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ThesisItem Open Access Training needs of tribal youth in selected agricultural enterprises: An analytical study in Odisha State, India(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2019-11) Dash, Debashis; AmardeepTribal youth form a considerable part of the country’s tribal population. A significant proportion of tribal youth faces the risks related to education, employment, training, drug and alcohol addiction, illiteracy, malnutrition, powerlessness, etc. Making tribal youth employable is a big challenge and the government is putting efforts towards conducting skill-based training but still, there is a lack of proper strategy. Employing tribal youth would maximize their chance to contribute to a nation’s economic, social and cultural advancement. Special attention is needed to be given to agricultural education, vocational training, and livelihood generation in order to gain the attention and interests of tribal youth. This study attempted to study the socio-psychological situation, economic and communication characteristics of tribal youth, training needs of tribal youth in selected agricultural enterprises, their constraints in choosing agricultural enterprises, the relationship between selected profile characteristics of tribal youth and training needs and designing a training module. The descriptive and analytical research design was used to meet the objectives of the study. The study was purposively carried out in Koraput district of Odisha. Three blocks viz. Laxmipur block, Narayanpatna block and Bandhugaon block were selected randomly. Villages viz. Laxmipur, Barasanka, Buruja and Pipalpadar from Laxmipur block, Villages viz. Balipeta, Dakapura, Narayanpatna, Parapadar from Narayanpatna block and villages viz. Sanasarapalli, Almonda, Jagugura and Sorabari from Bandhugaon block of Koraput district were selected for the study purposively. 246 tribal youth were selected through proportional allocation from the selected villages by using Cochran’s formula. Pre-tested interview schedule and non-participant observation were used for data collection. Photographs and videos were also used for in-depth insight into the research matter. The data collected were coded, tabulated, analysed and interpreted with the help of appropriate statistical procedures and techniques like mean, weighted mean, frequency, standard deviation, percentages, correlation, t- test and multiple regression. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of tribal youth were in the age group of 20-32 years, males, mostly married, had educational qualifications up to high school level, had a medium-sized nuclear family and were involved in farming with experience of participation in a single agricultural training. Their favourite pass time activities included economic and self-employing works, vocational activities and social media utilization. The majority of them actively participated as members of cooperative societies and youth clubs. Despite this, the majority of tribal youth had a low level of social participation. Tribal youth preferred to work in others’ fields, to sell vegetables and to collect firewood as their off-farm activities. The majority of tribal youth had a favourable attitude towards agriculture followed by a high willingness to start an agricultural enterprise and a high level of risk preference. They had a medium level of innovativeness, leadership ability and achievement motivation followed by low decision-making ability. Tribal youth sought information from their friends, from agricultural officers and Krishi Melas organized at various places as information-seeking behaviour from personal localite sources, personal cosmopolite sources, and extension education methods respectively. Overall, the tribal youth had medium information-seeking behaviour and their mass media exposure was low. Lack of role model, lack of faith from old family members, lack of diffusion of improved agricultural technology, profit not in harmony with efforts and lack of extension activities were highest rated individual, social, technological, economic, and miscellaneous constraints respectively. Based on training areas preference, mushroom cultivation (WMS=2.38) was the most preferred enterprise by tribal youth followed by organic crop production (WMS=1.87), medicinal and aromatic plants (WMS=1.85), vegetable crops (1.80), bee-keeping (WMS=1.79), dairy farming (WMS=1.78), on-farm production of inputs (WMS=1.77), fruit crops (WMS=1.75), agricultural engineering (WMS=1.70) and sericulture (WMS=1.59). Training needs of tribal youth in subareas of major vocations were also calculated through the Borich model of training need assessment in two dimensions viz. knowledge and performance dimension. It was further found that the village was the most favorable place for receiving training for about 7-15 days in a group of 21-30 members in the evening hours from October to December. Scientists and grass-root extension workers were preferred the most for conducting regularized agricultural training. Tribal youth preferred a free of cost training with a combination of theory and practical along with periodic follow-up visits by trainers for monitoring their progress. Occupation, participation in off-farm activities, family size participation in agricultural trainings, agricultural enterprise preference, willingness to start enterprise, innovativeness, leadership ability, risk preference, achievement motivation, decision making ability, attitude of tribal youth towards agriculture, information-seeking behaviour and mass media exposure had significant relationship with training needs of tribal youth in agricultural enterprises. Training module for mushroom cultivation was prepared based on the highest enterprise preference of tribal youth for catering to their training needs.ThesisItem Open Access Adoption of improved cultivation practices of potato: A study on potato growers of U.S. Nagar of Uttarakhand(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2019-07) Kanwal, Jyoti; Kashyap, S.K.Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. Agriculture sector provides livelihood to 75% of population in India and contribute nearly 45% in national economy. This sector has shared about 17.9% in National GDP. Today, India ranks as world's third largest potato producing nation, with a production of 480 lakh MT and productivity of 23.07 Tones/ha. In India, potato cultivation provides a pillar to the economy of Uttarakhand. Extent of adoption of improved cultivation practices is the process of making favorable decision toward recommended cultivation practices. Thus, it is necessary to know the extent of adoption of improved cultivation practices by potato growers. Potato growers are not going for commercial potato production because of high input cost, lack of resources and difficulties faced by them in marketing and storage of crop. Looking into the present situation of resource availability with potato growers, particularly the size of land under cultivation of Potato crop, production pattern has emerged as the prime need for enhancing the production of potato to achieve the food security for future. The present study was done to study the socio-personal, economic and psychological characteristics of potato growers, to study their knowledge level, to study the extent of adoption of improved cultivation practices of potato and to find out the constraints faced by potato growers in adoption of improved cultivation practices of potato. The study was carried out in U.S. Nagar district of Uttarakhand state. Kashipur and Gadarpur blocks were selected purposively and four villages i.e. Barkheri, Chanakpur, Dhanauri, Ranirajpura from Kashipur and four villages i.e. Missarwala, Madanpur, Girdharnagar and Khera from Gadarpur were selected purposively from the U.S.Nagar block because it has maximum production and productivity of potato. A total sample of 120 respondents was selected through probability proportionate to size (PPS) sampling. Knowledge test and Pre-tested interview schedule were used for the data collection. Statistical techniques such as frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation and weighted mean were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the respondents (70%) belonged to middle age category, had education up to high school (31.6%). Results also revealed that the majority of the respondents (66.66%) belonged to general category, about 52.5% per cent respondents belonged to medium annual income group from primary and secondary occupation, maximum (54.16 %) respondents had small land holding i.e. one acre and majority of respondents i.e. 60% respondents had about 1 acre area under potato cultivation. Majority (91.66%) of the potato growers was not having membership in any organization and majority of potato growers i.e. 80% were having medium level of scientific orientation. Regarding the knowledge level of potato growers, majority (65.83%) of the respondents had medium level of knowledge and maximum respondents i.e. 71.66% respondents had medium extent of adoption of improved cultivation practices of potato. The major constraints faced by potato growers were low market price of produce, lack of soil testing laboratories, inadequate storage facilities and unavailability of markets. The study identified that the potato growers had medium extent of adoption of improved cultivation practices of potato because of lack of awareness, lack of motivation and lack of resources. Therefore, it is recommended that more focused and exclusive programmes are suppose to be taken by KVKs and the other aligned institutions for awareness. Better support prices and marketing facilities needs to be developed to motivate farmers towards adoption of improved cultivation practices. The findings of study will be useful to the extension workers, administrators and communication experts, researchers and planners who are engaged in generating and disseminating the improved potato production technology to the farmers especially for the potato crop.ThesisItem Open Access A study on teaching effectiveness of extension teaching-learning in agricultural universities of northern India(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2019-06) Mahra, Girijesh Singh; Kashyap, S.K.Extension Education has established itself as profession and discipline with three important components of teaching, research and service. In India, Extension researches and teaching are being practiced by teachers and students in more than 61 State Agricultural Universities (SAU’s), four Deemed to be Universities (DU’s), three Central Agricultural Universities (CAU’s) and four Central Universities (CU’s) with Agriculture Faculty. India’s signing of General Agreement on Trade and Tariff (GATT) in 1994 and joining of W.T.O. has put agriculture into a framework of global market and therefore Extension has moved beyond production, towards Market led Extension and Knowledge Management. With these global changes, to cater the present farmer needs and to harness job opportunities in teaching, research, development NGOs, agro-input and marketing companies, P.G. students needs specific skills mainly in areas of ‘Extension management’, ‘Development communication’ and ‘Human resource management/ training’. Inculcating these skills among students demands effective teaching with a strong link of curriculum with market needs. Keeping above facts in mind a study entitled “A Study on Teaching Effectiveness of Extension Teaching-Learning in Agricultural Universities of Northern India” was undertaken to study the socio-personal, psychological and professional characteristics of teachers and students, perception of teachers and students with respect to the adequacy of Extension course curriculum, teaching effectiveness at P.G. level, relationship between the selected characteristics of teachers and students with teaching effectiveness and to develop framework for effective teaching in Extension Education at P.G. level. The present study was conducted in universities of North zone having agriculture as a subject, which comprises of 23 universities located in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and New Delhi. Ten universities having agriculture as a subject from North zone were selected randomly with all teachers and Post graduate students (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) of Extension Education discipline as the respondents for the present study. Thus a total of 66 teachers engaged in teaching of Extension Education discipline and 210 Post graduate students were the respondents of the present study. The descriptive research design was used and the quantitative information was collected through pretested structured questionnaire. The findings revealed that maximum number of the teachers belong to middle age category (40.90%), had doctorate as their highest degree of qualification (81.82%), belonged to medium category of job experience (39.38 %), had medium level of job satisfaction (56.06 %), had high level of job commitment (46.96 %), had high level of self confidence (62.12 %), had high level of achievement motivation (65.16%), had neutral attitude towards their profession (51.51%), had medium value expectancy (46.96%), had medium professional productivity (48.48%), had medium category of verbal immediacy (63.80%), had medium category of non-verbal immediacy (71.90%) had medium category of instructional skills (79.52%) and had medium category of classroom interaction (75.72%). It was also found that maximum number of the teachers (46.96%) categorized appropriateness of institutional variables in medium category. In case of students majority of students (93.34%) had English as their medium of school education, had medium academic performance (77.62%), had medium level of self confidence (71.90 %) and had medium level of achievement motivation (63.34%). Regarding perception of teachers and students with respect to the adequacy of Extension course curriculum at P.G. level, the findings revealed that maximum number of the teachers (40.90%) perceived that course curriculum has low adequacy and maximum number of the students (49.04%) perceived that course curriculum has medium adequacy. Further it was found that majority of the students (64.29%) perceived that overall acquisition of Extension competencies was low. Regarding teaching effectiveness, it was found that among all eight teachers attributes majority of the students and categorized “teachers fairness” (57.61%), “teachers attitude towards teaching” (43.33%) and “teachers attitude towards students” (37.14%) under high category. The findings revealed that majority of students rated “overall teaching effectiveness” under medium category (48.09%) followed by high category (34.76%), on the basis of ratings of teachers attributes. The teaching effectiveness indices of 10 universities were: G.B.P.U.A.T. (0.69), I.A.R.I. (0.74), P.A.U. (0.64), I.V.R.I. (0.65), N.D.R.I. (0.67), H.A.U. (0.59), S.K.U.A.S.T. (0.56), C.S.A.U.A.T. (0.46), S.H.U.A.T.S. (0.51) and B.H.U. (0.58). The overall teaching effectiveness index of all 10 universities was 0.607 indicating a teaching effectiveness of above average. Overall, it was found that majority of teachers and students (51.01%) categorized teaching effectiveness as medium It was found that all eight attributes; teachers’ preparedness, teaching pedagogy of course, teachers’ availability to students, course characteristics, teachers’ attitude towards students, teachers’ attitude towards teaching, teachers’ creativity and teachers’ fairness were significantly associated with overall teaching effectiveness. Among teachers related variables the findings revealed that educational qualification, job commitment, attitude towards profession, self confidence, value expectancy, personal attributes, professional productivity, instructional skills, class room interaction, job experience, achievement motivation, verbal immediacy and non verbal immediacy were significantly and positively correlated with teaching effectiveness. Among students related variables; achievement motivation, academic performance and self confidence were significantly and positively correlated with teaching effectiveness. Among institutional variables; HRD activities, teaching infrastructure and feedback mechanism were significantly and positively correlated with teaching effectiveness On the basis of the findings, two framework were formulated (a) Framework for effective teaching on the basis of teachers attributes (b) Framework for effective teaching on the basis socio-personal, psychological and professional characteristics of teachers and students and institutional variables.ThesisItem Open Access Training needs assessment of extension personnel in the use of ICTs for agricultural extension in Uttarakhand(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2019-08) Kothari, Deepti; Kameswari, V.L.V.Agricultural extension in the present day has to be need-driven, demand-driven and diversified. Several scholars have argued that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can meet the changing needs of the farmers and make agriculture more remunerative. Hence, there is an urgency to improve ICT related knowledge and skill-sets of extension personnel by means of training interventions. The present study titled “Training Needs Assessment of Extension Personnel in the use of ICTs for Agricultural Extension in Uttarakhand” was carried out to assess the training needs of extension personnel. A sample of 291 extension field staff and 30 extension supervisors of public extension system in Uttarakhand were selected for the study. Questionnaire and Interview schedule were used for data collection. The findings related to characteristics of extension personnel revealed that majority extension personnel were male (67.35%), had rural background (56.01%), work experience of up to 10 years (62.89%), had not attended any ICT trainings (68.73%), were married (57.73%) and were not members of any professional organization membership (63.57%). Further maximum number of extension field staff were in the age range of 21-33 years (47.08%), educated up to Master’s level (45.02%), specialization in agricultural sciences (47.77%) and had annual income between Rs. 5,00,001 to Rs. 10,00,000 (47.08%). Most prominently owned mass-media were television (95.19%), newspaper (91.06%), smart phone (81.44%), computer with internet (72.16%) and magazines/journals (62.20%) and majority (82.47%) had medium level of mass-media utilization. Extension personnel used a variety of social media like e-mail (90.72%) institutional websites (86.94%), WhatsApp (86.94%), Facebook (79.73%), Twitter (78.69%), agricultural websites/ portals (75.26%) and overall social media utilization was found to be medium for majority of respondents (72.85%). Majority of the extension personnel had neutral attitude towards use of ICTs (71.82%), felt that ICTs were moderately easy to use (82.47%) and exhibited medium level of innovativeness (87.97%) and maximum number of extension personnel had high information management orientation (47.77%). Out of the 45 ICT competencies listed in the tool, 25 ICT training needs were identified based on the self-rating by the extension personnel. Validation of the training needs was done by the extension supervisors and this step yielded the final set of 11 ICT competencies in which training was needed and these are: Use of MS Word for making field reports, Preparing powerpoint with animation/transition and other effects, Sending large data using compressor software (ZIP, RAR, etc.), Creation of e-newsletter, Access to free software meant for specialized extension delivery, Sending e-mails to one individual, Video conferencing using applications of smart phone, Using web camera for video conferencing, Enabling security system in the computer and mobile set by PIN/Password/ Thumb scanning, Handling and displaying content using LCD projector and Designing an organizational Management Information System. Opinion regarding training organization, duration, resource persons, venue, time, potential participants, their strength, fees, other arrangements, theory-practical ratio, approach, methods, supporting material, follow-up activities and evaluation were taken from both extension personnel and supervisors for designing the training module. The training module on ‘Application of Information and Communication Technologies for Grassroot Extension’ comprised of 12 components which included title, description, goals and objectives, implementation modalities, overall format of the training, entry behaviour of participants, instructional material and aids needed, logistical issues, session details, evaluation methods, training schedule and note to the trainers. It was also found that age had significantly positive relationship and number of ICT trainings attended, mass-media utilization, attitude towards use of ICTs, perceived ease of use of ICTs and information management orientation had significantly negative relationship with the ICT training needs of the extension personnel. Training module can be implemented to improve the work performance of extension personnel.ThesisItem Open Access Design and development of training modules on organic farming for the farmers of hill region of Uttarakhand(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2019-06) Rifat Haneef; Sharma, GyanendraAgriculture is the backbone of the economy and provides livelihood security to over 85% of the rural population of India. Green revolution resulting in increased use of fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, etc. contributed to the agricultural productivity. The continuous use of these chemicals deteriorated the soil health leading to decline in crop yield and quality of produce. Organic farming seems to be the best alternative to the present system of farming solely depending on the chemicals. Uttarakhand government has identified organic farming as one of the important areas for agriculture development and has launched a number of programs for the promotion of organic farming. An impact assessment study of Centre of Organic Farming revealed that majority of the farmers were not satisfied with the training component and said that they did not learn anything new (UOCB, 2011). Thus, it is essential that the standardized content on the organic farming practices may be developed based on their needs for effective understanding by the farmers. This can be achieved through development of appropriate training modules on organic farming. Keeping this in view, the present investigation was undertaken. The findings revealed that majority of farmers belonged to middle age category, were female, marginal farmers, had low farming experience and had more than five years of experience in organic farming. It was also reported that majority of the respondents had low extension agency contact, medium mass media exposure, information seeking behavior, economic motivation, medium innovativeness and medium level of risk orientation. It was also found that majority of the respondents had not attended any training. The data on preferences of respondents on subject matter areas for training showed that certification of organic produce and marketing of organic produce were given first and second preference. The findings of training need assessment revealed that majority of the respondents (51.5 percent) had medium level of knowledge and moderate training need followed by 38 percent of respondents having low level of knowledge and high training need. Training need areas for designing modules were identified and selected based on the findings of training need assessment through Knowledge test and on the basis of preferences of the respondents on subject matter areas for training. Both the results were compared and it was found that farmers’ needs were significant in areas such as ‘Certification and Marketing of organic produce’ and ‘Use of botanical pesticides’. Thus, it was decided to design training modules in these areas. The steps that were followed while designing training module were grouping of training need areas, formulation of learning objectives, formulation of instructional strategies and validation of the module by experts. Each module was divided into various topics and sub-topics and divided into sessions. Each session consisted of learning objectives, course content, training methodology to be used, duration and note to the trainer. The modules were perceived to be ‘adequate’ in terms of its contents and instructional strategies and ‘useful’ in dealing with adult learners and improving knowledge and skills by experts. The variables which had shown negative and significant relationship with the training need of farmers were with education, socio-economic status and mass media exposure. However, age, farming experience, experience in organic farming and risk orientation had positive and significant relationship with the training need of farmers. The economic constraints were ranked first as the major constraint faced by the farmers in practicing organic farming. The other constraints in the order of severity were marketing, technological, infrastructural and situational/environmental constraints. Initial low price for the organic produce, lack of specialized markets for organic produce, initial yield loss and high transportation cost were the major constraints faced by the farmers that hinders them from practicing organic farming.ThesisItem Open Access Career aspirations of undergraduate agriculture students of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2019-07) Ansari, Imam Hussain; Ansari, M.A.Aspiration is considered as one of the fundamental personality traits of an individual. Everyone aspires to achieve something unique in their life. Driven by the desire for getting recognition and respect in the society, an individual charts out their life and lifestyles meticulously and actively seek ways and means for personal and professional development. Career aspirations refer to the choice and preference on an individual foe seeking a job/work after completing their education. Keeping above facts in mind a study entitled “Career Aspirations of Undergraduate Agriculture Students of G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar” was undertaken with the objective: (i). to find out Career Aspirations of Undergraduate Agriculture Students, (ii). to determine attitude of Undergraduate Agriculture Students towards farming and (iii). To determine relationship between selected Socio- demographic profile of Undergraduate Agriculture Students and their Career Aspirations. The present study was conducted at the College of Agriculture, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. Census method of sampling was used; therefore the study included all the final year students of B. Sc. (Agriculture) of College of Agriculture. Analytical research design was used and the data was collected through pre-tested structured questionnaire. Appropriate statistical techniques were used to analyse the data in light of the study objective. The findings of the study revealed that maximum number of respondents were female (53.96%), belonged to General Caste (64.28 %), come from rural background (34.12 %), belonged to urban background (42.85 %), has school education through English medium (88.88 %), were having average academic performance (61.90 %), came from nuclear families (78.57 %), belonged to the medium sized family (58.73 %), belonged to the medium family educational status (50.79 %), had small sized land holding (74.60 %). Besides, most of the fathers of respondents were in government service (42.85 %), whereas most of the mothers were found to be not working, but engaged as house wives (60.31 %), parents’ were earning between Rs. 2.89 to Rs. 11.76 lacks per annum (65.87 %). Majority of students got job related information from seniors (81.74 %), followed by university placement cell (59.52 %), and internet (86.50 %), and had medium mass media exposure (73.01 %). Students participated in many co-curricular activities such as quiz competition (1st rank), NSS (2nd rank) and sports (3rd rank); and had medium level of achievement motivation (66.66 %). ‘Pursuing higher studies’ after completing graduation was ranked first by majority of respondents (24%) followed by ‘becoming scientist in ICAR system’ ranked second (20%), ‘securing an administrative position in Agriculture University (15 %) ranked 3rd, securing Central Government job ranked 4th (13%), and becoming Teacher / Professor in SAUs was ranked 5th (12%). Further, students displayed ‘neutral’ attitudes towards farming as a profession. Academic performance, family background, parent’s occupation, parent’s annual income, mass media exposure, and achievement motivation had positive and significant relationship with career aspirations of the undergraduate agricultural students whereas gender, caste, family background, place of residence, medium of education, family type and family size, had negative and non- significant relationship with career aspirations.ThesisItem Open Access Climate change information needs of apple growers: A study in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2019-07) Barakoti, Jagjeevan; Ansari, M.A.Climate change has emerged as a serious threat to agriculture productivity and global food security. Mountain ecosystems are very fragile and prone to the adverse impact of climate changes. Information about climate change therefore becomes crucial for farmers as it can help in undertaking adaptation strategies and mitigation measures. Besides, farmers’ need to comprehend the scale of climate variability and adapt in order to survive and safeguard the farming as well as farm based livelihood vocations. Hence, in order to be successful in overcoming the adverse impact of climate change on agricultural productivity, farmers also need to be sensitized and made aware of various climate change parameters and their adverse impact on farming. Keeping this in mind, a research study entitled “Climate Change Information Needs of Apple Growers: A Study in Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand” was undertaken with the objectives: (i): to study the socio-personal, economic, psychological and communication characteristics of apple growers (ii) to find out climate change information needs of farmers, (iii) to determine the relationship between the selected characteristics of apple growers’ with climate change information needs of farmers and (iv) to identify the constraints faced by the Apple growers in obtaining information about climate change. The present study was conducted in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. Four villages namely Hartola, Satbunga, Umagrah, and Nathuakhan were selected purposively from Ramgarh block as it had maximum number of apple growers.. A total sample of 120 respondents was selected through PPS method. Analytical and descriptive research design was used. The data collection was done using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Besides, four focus group discussions were also done to support the quantitative research. The data was analysed using appropriate descriptive and analytical statistical techniques. The findings revealed that More than half (59.16%) of the respondents belonged to the middle age group, educated up to senior secondary (24.17%), were medium farmers (85%), with more than fifteen years of farming experience (64.17%), all the respondents(100%) had farming as their primary occupation, with medium annual income (86.66%), social participation (69.17%). More than half (56.67%) of the respondents had medium extension contact. Majority of the respondents (95.00 %) owned television had medium level of mass media exposure (66.67%), had medium information seeking behaviour (60.83%), had medium scientific orientation (86.67%), had medium access to weather forecast (71.67%) and had medium level of risk orientation (74.17%). Regarding climate change information needs of farmers, the findings revealed that Majority of the respondents (70.83%) had medium level of information needs on climate parameters, Majority of the respondent express their information needs about how temperature affects apple cultivation, how snow fall affects apple cultivation, how rainfall affects apple cultivation. Majority of the respondents (82.50%) had medium level of information needs regarding cropping practices and expressed their information needs about alternative crops grown in lower hills, impact of climate change on apple productivity. About one third of the respondents (35.83%) having low level of information need about impact of climate change on apple productivity and expressed information needs about how early frost damage apple fruiting, late spring frost affects on flowering in apple crop, hailstorms affects apple productivity. Over all climate change information needs of apple growers showed that Majority of the respondents (75%) had medium level of climate change information needs, 15.83 percent had low level and only 9.17 percent had high level of climate change information needs. Majority of the farmers had given opinion that government should help farmers and KVKs or SAUs should come forward to give solution on climate change adaptation and mitigation practices. The result revealed that independent variables Age, landholding, extension contact, information seeking behaviour and scientific information were significant positively correlated with climate change information needs of apple growers. Farming experience and information seeking behaviour were highly significant and positively correlated with climate change information need of apple growers. Coefficient of determination (R2) value was 0.4020, which means that only 40.20 percent of the variation in the dependent variable could be attributed to all the independent variables. The respondents had faced constraints on getting information about climate change and found that 25 percent of the respondents expressed that they were not aware from whom they can get information about climate change, 20.83 percent expressed governmental officials were not available there to give information on climate change and 18.33 percent were not aware of operating internet for accessing information. The findings have implications for undertaking specific interventions for providing needed information about climate change.ThesisItem Open Access Attitude of farmers towards drip irrigation: a study in Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2019-07) Karki, Pooja; AmardeepWater is most important natural resource to sustain agriculture, while in hills water is scarce. In present situation, high-tech modern intensive agriculture and growing human population are causing fast depletion of water resources. This is a challenging situation and there is a need to conserve water and ensure its efficient use. In the phase of changing agriculture scenario across the world and a shift towards precision farming, drip irrigation appears to be most appropriate technology, which is capable for providing more efficient utilization of water. Uttarakhand is one of the states in India where 55 per cent cultivable land is rainfed and only 45 per cent of cultivated land is irrigated. In hilly areas, water availability for agriculture is limited because of factors like uneven land holding, slope terraces, long distance between water resources and also rainfall is concentrated only in four months of the year. Thus, the need was felt to study attitude of farmers towards drip irrigation in kumaon hills of uttarakhand. The present study was conducted in Ramgrah block of Nainital district. Four villages from Ramghar block were selected purposively. Analytical research design was used for the present study. A sample of total 120 respondents was selected through PPS method. Pre-tested interview schedule used for data collection. Statistical techniques such as frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, coefficient of correlation and t-test were used to analyze the data for meaning interpretation. The finding of the present study revealed that majority of respondents (55%) belonged to middle age group, were males (80%), had small family size (90.83%), had joint family (56.67%), belonged to the general caste (73.33 %), had studied upto high school education (35.83%), were involved in agriculture (100%), had low annual income (74.17%), were small farmers (98.34%), had mixed farming (100%), were cultivated pea, potatoes, capsicum, tomato and chilli cropping pattern (90.83%), had medium cropping intensity (85%) and were using tank for the irrigation (50%). Majority of the respondents had medium mass media exposure (57.50%), medium economic motivation (74.16%) and medium risk orientation (64.17%). Majority of the respondents (67.50%) had neutral attitude towards drip irrigation. Variables like caste, size of land holding, total family income, mass media exposure and risk orientation were found to have positive and significant relationship with attitude towards drip irrigation. Age, education, family size and economic motivation of the respondents had non-significant positive relationship with their attitude towards drip irrigation. Cropping intensity of the respondents had significant negative relationship with their attitude towards drip irrigation. The major constraints faced by the respondents in adopting drip irrigation were difficulties in maintenance, lack of technological knowledge about drip irrigation or training in respect use of drip irrigation, frost sensitive pipe of drip irrigation and cracks to pipeline and micro tube. The findings of the study will be useful to extension workers, research workers and administrators as it will provide them the sufficient knowledge about the existing adoption gap of drip irrigation technology used by the farmers and will enable them to improve their approach of working with the farmers.ThesisItem Open Access Effectiveness of participatory newsletter on honey production: A study in Nainital district of Uttarakhand(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2019-07) Malik, Aafreen; AmardeepHoney is the most important primary product of beekeeping, both from quantitative and economic point of view and has been used by mankind for many years as a source of food, medicine and for cultural ceremonies. India stands eighth in the world in honey production with production of around 95,000 metric tonnes per annum. Uttarakhand state produces 2.53 metric tonnes honey per annum owing to the under-utilization of available resources. Apart from its huge potential as an additional income generating activity, the honey production is still underutilized and practically untapped in the state. Despite vast potential in the state the production of honey is not upto the expectation. Majority of beekeepers are categorized under medium and low socio-economic status because of the constraints faced by them. The ratio of extension worker to farmer is wide due to which information gap prevails. Therefore, there is need for alternatives that can bridge the information gap. Today is ICT era and there are different media like print, electronic, which can be used to fill the information gap. Out of all these print media was used for present study To analyze the effectiveness of participatory newsletter on honey production was tested. The present study was conducted in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The village Jeoli from Bhimtal block were selected purposively for this study. Action research approaches using experimental research design was used for the present study. A sample of total 75 respondents were selected purposively who were actively engaged in beekeeping. Pre – tested interview schedule and knowledge test were used for data collection. Statistical techniques such as frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation and paired ‘t’ test were used to analyze the data for meaning interpretation. The findings of the present study revealed that majority of the respondents (65.4%) belonged to middle age group, had education upto intermediate level (29.4%), beekeeping was a primary source of income, were having medium annual income (80%), had medium land holding (78.66%). More than half of respondents (65.4%) had medium extent of utilization of information sources, had medium scientific orientation (64%), belonged to medium category of achievement motivation (76%), had medium experience in honey production (42.7%), had medium number of bee boxes (84%) range between 67 to 155, and all respondents gained three training two from Krishi Vigyan Kendra and one from Khadi Village Industry Commission. The information need of respondents founded that all respondents (100) needed information regarding marketing information / market availability and migration of bee boxes. Regarding the size, design, name, content, need based information, utility of content, accuracy and clarity of message and readability of content found satisfactory by majority of respondents. At 0.01 per cent level of significance mean gain in knowledge score of respondents was significantly higher in post- test. It was concluded that participation on honey production was significantly effective in terms of gain in knowledge. The findings of the study will be useful to extension workers, research workers and the administrators as it will provide them the sufficient knowledge about the problems of beekeepers and use of mass media by beekeepers and will enable them to improve their approach of working with the beekeepers.