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Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa

In the imperial Gazetteer of India 1878, Pusa was recorded as a government estate of about 1350 acres in Darbhanba. It was acquired by East India Company for running a stud farm to supply better breed of horses mainly for the army. Frequent incidence of glanders disease (swelling of glands), mostly affecting the valuable imported bloodstock made the civil veterinary department to shift the entire stock out of Pusa. A British tobacco concern Beg Sutherland & co. got the estate on lease but it also left in 1897 abandoning the government estate of Pusa. Lord Mayo, The Viceroy and Governor General, had been repeatedly trying to get through his proposal for setting up a directorate general of Agriculture that would take care of the soil and its productivity, formulate newer techniques of cultivation, improve the quality of seeds and livestock and also arrange for imparting agricultural education. The government of India had invited a British expert. Dr. J. A. Voelcker who had submitted as report on the development of Indian agriculture. As a follow-up action, three experts in different fields were appointed for the first time during 1885 to 1895 namely, agricultural chemist (Dr. J. W. Leafer), cryptogamic botanist (Dr. R. A. Butler) and entomologist (Dr. H. Maxwell Lefroy) with headquarters at Dehradun (U.P.) in the forest Research Institute complex. Surprisingly, until now Pusa, which was destined to become the centre of agricultural revolution in the country, was lying as before an abandoned government estate. In 1898. Lord Curzon took over as the viceroy. A widely traveled person and an administrator, he salvaged out the earlier proposal and got London’s approval for the appointment of the inspector General of Agriculture to which the first incumbent Mr. J. Mollison (Dy. Director of Agriculture, Bombay) joined in 1901 with headquarters at Nagpur The then government of Bengal had mooted in 1902 a proposal to the centre for setting up a model cattle farm for improving the dilapidated condition of the livestock at Pusa estate where plenty of land, water and feed would be available, and with Mr. Mollison’s support this was accepted in principle. Around Pusa, there were many British planters and also an indigo research centre Dalsing Sarai (near Pusa). Mr. Mollison’s visits to this mini British kingdom and his strong recommendations. In favour of Pusa as the most ideal place for the Bengal government project obviously caught the attention for the viceroy.

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Subject: Extension Education × Author: Kumari, Shweta × Start date: 2018 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Uses of Weather Forecasting Advisory Services as Disseminated by Dr.R.P.C.A.U among the farmers of Muzaffarpur District
    (Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, 2018) Kumari, Shweta; Prakash, Satya
    Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. Compared to various other sectors of economy, agriculture is unique, whose output is largely dependent on weather conditions. The degree of success of agriculture production and its economics is determined to a significant extent by how well weather conditions corresponding to the optimal requirements of the crop are best exploited to raise the crops. Also, how effectively adverse weather conditions, which cause moisture, thermal, wind, radiation and biotic stress impeding growth and development of crop are managed to minimize their adversity. Further to this, it also depends on management aspects of preventing the crops from severe weather conditions. Agriculture in India and entire world in mostly dependent on the persisting weather conditions. The alteration is global warming has dramatically effected agriculture and its productivity. The increase in temperature has significantly led to change in the agricultural zones and shift in the growing seasons. On the other hand the change in the rainfall pattern is the serious threat to agriculture, which turn affects the country’s economy and food security. The delayed or inadequate monsoons also cause influence on the sale of agriculture inputs such as fertilizers, agrochemicals, tractors etc. So advance weather forecasting is essential for mass awakening. It is evident from experiences that yearly information of weather and appropriate advisory minimizes the production loss of farmers. Therefore, In view of the effectiveness of advisory services study has been proposed with the following specific objectives: 1. To assess the socio- economic and personal characteristics of users. 2. To explore the level of knowledge and attitude of users towards the weather forecasting information. 3. To study the extent of adoption of weather forecasting information as disseminated by R.P.C.A.U. 4. To identify the different constraints as perceived by the users related with adoption of weather forecasting information. 5. To ascertain the relationship between selected socio- economic and personal characteristics of users with the adoption level of weather forecasting information. The study was conducted in Marwan and Saraiya block of Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. One village was selected from each block i.e. Bhagwatpur and Ballysaraiya. 30 farmers were selected from each village so total numbers of farmers were 60 for study purpose. Twelve independent variables of the study were: Age, Caste, Occupation, Education, Family type, Family size, Annual family income, Social participation, Sources of information utilized, Attitude, Farming experience, Land of size holding. The dependent variables were: Knowledge level and Extent of adoption. All the variables were measured strictly under the set rule and procedure, with scale and schedule developed for the study. An interview schedule was prepared and face to face interview was carried out with farmers. Appropriate statistical tests were used for data analysis. This study concluded that maximum per cent of farmers were belonged to middle age group, OBC caste, farming occupation, high school education level, joint family type, medium size family, less than Rs.50, 000 annual family income. Likewise farmers had not member of any organization in social participation, often used TV and AAS bulletin as source of information, above 10 years of farming experience, marginal land holding group. It is also concluded that farmer had medium level of knowledge about weather forecasting information, medium favourable attitude towards weather forecasting information, medium level of adoption of weather forecasting information. It can be observed that “Farmers could not understand SMS on mobile due to lack of knowledge of its application” and “The farmers cannot get time to view weather forecast advisory services due to delay in media” has got first and second rank respectively while “Farmers are not able to know the economic benefits of weather forecasts” has got last rank in constraints perceived by the farmers. It is also observed that attitude and size of land holding had a positive significant association with the level of adoption of farmers towards weather forecasting information.