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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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2021 - 20235
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Subject: Family Resource Management × End date: 2023 × Start date: 2020 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Ergonomic Evaluation of Task Performed by Workers in Manual Brick Kiln
    (2023) Baruah, Nikhil; Baruah, Moonty
    The present study was conducted in Jorhat district of Assam. The study intended to find out the work-related health problems prevalent among the workers engaged in brick kiln activities. The ergonomic risk factors causing health problems were also examined in the study. The measures to minimize work related health problems among the brick kiln workers were also discussed. Three subdivisions of Jorhat namely Jorhat, Mariani and Titabor were selected performing for the study based upon the brick kiln industry. A total of 306 workers from the selected brick processing industries were selected from the total population of the brick industry on the 95% level of confidence. Findings revealed that among the surveyed workers, 59 per cent were male and 41 per cent were female workers and mostly 81 per cent were married. Most of the workers were under the age group of 41-50 years. Most (53) of the workers in the age group of 51-60 years were involved in the brick industry from 4 to 6 years followed by 46 numbers in the age group of 61-70. Only 11 of the workers were engaged from 7 to 9 years in the age group of 61-70. Loading of bricks to bake was found to be highly involved activity (Rank I). This was followed by arranging brick to dry (Rank II) and stacking brick (Rank III). The workers engaged in brick kiln industry worked for 10 to 12 hours daily. On an average of 2 hours of the break was found to be taken by the respondents for their lunch and rest period in all the brick processing units as surveyed. In the present study of ergonomic risk factors in brick kiln industries was studied in terms of postural analyses, types of muscular efforts, perceived exertion, REBA score etc. Findings of the study revealed that highest RPE score (Rating of Perceived Exertion) i.e., 4.25 was observed while performing molding brick which was followed by loading brick to fire with the mean RPE score of 4.23. While performing these activities the workers sit and stand in a continuous awkward posture. Arranging bricks to dry recorded the lowest RPE score of 2.47. From the data it was observed that during performance of all the activities the workers felt highest discomfort in thighs, lower back in standing type of activity followed by neck, wrist and shoulder in sitting and squatting postures. Majority 97.71% reported knee pain followed by 94.12% suffered low back pain and shoulder pain 93.79%. Around 66 per cent of the workers felt the pain always whereas, 28 percent of the workers had the pain sometimes, followed by 6 per cent of workers who never had pain during activities. It was observed that 38 percent of the workers suffered from less acute incidences of body pains whereas 45 percent of the workers had negligible incidences which was followed by acute incidences i.e., 17 percent. From the analysis of collected data, it was observed that as age, years of involvement increase prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorder among the worker was higher. To improve the musculoskeletal health of kiln workers, workers should be trained in occupational safety and ergonomic principles. They should be encouraged to use personal protection aids like the lumbar belt to reduce lower back issues, the duration of rest should be split into short breaks, workers should be motivated to change their postures periodically with various stretching practices to relieve excessive muscular stress, tasks should be rotated between males and females, among age groups and BMI categories periodically as these factors are associated with musculoskeletal issues. Trolleys should be used not only in brick carrying but also in mould carrying. Moulding box and other hand tools should be redesigned ergonomically, and the use of already redesigned hand tools (i.e., spade, trowel, etc.) must be promoted.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Workspace Environment of the Computer operating Employees in Banking Sector- An Analysis
    (2021) Gogoi, Animesh; Bhuyan, Bijoylaxmi
    The banking sector is a part of a nation’s economy as banks play vital role in implementing and planning of the financial policy. All the transaction of money and financial issues come under the banking sector. So it is very important that the employees have very good mental and physical status to deliver their responsibilities to the utmost perfection. A good work space environment can lead to high productivity where as a poor workspace environment can cause problems to the workers and the organization. Comfortable and ergonomic office design motivates the employees and increases their performance substantially (Deshpande, 2013). Furthermore, work stress can affect workers in many ways; from lowering resistance to illnesses and depriving them of sleep, to interfering with their concentration as a result more injuries and accidents occur (Adeyemi 2013). This study was aimed to investigate musculoskeletal disorders and onset of stress and its relationship due to the effect of workstation factors like illumination, temperature, humidity, noise, office furniture and colour of walls on computer operating employees of banking sector of Jorhat town. Data was collected through the use of questionnaire and observation methods from 129 bank employees and was analysed through statistical methods. About 40.3% employees 28.63% Male and 11.62% Female) were found to suffer from different musculoskeletal problems. The study found a significant relation with some workstation environment factors and musculoskeletal disorders. Apart from this, some workstation environment factors were also found to have significant relationship with stress outcome of the employees. The study suggested that people must understand their workspace environment factors and should design it in terms of their body requirements and adhere to recommended ergonomic specifications in a proper way for better performance and productivity maintaining good health and wellness.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Utilization of institutional microfinance by beneficiaries – A study in Sivasagar district of Assam
    (2021) Gogoi, Parthapratim; Sharma, Babita
    Microfinance is an approach of economic development that involves providing financial services, through institutions, to low-income people, where the market fails to provide appropriate services. In present scenario this is found to be an effective instrument for lifting the poor above the level of poverty by providing them self- employment opportunities and making them credit worthy. In India Micro finance programme was formally initiated by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in 1992, Like India, in Assam also during past years, (since 2001) the sector has witnessed a sharp growth with the emergence of a number of Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) that are providing financial and non-financial support to the poor in an effort to lift them out of poverty. But many times it has been seen that beneficiaries are not utilizing micro finance loan for income generation, rather they utilize in non productive work. Sometimes beneficiaries do not have control in utilizing loan, in such case whether beneficiaries could managed repayment? Whether beneficiaries are actually benefited? Whether services of MFI's are satisfactory? Considering these points the present research has been conducted with the objectives: 1. To study socio economic profile of beneficiaries. 2. To study quantum of loan availed, their utilization and repayment by the beneficiaries. 3. To access level of satisfaction of beneficiaries towards micro finance services of MFI’s. One hundred and twenty numbers of total beneficiaries have been selected from Sivsagar district of Assam by adopting multi stage samplings techniques. Findings of the data depicts that beneficiaries in the study area came to know about institutional micro finance mostly from MFI representatives working in their area and other sources like advertisement in TV/Radio/Newspapers, Posters, Hoardings etc. Beneficiaries association with multiple MFI's found among highest percentage of beneficiaries in study area. Only 30.0 percent of the beneficiaries utilized the loan amount by themselves. Utilization of micro finance loan by husband and other family member along with beneficiaries found among majority of beneficiaries household. Moreover loan utilization was found mostly in traditional activities like livestock, petty business, agriculture etc. Study also revealed that diversifications of loan amount to unproductive purpose are common in study area. Regarding repayment of loan it was found that 62.6 percent of the beneficiaries were found as defaulter due to various reasons and more prominent reasons are improper use of loan and insufficient income. From KMO and Bartlett's Test, it is found that some factor had positive influenced on repayment of institutional micro finance loan, example: microfinance loan helps in rejuvenate and expansion of old petty business , MFI improved overall socio economic status of a family etc. whereas some factor had negatively influenced on repayment status of institutional micro finance loan like: diversified micro finance loan for unproductive purpose, frequency of loan repayment is not comfortable etc. Beneficiaries perception towards institutional microfinance programme revealed that micro finance program is helping more in personal development than economic and social development. Overall satisfaction level was found medium among beneficiaries in study area. From the study it can be concluded that though emergence of microfinance service is for economic empowerment of women by involving themselves in some income generating activity but in study area most of the loan are utilized by other members of the family. As a result their involvement in economic activity was very poor but burden of repayment lies on them. Default of loan repayment is mainly associated with diversification of loan for unproductive purpose. Moreover, during the study period Covid-19 pandemic has badly affected many beneficiaries income generating activities, as a result many people became defaulter of loan during this period. Lastly, for revival of rural economy and empowerment of the rural poor specially women, recipient also needs to understand purpose of microfinance and utilize loan in a more productive way so that the magnitude of return will be more than existing condition.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    PACKAGING AND CONSUMER BUYING BEHAVIOUR
    (2021) SONOWAL, MRIGANKA; Baruah, Moonty
    In today‘s competitive market packaging and its aesthetic elements have occupied an important and unique position in delivering the product to the end users. It has become important tool of differencing the product from the similar kinds of products available in the market. It attracts consumers‘ attention to particular brand, packaging enhances the product image and influences consumers‘ perception about the product or service. The appearance of the package is believed to have a strong impact on influencing consumers‘ purchase decision. Keeping it in mind the present study was taken up on Packaging and consumer buying behaviour with the objectives 1)To find out the different packaging materials used for food items. 2) To find out the impact of packaging on the buying behaviour. 3) To see the relationship between packaging elements and consumer buying behaviour. For the present study a purposive cum random sampling method was adopted for selecting the samples in order to fulfil the objectives of the study. A total of 170 women were selected randomly through PPS (Probability Proportionate to sample) technique was followed. To determine the reliability of the instrument and to check simplicity, content and clarity of language of the interview schedule pretesting was done. The instrument was administered with 20 non sampled women. It helped the investigator to finalize the interview schedule. The findings showed that among all the packaging material plastics are used mostly in all the food products. Packaging can be divided into different elements which creates an impact on the minds of the consumer to purchase a product. It is divided into two categories: visual which includes graphics, colour, shape, and size and informational which includes information provided and innovation. In the present study we can say that packaging elements play a vital role in decision making of purchasing a product Among the elements we see that packaging color, packing material, packaging design and innovation have significant relation with the buying behaviour. So, the marketers can emphasize on these elements to compete with its competitors and to boost the sales of product in the market.Future researchers can formulate this study for further examination of every feature and its effect on product packaging, explanation of impact of packaging features in relation with other categories of product or conduction any comparative study to possibly identifying different effects of packaging features on a variety of similar or different products.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS IN DOMESTIC KITCHEN OF JORHAT SUB-DIVISION
    (AAU, Jorhat, 2021) Sangma, Kimbai A; Kalita, Mira
    Nowadays, energy consumption, environmental protection and safety are fundamental issues in design process. Environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, light, noise etc have a profound effect on human performance, efficiency and efficacy. The present study entitled “Assessment of Environmental Parameters in Domestic Kitchen in Jorhat Sub Division” was proposed with following objectives: (1) to study the demographic profile of the respondents. (2) To measures the temperature, humidity, iIluminance and noise level in the kitchen during cooking. (3) To study the relationship between dependent and independent variables. A purposive cum random sampling method was adopted. Out of 19 wards in Jorhat Municipality area 3 wards were selected randomly and 5 per cent sample thereby 56 numbers of household were selected randomly. The women who involved in cooking activity will be the sample for the present study. Both interview and observation method was used for collection of data which was done through a questionnaire and observation for measurement of temperature, humidity, and Iluminance and noise level. Instruments used for measurement i.e., thermo-hygrometer, lux-meter and noise level-meter. Further chi square test was done to identify the relationship between variables. The findings showed that the average temperature was found to be 30.55°C which is found more than acceptable limit i.e., 22.2 °C to 26.6 °C, humidity was found to be 75.65 per cent which is higher than the acceptable value (30 % to 60 %), iIluminance level was found to be 140.25 lux which is lower than the acceptable limit of 300 lux and the average noise level was found to be 64.70 dB which is more than the permissible or acceptable level of noise (55 dB). The study revealed that there is a significant relationship between noise with brand name of the kitchen chimney („p‟=0.041*). It was also emphasize that majority of the respondents were not aware of environmental parameters, hence a guidelines was developed for creating awareness and for conducive environment in the kitchen to improve their performance.