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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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ThesisItem Open Access KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF STUDENTS TOWARDS SPIRITUAL LIFE SKILLS(AAU, Jorhat, 2021) Das, Birina; Hazarika, DaisyThe present research study entitled “Knowledge, attitude and practice of students of towards Spiritual Life Skills” was carried out in main campus of Assam Agricultural University, which is situated in the Jorhat district of Assam. The objectives of the study were: i) to study the preliminary information of the respondents ii) to measure the knowledge of the respondents about spiritual life skills iii) to find out the attitude of the respondents towards spiritual life skills and iv) to find out the practice of spiritual life skills among the respondents. A total of 126 students pursuing Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy were selected as respondents from College of Agriculture and College of Community Science using Stratified Random Sampling technique. Knowledge Scale for measuring the knowledge of the respondents on Spiritual Life Skills and an Attitude Scale for measuring the attitude of the respondents towards Spiritual Life Skills were constructed by using item analysis, validity test and reliability test. In order to find out the practice of Spiritual Life Skills among the respondents, a questionnaire was developed based on the constructed and standardized Knowledge Scale. Data were collected by using the constructed questionnaire and analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques viz., frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, z test, Chi-square test, Phi Cramer’s V test and Pearson’s correlation analysis. The data revealed that 65.00 per cent were female and 35.00 per cent were male. 49.20 per cent of the respondents possessed open personality, 94.45 per cent of the respondents have an optimistic type of thinking. 69.06 per cent of the respondents preferred friendship of good and 76.98 per cent maintained a positive relationship with their sibling. The data further revealed that majority (51.67%) of the respondents have moderate knowledge level on spiritual life skills, similarly majority (62.50%) of the respondents belonged to the moderate category of practice level of spiritual life skills. 61.11 per cent, which is the majority of the respondents were found to have a favorable attitude towards spiritual life skills. Independent variables: ‘age’ of the respondents was found to be positively correlated with dependent variable ‘knowledge’ of the respondents but was not correlated to ‘attitude’ and ‘practice’ of the respondents. Higher the age of the respondents, higher was the knowledge of respondents on spiritual life skills. Positive correlation was also found between dependent variables: knowledge and attitude, knowledge and practice and attitude and practice of the respondents. The independent variables: ‘sex’, ‘religious belief’, ‘spiritual belief’, ‘personality of the respondents’ and ‘meditating habit of the respondents’ were found to be significantly associated with dependent variable ‘knowledge’ at 5% significance level. The independent variables: ‘type of thinking’ and ‘sibling relationship’ was found to be associated with dependent variable ‘attitude’ at 5% significance level. Again, the independent variables: ‘type of thinking’, ‘sibling relationship’, ‘curiosity to learn spiritual life skill’ and ‘family spiritual belief’ were found to be associated with ‘practice’ of spiritual life skills among the respondents at 5% level of significance. The study gives a thorough overview on knowledge, attitude and practice of the respondents towards spiritual life skills. Future research can be conducted to study the impact of spirituality on college students.ThesisItem Open Access Knowledge and practice of farmers in production of mushroom for livelihood security(AAU, Jorhat, 2021) Saikia, Debasish; Bora, MayuriMushroom is a delicacy with high functional and nutritional value. It has been historically used as a nutritional source across the world. Mushroom cultivation requires less land and is basically an indoor activity. It can be started by landless farmers, unemployed youths, rural women and other entrepreneurs. The study on Knowledge and Practice of Farmers in Production of Mushroom for Livelihood Security was conducted with four objectives- (I) To study the background profile of the farmers engaged in mushroom production. (II)To assess the existing technological knowledge of the farmers on mushroom production(III)To identify existing practices of respondents in production of mushroom (IV)To find out the problems faced by the respondents in production of mushroom. The study was conducted in Jorhat district of Assam using snow ball sampling method. Sample size for the study was 60(sixty). The study revealed that 41.67 per cent respondent was in the age group 31-41 years, 66.66 per cent were married and 33.34 per cent had passed higher secondary. More than 80.00 per cent respondents belonged to nuclear family with small family size. Fifty per cent respondent had farming as their primary occupation and regarding occupation of the respondent’s majority of the respondents (80.00%) were involved in farming, 33.33 per cent Wiilinness for continuation of mushroom production, Higher percentage of the respondent (66.67%) were engaged in mushroom production more than one time. The findings shows that highest percentage (66.67%) of respondents had medium level of knowledge on mushroom production whereas majority (81.67%) had moderate level of practice. However in certain aspects the respondents had no knowledge such as ‘how long paddy straw should be soaked in fresh water’, ‘usage of brown bag for storing harvested mushrooms’, ‘the recommended soaking time for the paddy straw’ etc. . Though majority had moderate level of practice some aspects are not at all adhered to including ‘do not use brown beg’, ‘did not make any value-added products, etc. Majority of the respondents reported problems in mushroom production such as ‘Unavailability of quality spawn in mushroom Production’, ‘Lack of input’, ‘Lack of government scheme’, ‘Lack of assured market’, ‘Price fluctuation of the mushroom’. The study concludes that there is an urgent need to remove hindrances for accelerated adoption of mushroom enterprise for income generation. For sustainability and expansion of the mushroom sector in order to ensure the livelihood security of the farmers there should be encouragement from the Government and other concerned authority by providing necessary input support and marketing and storage facility.ThesisItem Open Access KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS OF JORHAT DISTRICT OF ASSAM ON PERSONAL HYGIENE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MENSTRUAL HYGIENE(AAU, Jorhat, 2021) Chetia, Anwesha Bijoy; Sarmah, JulianaThe present investigation was conducted to study the “Knowledge and practice of adolescent girls of Jorhat district of Assam on personal hygiene with special reference to menstrual hygiene” with objectives : (i) To study the background profile of adolescent girls (ii) To assess the existing knowledge of respondents on personal hygiene with special reference to menstrual hygiene (iii) To identify the existing practice of respondents on personal hygiene with special reference to menstrual hygiene. The study was conducted in one Educational Block of Jorhat District of Assam namely Jorhat Educational Block. Twenty five (out of total 32 clusters) numbers of clusters having high school or higher secondary school were considered for the present study. As there are 20 clusters situated in rural area and 5 clusters are in the urban area, 50 per cent clusters of rural areas that is 10 nos. and 50 per cent clusters of urban areas that is 3 nos. were selected randomly for the present study. One high school or higher secondary school from each cluster was selected by using simple random sampling method. Thus, all total 13 numbers of high schools or higher secondary schools were considered for present study, 10 schools from rural and 3 schools from urban area were selected for the present study. From the total number, thirty percent girls belonging to 15 years to 19 years (late adolescent) were the respondents for the present study. Thus, all total 142 numbers of late adolescent girls (15-19 years of age belonging to class IX to XI) from the rural area and 112 numbers of late adolescent girls totaling 254 numbers of late adolescent girls from both rural and urban area of Jorhat district were the respondents for the present study to assess knowledge and practice of personal hygiene with special reference to menstrual hygiene. The study revealed that a higher percentage of respondents in both rural and urban area belonged to the age group of 15-17 years and respondents from both the areas respondents attained menarche at the age of 13-15 years. The study revealed that majority of the total respondents had no separate bathroom in their house for using during menstrual period. It is found that ‘menstrual hygiene’ is included in the syllabus of school. Majority of the respondent discussed about menstrual hygiene with their family. The findings showed that majority of the total respondents that nearly 53 per cent respondents had attended training on menstrual hygiene and remaining respondents who had not attended any training on menstruation were interested in obtaining training on menstruation. More than 36 per cent respondents had the menstrual cycle with the interval of 28 days. Nearly 78 per cent respondents did not consult with doctor if face any problem regarding menstruation and they did not use any local (indigenous) medicine during menstrual period. The study showed that higher percentage of respondents from both the rural and urban area had medium level of knowledge on personal hygiene with special reference to menstrual hygiene. The study also revealed that a higher percentage of overall respondents that is 69.29 per cent belonged to “moderate” category on menstrual hygiene practice. The study showed that there was highly positive significant relationship of menstrual hygiene knowledge with independent variable such as mass media exposure and there was positive significant relationship of menstrual hygiene knowledge with independent variable such as training attended. There was highly positive significant relationship of menstrual hygiene practice and independent variable such as size of the family and training attended. There was positive significant relationship of respondents’ knowledge on menstrual hygiene with their practice on menstrual hygiene in rural area.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF BANDHAN MICROFINANCE ON EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN IN TINSUKIA DISTRICT OF ASSAM(AAU, Jorhat, 2021) Baruah, Inameeka; Bora, MayuriThe study on Effect of Bandhan Microfinance on empowerment of rural women in Tinsukia district of Assam was conducted with the objective (i) To develop a complete understanding of members of Bandhan groups, (ii) To study the functioning of Bandhan microfinance, (iii) To identify the problems faced by the respondents after availing the microfinance services (iv) To assess the effect of Bandhan microfinance on empowerment of rural women. The present study was conducted in Tinsukia district of Assam. Margherita Sub-division, was purposively selected from where two Bandhan banking units i.e., Banking Unit, Digboi and Banking Unit, Margherita was included. 108 respondents were selected using purposive cum simple random sampling method. The study revealed that 60.00 per cent of the respondents were in middle age group 35 – 47 years. It was found that 41.68 per cent had farming as their family occupation, 30.55 per cent did business and majority of the respondent (73.05%) were housewives. About 49.70 per cent respondents were members of the Bandhan group for 1-5 years which depicts their trust towards Bandhan Microfinance. Majority of respondents (70.37%) joined Bandhan group to maintain their household expenditure. High percentage of respondents (78.70%) have taken loan from Bandhan microfinance for starting new business of livestock at household level as they possessed 89.91 per cent of poultry birds and the respondents utilized their loan in business purpose as well. It was revealed from the findings that large percentage (71.00%) respondents belonged to medium socio-economic category. As only 31.48 per cent and 20.30 per cent had knowledge about the terms of repayment and the interest rate respectively so, the most common problem faced by the respondent after availing the loan from Bandhan microfinance services is short period for repayment and not clear about the interest rate. The findings also revealed that there was significant improvement in economic, psychological, personal and socio-cultural empowerment whereas there was less improvement in terms of political empowerment after availing loan from Bandhan Microfinance services. There was also an overall increase in the level of empowerment of rural women after availing the Bandhan Microfinance services. In the study a positive significant relationship can also be seen between the socio-economic status and the empowerment of rural women. Thus, Bandhan microfinance has significantly contributed towards the empowerment of the rural women in the study area. Therefore, Proper training should be given to the rural people regarding the terms, conditions, the bank loan formalities and the interest charged on the loans should be reduced to encourage and attract new customers. Further research should be done considering other microfinance related issues and how these issues affect the empowerment of rural women.ThesisItem Open Access ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS OF OFFICE EMPLOYEES(AAU, Jorhat, 2021) Gogoi, Malobika; Kalita, MiraA place where professional task and managerial activities of an organization is carried is termed as an office. Computers are used for a long period of time without taking appropriate breaks in between that affects vision causes pain in the neck, upper back, shoulders arms etc. Keeping in mind the study on „Assessment of Occupational Health Hazards of Office Employees‟ was undertaken with the objectives - a) to study the activity profile of the computer users, b) To assess the occupational health hazards of computer users, c) to analyze the posture assumed by the computer users and d) to find out the relationship between selected dependent and independent variables. A total of 110 samples were selected purposively from the educational institutes of the Jorhat district of Assam. For the study both interview and experimental methods were used for gathering the data. The tools for the study were grooved peg board for dexterity and eye hand coordination and flexi-curve for postural deviation was used. A three point scale was applied for assessing health hazards and to identify body part discomfort of the body parts a five point scale (Corlett and Bishop, 1976) was used. Further chi square analysis was done to determine the relationship between variables. The findings showed that total hours spent on computer every day was observed to be 88.20 per cent for 6-8 hours. About half of the respondents (51.80%) took rest for 30 minutes. On analyzing the different occupational health hazards it was observed that headache was the most frequently occurring health hazards and Rank I similarly, head ranked -I with a mean of 2.29. A deviation of 2.15 per cent was found to be for upper back similarly 0.87 per cent was found to be for lower back. Data revealed that there was no relationship between gender and occupational health hazards („p‟=0.510) but significant relationship between age („p‟=0.000**) and years of involvement („p‟= 0.004**). Similarly, for total body discomfort no significant relation was found between gender („p‟=0.238) and years of involvement („p‟=0.118) whereas age was found to be highly significant („p‟=0.00**). Regarding the relationship between postural deviation with age, gender and years of involvement, there lies a significant relation between age and years of involvement („p‟=0.047** and „p‟=0.041**) and no relation with gender („p‟=0.899). Preventive programs can be introduced to the employees so as to put awareness and to prevent of the health hazards and musculoskeletal disorders among the office employees.ThesisItem Open Access ASPIRATION OF RURAL YOUTH TOWARDS AGRICULTURE AS AN ENTERPRISE FOR LIVELIHOOD SECURITY(AAU, Jorhat, 2021) Gogoi, Gayatri; Borah, SayanikaThe unemployment rate for youth is increasing day-by-day and young people had facing this problem more severely. Due to the problem they are migrating to urban cities in search of better job opportunities. Where agricultural entrepreneurship plays a vital role in social and economic development of the country, it is questionable issue of migration of rural youth. Thus the present study was undertaken to study the “Aspiration of Rural Youth towards Agriculture as an enterprise for Livelihood Security” with following objectives – i) To study the background profile of the rural youth, ii) To assess the attitude of rural youth towards agriculture as an enterprise, iii) To find out the factors that influences the interest of the rural youth towards agriculture as an enterprise, iv) To explore constraints of rural youth in taking agriculture as an enterprise. The study was conducted in Jorhat subdivision and Titabor subdivision of Jorhat district of Assam. Multistage Proportionate Random Sampling technique was followed for the present study. Four villages were selected randomly from two subdivisions. From the 4 villages 138 numbers of male youth were selected proportionately. The data was collected through structured questionnaire prepared by the researcher. Collected data were analyzed by applying frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square test, Pearson Correlation and factor analysis. The findings revealed that majority (54.34%) of the respondents belong to early youth group i.e. 21-25years and Hindu (96.37%). Majority of the respondents (95.65%) were unmarried and 43.00 per cent had education up to graduation level. Half of the respondents had service as their family occupation. They mostly belonged to nuclear (67.39%) and small size family (65.21%). Fifty per cent of the respondents belonged to marginal land holdings and unemployed (30.43%) and had mixed type of house (60.86%). Majority of the respondents 55.00 per cent and 75.00 per cent of the respondents had medium level of household assets and farm assets respectively. Cent percent of the respondents using mobile phones and participate in discussion meetings (60.86%). They had regular contact (20.30%) with bank personnel. It was found that majority (72.50%) of respondents had favorable attitude on agriculture as an enterprise. From the factor analysis there are eight factors were extracted because data shows eight components with Eigen value greater than 1. Variables under social factor had high influence the interest of rural youth towards agriculture as an enterprise. Most of the respondents had faced common problems like lack of economic investment (66.66%), lack of appropriate machineries (43.33%), and insufficient land holding due to family division (40.41%).ThesisItem Open Access FOOD HABIT OF TRIBAL COMMUNITY OF ASSAM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SHYAM TRIBE(AAU, Jorhat, 2020-09) Konwar, Manash Pratim; Deka, Manoshi BaruahThe present study on ―Food habit of tribal community of Assam with special reference to Shyam tribe‖ was carried out with the following objectives 1. Complete understanding of the Shyam tribe. 2. Food consumption and dietary habit of people of Shyam tribe. 3. Indigenous food practices in treatment of common health problems. The study was carried out in the Jorhat district of State of Assam. From Jorhat district Titabar development block was purposively selected. A list of the villages which are predominantly habitated by Shyam tribe was prepared from which two villages were selected randomly. From each of the village 30 Shyam people were selected through judgmental method. Thus total numbers of respondent were 60. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and analysed using appropriate statistical techniques viz., frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The data revealed that more than half of the respondents were of middle adulthood group of 40- 60 years, had nuclear family (51.67%) medium family size (5-7 members) (56.67%). The status of education was up to middle school level (26.67%), majority of the respondents were married. Main occupation of the family was farming (63.34%), had small land (31.67%) to marginal land holding (18.33%) and ownership was in the name of respondent mostly male members. More than half of the respondents did not have membership in any organization and sometimes contacted bank personnel rather than other extension personnel. Cent per cent had mobiles phones and half of them had low mass media exposure. Almost all of them possessed birds (90.00%), followed by cow (26.67%) and goats (20.00%). Traditional housing pattern is still prevailing among the respondents, as regard to rituals related to marriage and funeral high majority (86.00%- 88.00%) still followed completely and all the festivals are observed by all respondents such as Sangken, Poi-leng, Mai-ko-sum-phai, Poi-kathing. Traditional costume is used mostly by the older generation which is less worn by young generation. Basically respondents are non vegetarian, boiling and steaming are common cooking method, some of the traditional food items are sticky steamed rice , jolokia-pitika, laitenga, khautak, boiled pork with vegetable. They have a good treasure of indigenous knowledge which is still followed by majority of the respondents in treatment of common health problems. The finding of the study suggest that documentation and preservation of their traditional culinary practices and plethora indigenous knowledge is the need of the hour before it is lost with the passage of time which will be an addition to the knowledge busket of wisdom and also this can serve for the taking up startups for the new generation. It is evident from the study that the indigenous knowledge holders of Shyam tribe collect the different medicinal, edible plant species from the surrounding plant resources located in the periphery of the village and some species that are grown in their traditional homestead gardens. Thus it can be concluded that like many other tribal communities of the world, Shyam people also have their system, rituals, customs, festivals and preparation of food. The ethnic foods are important and have cultural values.
