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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level. Genesis of AAU - The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati. Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

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20231
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Subject: Agricultural Extension Education × Author: Bhutia, Penchen Tshyoza × End date: 2023 × Start date: 2023 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    A STUDY ON ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOUR OF NURSERY OWNERS IN ASSAM
    (2023) Bhutia, Penchen Tshyoza; Borua, Sajib
    Nursery is a place where plants are propagated, cared for, grown, and then sold for use in commercial or residential gardens. Improved quality seedlings are raised under ideal circumstances until they are ready to be planted on a small or large scale. Nurseries are presently becoming popular economic agro-based enterprises and commercial ventures in horticultural sector. It has established its credibility by increased production, creating jobs in both rural and urban areas, and increasing exports significantly. To be profitable, establishing a nursery is a long-term endeavour that demands preparation and skill. New breed of entrepreneurs who are well versed in the modern principles of business management and who have the desirable attitude, values and behaviour are required to show a significant outcome in this sector as success of any enterprise depends on entrepreneur’s efficiency and effectiveness. Understanding nursery owners' entrepreneurial behaviour will allow change agents and extension machinery to intervene to correct, modify, alter, or promote appropriate behavioural changes that will allow nursery owners to pursue their business profitably and sustainably. The study was undertaken in three districts of Assam namely, Jorhat, Nagaon and Golaghat which were selected purposively as it is located in close proximity to the only Agricultural University in the state. A sample size of 90 was taken using convenience sampling. 30 nurseries were selected from each district under the study. Primary data for the current study was collected in the month of April- June. The findings of the present investigation revealed that majority of the respondents (55.56%) belonged to the middle-aged category. Most of the respondents (46.67%) had high level of education. Majority (56.67%) of the respondents belonged to small sized family while 91.1% of the respondents had marginal land holding. Most (62.22%) of the respondents belonged to medium income category. Majority (80%) of the respondents had easy access to labour available on both weekdays and weekends. The study also revealed that most (52.22%) of the respondents had medium level experience in nursery business while majority (71.11%) of the respondents had medium level of training exposure and had attended 1-3 number of trainings conducted by various external sources. In terms of various parameters related to entrepreneurial behaviour the study reveals that majority (74.44%) of the respondents had medium level of innovativeness, medium level of achievement motivation (57.78%), moderate decision-making ability (68.89%), medium level of risk orientation (51.11%), moderate level of coordinating ability (57.78%), moderate level of planning ability (60.00%), medium level of information seeking behaviour (77.78%) and medium level of self-confidence (86.67%). With the help of Entrepreneurial Behaviour Index (EBI), entrepreneurial behaviour of nursery owners was calculated and came into the conclusion that majority (68.89%) of the respondents had moderate entrepreneurial behaviour followed by high entrepreneurial behaviour (17.78%) and low entrepreneurial behaviour (13.33%). The problems stated by the respondents included non-availability of desired inputs at the right time, high cost of inputs, lack of knowledge about proper techniques of marketing, lack of knowledge on proper utilization of land under nursery and many more. In terms of natural calamities high rainfall was stated as the most occurring problem for the outdoor nurseries though measures have been taken to overcome the problem. On the other hand, flood was stated as a major problem by almost all the nursery owners of Nagaon district. By overall evaluation of problems, problems related to inputs ranked first followed by land utilization problems, problems related to storage, institutional problems, marketing problems, transportation problems, problems related to natural calamities, social problems and personal problems.