66.67 per cent of the presidents of Zilla Parishad possessed medium level role performance. 40.74 per cent of the members of Anchalik Panchayat have medium level role. performance. Per cent 77.77 percent of the presidents of Anchalik Panchayat have high level role performance. 59.26 per cent of the presidents of Gaon Panchayat have medium level role performance. 56.79 per cent of the of unit members Gaon Panchayat have medium level role performance. 44.44 per cent beneficiaries perceived low level role performance of members of Panchayatiraj Institutions. co-relation analysis: Out of 10 selected independent variables Caste (-0.832**), family type (-0.971**), cosmopoliteness (-0.779**), of members of zilla parishad exhibited negative and significant relationship with role perception. Leadership behaviour (0.752*), extension participation (0.874**), decision making ability (0.993**) cosmopoliteness (0.834**) and personality level (0.852**) of members of zilla parishad exhibited positive and significant relationship with role perception. Caste (-0.777**), family type (-0.927**), of members of zilla parishad exhibited negative and significant relationship with role performance. Leadership behaviour (0.796**), extension participation (0.866**), decision making ability (0.990**) and personality level (0.861**) of members of zilla parishad exhibited positive and significant relationship with role performance. Age (0.753*), leadership behaviour (0.894**), extension participation (0.930**), decision making ability (0.958**) and cosmo politeness (0.666*) and personality level (0.958**) of presidents of Anchalik Panchayat exhibited positive and significant relationship with role perception. Family type (-0.485**) of presidents of Anchalik Panchayat exhibited negative and significant relationship with role performance. Age (0.753**), leadership behavior (0.894**), extension participation (0.930**), decision making ability (0.958**), cosmopoliteness (0.666*) and personality level (0.958**) of Presidents of Anchalik Panchayat exhibited positive and significant relationship with role performance. Age (0.436*), leadership behavior (0.411*), extension participation (0.503**) and personality level (0.615**) of Presidents of Gaon Panchayat exhibited positive and significant relationship with role perception. Age (0.535**), leadership behaviour (0.480**), extension participation (0.538**). Decision making ability (0.409*) and personality level (0.537**) of Presidents of Gaon Panchayat exhibited positive and significant relationship with role performance. Leadership behaviour (0.527**), extension participation (0.407*), decision making ability (0.362*) of Members of Anchalik Panchayat exhibited positive and significant relationship with role perception. Caste (-0.406*), family type (-0.535**) of member of Anchalik Panchayat exhibited negative and significant relationship with role perception. Leadership behaviour (0.466*), decision making ability (0.396*) of member of Anchalik Panchayat exhibited positive and significant relationship with role performance. Family type (-0.485**) members of Anchalik Panchayat exhibited negative and significant relationship with role performance. Age (0.359**), leadership behaviour (0.320**), extension participation (0.230*) of unit members exhibited positive and significant relationship with role perception. Family type (-0.330**), of unit members exhibited negative and significant relationship with role perception. Family type (-0.325**) of unit members exhibited negative and significant relationship with role performance. Age (0.372**), leadership behavior (0.419*), extension participation (0.351*), of unit members exhibited positive and significant relationship with role performance. Multiple regression analysis Multiple regression analysis was also done and it was seen that the regression coefficients of extension participation (b = 4.562**), personality level (b = 0.991**) were found to be significant with role perception of president of gaon panchayat (R2 = 0.593). Regression coefficients of leadership behaviour (b= 2.133**), extension participation (b = 2.349**), personality level (b = 2.637**) were found to be significant with role performance of president of gaon panchayat (R2 = 0.528). The regression coefficients of caste (b= 4.747**), cosmo politeness (b=1.598**) were found to be significant with of role perception of unit members of gaon panchayat (R2=0.196). Regression coefficients of caste (b=4.489**), cosmo politeness (b=2.531**) were found to be significant with of role perception of unit members of gaon panchayat (R2=0.183).Also the regression coefficients of education (b= -6.724**), family type (b= -20.646**), leadership behaviour (5.559**) and personality level (b = 4.168**) were found to be significant with role perception of members of anchalik panchayat (R2 = 0.770). The regression coefficients of education (b = -26.981**), family type (b = -17.622**), leadership behaviour (6.441**) and and decision making ability (b=5.725**) were found to be significant. Therefore, these parameters can be termed as good predictors of role perception and role performance of members of PRI’s. The major problems faced by the members of PRI’s are i) Insufficient fund and delaying in sanction of fund. ii) Preferential distribution of funds iii) Control over the Panchayats by superior authorities, bureaucrats, and ruling political party. iv) Lack of proper circulation and information of the different schemes of the government to the Panchayati Raj Instituions. v) Lack of training exposure and training need assessment vi) Lack of communication between members of PRI’s and agriculture department. vii) Irregular and insufficient supply of inputs. Peoples opinion on role performance of PRIs members i) Majority of members of PRI’s are unaware of agricultural schemes. ii) Lack of clear modalities in panchayat for implementation of agricultural schemes. iii) Lack of inter institutional harmony amongst the departments involve with agricultural development. iv) Lack of co-ordination between gaon panchayat, anchalik panchayat and zilla parishad. v) Majority of members of PRI’s are only interested to satisfy their higher level political leaders than the voters. vi) The beneficiaries are selected for different schemes from amongst the close relatives of the elected members and from the party men of the ruling party. vii) The Panchayats have lost its self-governmental character. Besides, it has became implementing agency of the government schemes. viii) Elected panchayat body not accountable to the voters in real sense of the terms. ix) Conscious voters are not interested in activities of Panchayati Raj Institutions. x) Lack of training infrastructure at village levelThesisItem Open Access A STUDY ON UTILIZATION OF MICROFINANCE PROVIDED BY ASSAM GRAMIN VIKASH BANK TOWARDS WOMEN EMPOWERMENT OF SELF-HELP-GROUP BENEFICIARIES IN UPPER BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY ZONE (UBVZ) OF ASSAM.(AAU, Jorhat, 2015) Sharma, Sangeeta; Bhattacharyya, A. K.Women are the vital component in society. The position and status of women in any society is an index of its civilization and progress. Empowerment of women helps in creating situation in which they can think about their own destiny and through which they can participate as equal partners in various development activities. Micro Finance refers to a collection of banking practices built around providing small loans and accepting tiny deposits. Assam Gramin Vikash Bank (AGVB) amalgamated in 2006 has performing SHG Bank Linkage Programmes disbursing microfinance. Keeping this in view this study was conducted with the following objectives: 1. To study the effectiveness of group in utilizing microfinance. 2. To study the socio-personal characteristics of respondents availing microfinance. 3. To find out the socio economic status and level of empowerment of women beneficiaries availing microfinance by AGVB. 4. To study relationship between utilization of fund and profile characteristic of beneficiaries. 5. To identify the problems perceived by respondents in availing and utilizing microfinance provided by AGVB. The study was conducted in Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar districts of Assam. For the districts, data were collected with the help of selected Branches of Assam GraminVikas Bank. Total respondents of the study were 240. Assam Gramin Vikash Bank was established in 2005 summing up regional rural banks and one nationalised bank UBI. This bank has branches all over the state excluding KarbiAnglong and DimaHasao. For uplifting the socio-economic status of rural population, Assam Gramin Vikash Bank-the pioneer Regional Rural Bank of the state puts its sincere and concerted efforts towards sustainable economic development of rural Assam through holistic approach have resulted in many eye catching revolutionary impacts. The study was conducted with the help of six branches of the Bank spread in three selected districts of Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone. The important findings of the study were: Above fifty six percent (56.25%) of the respondents were of Young age. Above thirty one percent (31.67%) of the respondents were educated upto Higher Secondary level. Above sixty nine percent (69.16%) of the respondents were belonging to nuclear family. Above sixty two percent (62.50%) of the respondents had small sized family. Above forty two percent (42.50%) of respondents were from Scheduled Caste/Tribe. Above seventy three percent (73.33%) of respondents were married, 19.17% respondents were unmarried. Above fifty percent (50.83%) of respondents were having membership in one organization. Above eighty six percent (86.67%) of respondents preferred Bank as their saving source. Above forty eight percent (48.75%) respondents repaid more than 90% of microfinance they borrowed. Majority of respondents (74.16%) had medium level of perceived economic motivation. Above fifty six percent (56.67%) of respondents had high level of perceived innovation proneness. Majority of the respondents (66.25%) had medium level of perceived risk bearing ability. Majority of the respondents (75%) had medium level of Achievement Motivation. Above sixty seven percent (67.91%) of respondents had medium level of perceived self confidence. Majority of respondents had medium level of perceived group effectiveness of their group. Majority of the respondents (74.58%) of respondents had medium level of women empowerment. Goatery ranked first (freq.120) in adopting activities for utilizing microfinance by the bank. Conflict among members was perceived as a major problem faced by the respondents. Respondents perceived that the Bank showed little Monopolistic power. Age, education, family type, family size, marital status and management of microfinance of respondents were found having no relationship with perceived group effectiveness of the respondents. The study revealed that respondents from SC/ST caste and OBC/MOBC caste had a positive significant relationship (Sig. 050) with perceived Group effectiveness. Positive significant relationship was found between perceived group effectiveness of respondents of all the districts with economic motivation (.173**), innovation proneness (.143*), and achievement motivation (.173**). Itwas found that the group effectiveness had no relationship with risk bearing ability(.123NS) andself confidence(.009NS) Respondents’ age, education, caste, saving pattern and repayment of microfinance had positive significant relationship with level of women empowerment. Family type, family size, marital status, organizational membership of the respondents had no relationship with level of women empowerment. It was found that there was apositive significant relationship between perceived level of women empowerment of respondents of all the districts with economic motivation (.228*), innovation proneness (.296**), risk bearing ability (.823**), self confidence (.527**) and achievement motivation (.485**) The study revealed that perceived group effectiveness of the respondents had a positive relationship with perceived level of women empowerment (Sig. 0.000).