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Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur

The Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU) was established on 12th June 1964 at Hyderabad. The University was formally inaugurated on 20th March 1965 by Late Shri. Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then Hon`ble Prime Minister of India. Another significant milestone was the inauguration of the building programme of the university by Late Smt. Indira Gandhi,the then Hon`ble Prime Minister of India on 23rd June 1966. The University was renamed as Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University on 7th November 1996 in honour and memory of an outstanding parliamentarian Acharya Nayukulu Gogineni Ranga, who rendered remarkable selfless service for the cause of farmers and is regarded as an outstanding educationist, kisan leader and freedom fighter. HISTORICAL MILESTONE Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) was established under the name of Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU) on the 12th of June 1964 through the APAU Act 1963. Later, it was renamed as Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University on the 7th of November, 1996 in honour and memory of the noted Parliamentarian and Kisan Leader, Acharya N. G. Ranga. At the verge of completion of Golden Jubilee Year of the ANGRAU, it has given birth to a new State Agricultural University namely Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University with the bifurcation of the state of Andhra Pradesh as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act 2014. The ANGRAU at LAM, Guntur is serving the students and the farmers of 13 districts of new State of Andhra Pradesh with renewed interest and dedication. Genesis of ANGRAU in service of the farmers 1926: The Royal Commission emphasized the need for a strong research base for agricultural development in the country... 1949: The Radhakrishnan Commission (1949) on University Education led to the establishment of Rural Universities for the overall development of agriculture and rural life in the country... 1955: First Joint Indo-American Team studied the status and future needs of agricultural education in the country... 1960: Second Joint Indo-American Team (1960) headed by Dr. M. S. Randhawa, the then Vice-President of Indian Council of Agricultural Research recommended specifically the establishment of Farm Universities and spelt out the basic objectives of these Universities as Institutional Autonomy, inclusion of Agriculture, Veterinary / Animal Husbandry and Home Science, Integration of Teaching, Research and Extension... 1963: The Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU) Act enacted... June 12th 1964: Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU) was established at Hyderabad with Shri. O. Pulla Reddi, I.C.S. (Retired) was the first founder Vice-Chancellor of the University... June 1964: Re-affilitation of Colleges of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, Hyderabad (estt. in 1961, affiliated to Osmania University), Agricultural College, Bapatla (estt. in 1945, affiliated to Andhra University), Sri Venkateswara Agricultural College, Tirupati and Andhra Veterinary College, Tirupati (estt. in 1961, affiliated to Sri Venkateswara University)... 20th March 1965: Formal inauguration of APAU by Late Shri. Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then Hon`ble Prime Minister of India... 1964-66: The report of the Second National Education Commission headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, Chairman of the University Grants Commission stressed the need for establishing at least one Agricultural University in each Indian State... 23, June 1966: Inauguration of the Administrative building of the university by Late Smt. Indira Gandhi, the then Hon`ble Prime Minister of India... July, 1966: Transfer of 41 Agricultural Research Stations, functioning under the Department of Agriculture... May, 1967: Transfer of Four Research Stations of the Animal Husbandry Department... 7th November 1996: Renaming of University as Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University in honour and memory of an outstanding parliamentarian Acharya Nayukulu Gogineni Ranga... 15th July 2005: Establishment of Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University (SVVU) bifurcating ANGRAU by Act 18 of 2005... 26th June 2007: Establishment of Andhra Pradesh Horticultural University (APHU) bifurcating ANGRAU by the Act 30 of 2007... 2nd June 2014 As per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act 2014, ANGRAU is now... serving the students and the farmers of 13 districts of new State of Andhra Pradesh with renewed interest and dedication...

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Subject: Agricultural Extension × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2017 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOUR OF COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE NURSERY OWNERS IN KADIYAM OF ANDHRA PRADESH
    (Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 2019) UDAY BHASKAR, M; SRINIVASA RAO, M
    The study was conducted to analyse the profile characteristics of commercial floriculture nursery owners and their entrepreneurial behaviour. The relationship between profile characteristics of nursery owners and their entrepreneurial behaviour was elicited. Marketing network of nursery owners was also examined. The constraints faced by nursery owners and suggestions given by them to overcome their constraints were elicited. Ex-post-facto research design was followed for the study. The investigation was purposively carried out at Kadiyam mandal in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh during the year 2018-19 as the locale is nationally and internationally known for commercial floriculture nurseries and was dominant with more area under floriculture among the mandals of East Godavari district. Three villages with highest number and area under commercial floriculture nurseries namely Kadiyam, Vemagiri and Veeravaram were purposively selected and later 120 nursery owners were selected randomly from the three villages in proportion to the number of nurseries in each village. The data was collected with the help of a structured interview schedule through personal interview method and data obtained was analyzed by using suitable statistical methods. The detailed analysis of the study have shown that majority of the nursery owners were in middle age, completed high school education, small farmers, had a medium level of experience in nursery business, training not undergone, medium family size, annual turnover less than 50 lakhs, medium mass media exposure, medium material possession, medium social participation, low level of extension contact, medium level of aspiration. Further it was also observed that major source of credit was from the commercial banks followed by its major utilization in nursery business itself. It was also revealed that majority of the nursery owners were marketing their plants to the local customers, local traders and other nurseries in Kadiyam. xvii The study revealed that majority of the nursery owners had medium entrepreneurial behaviour. Among components of the entrepreneurial behaviour, it was found that majority of them had medium innovativeness, decision making ability, leadership ability, achievement motivation, risk orientation, management orientation, scientific orientation, competition orientation, critical thinking, entrepreneurial selfefficacy and locus of control. Under different components of entrepreneurial behaviour, nursery owners possessed the highest leadership ability followed by management orientation, competition orientation, decision making ability, resiliency, scientific orientation, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, innovativeness, risk orientation, achievement motivation, critical thinking and locus of control. Factor analysis on components of entrepreneurial behaviour revealed that innovativeness and decision making are the two major components expressing a total variation of 58.72 towards entrepreneurial behaviour. The correlation analysis revealed that education, land holding, experience in nursery business, training undergone, annual turnover, marketing pattern, credit acquisition and utilization, mass media exposure, material possession, social participation, extension contact and level of aspiration had positively significant relationship with the entrepreneurial behaviour of nursery owners whereas family size and age had non-significant relationship with the entrepreneurial behaviour of nursery owners. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that, all the independent variables put together explained 69.90 per cent of the total variance with entrepreneurial behaviour of nursery owners. Path analysis revealed that the highest direct influence on entrepreneurial behaviour of nursery owners was exerted by land holding followed by material possession and extension contact, whereas the highest indirect effect was exerted by land holding followed by material possession and annual turnover. Highest substantial indirect effect on entrepreneurial behaviour was exerted by land holding through material possession and material possession through land holding. With regard to marketing network of commercial floriculture nursery owners it was revealed that customers themselves identifying the nursery was the major source of identification of the nursery followed by direct sale at the nursery as the major method of sale, credit as the major kind of payment in sale and good packaging as the major promotional strategy. It was also revealed that majority of nursery owners had face to face communication with the customers and with no delivery arrangement. Further it was also observed that major quantum of sale during 2017-18 was through agents and traders and major percentage of the customers who visited the nurseries during 2017-18 were diversified customers. Among the major constraints faced by nursery owners, scarcity of labour was the major constraint followed by unavailability of suitable soil, attack of pests and diseases, competition from new nurseries, marketing problems, lack of technical guidance, high labour wages and irregular supply of electricity. The major suggestions given by them were improved practices of mechanization followed by provision of appropriate potting mixture, proper market facilities and better price of the plants, timely technical advice, provision of demand driven knowledge about scientific cultivation practices in floriculture, regulation of nurseries, organisation of floriculture exhibitions and trade shows, periodical skill orientated training, provision of subsidies and finally establishment of communal solar and biogas plants.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    A CRITICAL STUDY ON PRADHAN MANTRI FASAL BIMA YOJANA IN SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
    (Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 2019) NAGESH, HANUMANTHU; MUKUNDA RAO, B
    Research study entitled “A Critical Study on Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh” was under taken to study the profile characteristics of beneficiaries of PMFBY, knowledge, opinion levels of beneficiaries about Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, relationship between profile with knowledge and opinion levels of beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and aims to elucidate the constraints faced by the farmers and suggestions given by them to overcome the constraints and finally to formulate the strategies for effective implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. The study was taken up in three mandals of Srikakulam district with a sample size of 120 members. Thirteen independent variables with knowledge and opinion as dependent variable were studied. The farmers interviewed personally by a well structured interview schedule. The data was coded, tabulated and analyzed using suitable statistical tools. The profile of the beneficiaries of PMFBY revealed that majority of the farmers were middle aged, educated up to middle school, had less than 2 hectors of land holdings, 21 to 30 years of farming experience, medium annual income, untrained, medium level of mass media utilization, material possession, extension contact. Bank officers and Mandal agricultural officers were consulted by the majority of beneficiaries to seek the information about PMFBY. The study also revealed that majority of beneficiaries had frequently faced disasters like floods, heat waves, droughts and the disaster occurrence pattern is high. Regarding to psychological variables, majority of respondents were under medium level of scientific orientation and risk orientation. Most of the beneficiaries had took the loan from co-operative societies. Majority of the farmers had medium level of the knowledge regarding PMFBY. Majority of the beneficiaries had knowledge about the premium rates, crops covered under kharif, rabi and horticultural crops, intimation of losses about the crops within the particular period of time, reason for failure PMFBY, source of premium for crop insurance. Majority of the farmers had low level of knowledge on aspects like xii indemnity of crop damage excluded during losses of war and nuclear risks, companies provide insurance to beneficiaries in srikakulam under this scheme, PMFBY is optional for non-farmers etc., Basis for implementation of PMFBY Majority of the beneficiaries had medium level of opinion about PMFBY. Majority of beneficiaries had favorable opinion on items like PMFBY providing financial support to farmers suffering crop damage arising out of unforeseen events. Usage of smart phones and drone for assessment of crop damage is a ideal measure. More involvement of insurance companies for settlement of claims, lower premium rates than usage of IT in settlement of claims, Premium should be payed by the government. Out of thirteen independent variables farming experience, annual income, education showed positive and non-significant association with the knowledge. Disaster occurrence pattern, extension contact, land holdings, mass media utilization, training undergone, scientific orientation, risk orientation showed positive and significant association with the knowledge at one per cent level of significance. Crop loan availed, material possession, showed positive and significant relationship with the knowledge at five per cent level of significance. The variable age showed negative and non- significant relationship towards the knowledge of PMFBY beneficiaries. The farming experience, annual income, material possession showed positive and non-significant relationship. The variables like landholdings, extension contact, disaster occurrence pattern, mass media utilization, training undergone, crop loan availed, scientific orientation, risk orientation, showed positive and significant relationship at one per cent level of significance towards the beneficiaries of PMFBY. The variables like age, education showed negative and non- significant relationship with the opinion of beneficiaries of PMFBY. Multiple linear regression analysis gave the “R2” value of 0.564 indicated that all the selected fourteen profile characteristics put together, explained about 56.40 per cent variation in the level of knowledge in beneficiaries of PMFBY. Remaining 43.60 per cent is due to the extraneous effects of the variables. The “R2” value of 0.456 indicated that all the selected thirteen profile characteristics put together, explained about 45.60 per cent variation in the level of opinion in beneficiaries of PMFBY. Remaining 54.40 per cent is due to the extraneous effects of the variables. The problems faced by the beneficiaries in PMFBY were Lack of knowledge regarding to PMFBY, lack of awareness of benefits of PMFBY, less compensatation offered in crop insurance scheme, delay in payment of compensatation, Rate of premium is not universal for all crops, on-line registration and assessment of risk complexity in PMFBY, unavailability of experts for assessment of loss at visit time, lack of coordination between banks and farmers and high rate of premium. Suggestion made by the beneficiaries to overcome the constraints in PMFBY were procedure of the scheme should be simplified, organization of awareness programmes for farmers regarding PMFBY, organization of training programmes on efilling of insurance and benefit of the farmers, payment of premium by the government for farmers below the poverty regarding pmfby, premium rate may be decreased, avoid delay in payment of compensatation, increase the number of extension agents, maintain universal premium for all crops, improve linkage between banks and farmers, unit area may be of individual or a village level, improve socio-economic conditions of the farmers and increase the insurance agents in rural areas.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    IMPACT OF ANGRAU SUPPORTED RELIANCE FOUNDATION INFORMATION SERVICES IN GUNTUR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH – A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE
    (ACHARYA N G RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, GUNTUR, 2019) KISHOR KUMAR, N; JYOTHI, V
    Today, transfer of technology in extension system is done by multiple service providers including both public and private institutions responding to the multifaceted demands, problems and needs of the farmers. But one can never forget the role played by public extension system in attaining self reliance in food production in green revolution. Even for doubling of farmers’ income also the public extension system has a lead role to play. Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University is a public sector organization working for the welfare of farmers and farming community. The motto behind serving famers is to aid them in their development and in improving their farm income. And now it is working towards doubling of the farmers income. Reliance Foundation Information Services (RFIS) is providing critical information to farmers using various communication channels. It has identified that farmers need right information, at right time, from right source for right decision making in order to increase their farm income. Keeping in view the importance of public organizations in reforming Agricultural extension services, Reliance Foundation approached ANGRAU to be the knowledge partner for its Information Services Programme. During 2014 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between ANGRAU and Reliance Foundation for implementing Information Services Programme for the benefit of farmers in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. ANGRAU with the technical support from its Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centres (DAATTCs), Agricultural Research Stations (ARS) is providing technical support to Reliance Foundation Information Services (RFIS) being implemented in all the districts of Andhra Pradesh with highest number of users in Guntur district. Hence the study was conducted in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. xiii RFIS is disseminating the agricultural information though mobile text messages, mobile voice messages, knowledge on wheels programme, video conference, field awareness programmes, toll free number (1800-419-8800), phone in live, veterinary camps, bulletins & broadcasts and jio chat. At this juncture the study was planned to study the profile characteristics, effectiveness of RFIS, impact of RFIS, relationship between profile characteristics and impact of RFIS, problems and suggestions elicited by the farmers. The study was conducted in Andhra Pradesh state during the year 20182019 using Ex-post facto research design. Guntur district was selected purposively as highest number of RFIS beneficiaries are present in this district. Three mandals viz., Sattenapalle, Vatticherukuru and Pedakakani were selected based on the highest number of RFIS beneficiaries. From each of the selected mandal, four villages were selected using simple random sampling procedure. Dhulipalla, Kantepudi, Nandigama and Rentapalle villages from Sattenapalle mandal; Karempudipadu, Vinjanampadu, Karnepadu and Yammuru from Vatticherukuru mandal; Nambur, Venigandla, Takellapadu and Koppuravuru from Pedakakani mandal were selected for the study. Thus a total of twelve (12) villages and ten (10) respondents from each village who received RFIS since two years were selected using simple random procedure. Thus total sample comprised of 120 respondents. The data was collected by administering the pretested interview schedule. Statistical tools namely mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage, ranking, correlation and multiple linear regression were used. The findings of the study revealed that more than half of the respondents were middle aged (50.83%), followed by young (26.67%) and old (22.50%). More than one fourth of the respondents were educated up to middle school (28.33%), followed by high school (20.83%), primary school (17.50%), functionally illiterate (10.84%) graduation (9.17%), illiterate (7.50%), intermediate (5.83%) and none of them were post graduates. Less than half of the respondents had marginal (48.33%) land holdings, followed by small (35.83%), semi medium (13.34%) and medium (2.50%). Less than half of the respondents had low (48.33%) farming experience, followed by medium (43.33%) and high (8.34%). Less than half of the respondents occupation was agriculture (46.66%), followed by agriculture + livestock (25.83%), agriculture + agriculture labour (19.17%), agriculture + business (6.67%) and agriculture + Private Job (1.67%) . Less than two third of the respondents had medium (65.00%) annual income, followed by high (22.50%) and low (12.50%). The social participation of 44.17 per cent of the respondents was low, followed by medium (17.50%) and high (15.83%). Less than three fourth of the respondents had medium (72.50%) extension contact, followed by low (17.50%) and high (10.00%). The information seeking behaviour of 58.33 per cent of the respondents was medium, followed by high (27.50%) and low (14.17%).Majority of the respondents had xiv medium (87.50%) material possession, followed by high (11.67%) and low (0.83%). Less than two third of the respondents had medium (64.17%) mass media utilisation, followed by high (23.33%) and low (12.50%). Training received by 40.00 per cent of the respondents was high, followed by medium (31.67%) and low (28.33%) training received. Based on timeliness, credibility, usefulness, understandability, topic of interest, adoption and satisfaction with the information provided by RFIS 60.84 per cent of the respondents perceived medium effectiveness of RFIS, followed by low (21.66%) and high (17.50%). Based on technical, economic and social impact created by RFIS on two third of the respondents were observed in medium (66.66%) impact category, followed by high (17.50%) and low (15.84%). The computed ‘r’ values of occupation, extension contact, information seeking behaviour, mass media utilisation and training received had positive and significant correlation with the effectiveness of RFIS. The variables land holding, annual income and social participation were found to have negative but significant correlation with the effectiveness of RFIS. The selected independent variables put together contributed 83.70 per cent of the total variation in the effectiveness RFIS on the farmers, leaving the rest to the extraneous factors. The computed ‘r’ values of occupation, extension contact, information seeking behaviour, mass media utilisation and training received had positive and significant correlation with the impact of RFIS. The variables land holding, annual income and social participation were found to have negative but significant correlation with the impact of RFIS. The selected independent variables put together contributed 78.50 per cent of the total variation in the impact RFIS on the farmers, leaving the rest to the extraneous factors. Majority of the respondents perceived that the lack information on address for inputs availability (87.50%, Rank I) as constraint in utilizing the ANGRAU supported RFIS, followed by lack farmer specific information (84.17%, Rank II); RFIS are on time rather than early (81.67%, Rank III); use of technical words (76.67%, Rank IV); lack information on preventive measures of pest, disease, etc (74.17%, Rank V); poor network connectivity (67.50%, Rank VI); lack information on entrepreneurship activities (62.50%, Rank VII); unable to reach toll free number (58.33%, Rank VIII); less frequency of weather information (52.50%, Rank IX); complex messages split into 2-3 messages, hence lacks continuity (50.83%, Rank X); the visits of the RFIS workers is not in time for additional information (45.83%, Rank XI); did not get an opportunity to participate in video conference (38.33%, Rank XII); repetition of message (33.33%, Rank XIII); unable to pick up voice messages (29.17%, Rank XIV); and needs costly smart phones to utilize the services effectively (25.00%, Rank XV). Greater proportion of the respondents suggested for provision of information on address for inputs availability (98.33%); followed by dissemination of farmer specific information (93.33%); organisation of RFIS xv before time for resource mobilization (90.83%); decrease the use of technical words and increase local terminology for easy understanding and adoption of technology (87.50%); incorporate the information on preventive measures against pest, disease, etc(84.17%); improve the network access and connectivity by establishing towers at places of poor connectivity (80.83%); information on entrepreneurship activities should be increased and disseminated at more frequency (75.83%); toll free number call centres should be increased and call back facility from call centres should be strengthened (69.17%); increase the frequency on weather information, at least on alternate days or twice/week (66.67%); simple messages may be designed and complex messages should be avoided (62.50%); RFIS workers should make frequent visits to clarify framer queries and give further guidance on disseminated technologies (60.00%); ensure that every farmer gets an opportunity to participate in video conferences and phone in live programmes (52.50%); reduce repetition of message unless necessary (50.00%); deliver voice messages when farmers are convenient to receive (40.83%); specially designed smart phones to utilize RFIS may be supplied to beneficiaries (30.83%) and organise awareness programmes for better utilisation of RFIS (29.17%).
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    A STUDY ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND ADOPTION OF THE RECOMMENDED PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES BY THE REDGRAM GROWERS OF PRAKASAM DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
    (ACHARYA N G RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, GUNTUR, 2019) PAVAN KUMAR, P; GOPI KRISHNA, T
    Redgarm is scientifically known as Cajanus cajan and it is commonly known as Arhar in India. The center of origin is peninsular India. It is common food grain in Asia, Africa and Latin America. About 81.49 per cent of world's redgarm production comes from India. In India, redgram is grown in 294.65 lakh hectares with production of 22.95 million tonnes with productivity of 779 kg per hectare. In Andhra Pradesh, redgarm is grown in an area of 14.76 lakh hectares with a production of 4.43 million tones with an average productivity of 235 kg/ha. An ex-post facto research design was followed. The study was conducted in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh state during the year 2017-18. Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh was selected, out of 56 mandals, three mandals were selected randomly and four villages were randomly chosen from each mandal for the study. Respondents were selected from each village by following proportionate random sampling method. Thus, 120 farmers constituted as sample for the study. Data collected by pre-tested schedule followed by personal interview method. For the purpose of statistical analysis of the coded data, appropriate statistical tools were used viz., frequency and percentages, correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis and ranking. The detailed analysis of personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of redgarm growers indicated that majority of the redgram growers were middle aged (65.83%), with primary school (35.83%), having medium farm holdings (33.33%), high farming experience (48.33%), high credit acquisition (36.67%), medium extension contact (47.50%), medium social participation (63.33%), medium level of mass media exposure (42.50%), medium level of economic orientation (72.50%), medium level of risk orientation (65.83%), medium level of scientific orientation (60.83%), medium level of innovativeness (60.83%), high level of annual income (67.50%) and medium level of market orientation ( 72.50%). xii Majority of the redgarm growers (66.67%) had medium level of knowledge followed by high (19.17%) and low (14.17%) level of knowledge. About 65.00 per cent of redgram growers had medium extent of adoption followed by those having high (20.83%) and low (14.17%) extent of adoption. The study revealed that redgram growers had knowledge on the recommended production technologies in increasing order of their importance viz: duration of rabi redgram crop is 160-180 days, appropriate time of sowing for kharif redgram is June – August, early sown kharif redgram grows taller and is affected by gram pod borer and maruca spotted pod borer, recommended soils suitable for redgram cultivation are sandy loams, clay loams, and stony soils. Soil which is not suitable for redgram cultivation are saline soils, alkaline soils and water logged soils, recommended spacing for rabi redgram is 45-90cmx 10cm, selected seed of redgram should be free from pests and diseases free from any inert matter i.e., dust particles, weed seeds etc and must be viable and genetically pure and late maturing varieties in redgram during kharif may suffer from terminal stress. In case of extent of adoption, the recommended production technologies adopted by redgram growers in percentage rank order of their importance viz: the following order viz., redgram is grown in red loam and light soils, growing of redgram variety LRG - 41 is resistant to Helicoverpa, growing of redgram in well drained shallow or deep black soils, applying different quantities of manures for intercrop and main crop in redgram, growing of redgram variety which is suitable for clay loam soils is LRG – 41, planning of redgram crop should be in such a way that flowering and pod formation should not coincide with peak rainy period, apply only recommended herbicides at recommended dose, proper time, as appropriate spray solution with standard equipment along with flat fan or flat jet nozzles, practicing line sowing method in redgram, avoid sowing redgram in fields with low-lying patches that are prone to water logging Out of fourteen selected socio-economic and personal characteristics, nine of them such as credit acquisition, extension contact, social participation, mass media exposure, economic orientation, risk orientation, scientific orientation, innovativeness and annual income showed significant relation with level of knowledge on recommended production technologies of redgram. But age, education, farm holding size, farming experience, market orientation did not show any significant relationship with their level of knowledge of recommended production technologies. The multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) indicated that all the fourteen selected personal socioeconomic and psychological characteristics put together explained 86.66 per cent of variance in the level of knowledge selected production technologies. Remaining 13.34 percent is due to the extraneous effect characteristics. Out of fourteen selected personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics, credit acquisition and utilization, extension contact, social participation, mass media exposure, economic orientation, risk orientation, scientific orientation, innovativeness and annual income showed significant relation with extent of adoption of recommended production technologies of redgram. But age, education, farm holding size, farming experience, market orientation did not show any significant relationship with their extent of adoption of recommended production technologies. xiii The MLR indicated that all the fourteen selected personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics put together contributed 69.70 percent to the total variance in the extent of adoption; remaining 30.30 percent due to the extraneous characteristics effect. The most important constraints encountered by the redgram growers viz: Non suitable weather conditions for sowing, high cost of manures and fertilizers, insufficient availability of water and inadequate knowledge about recommended pesticides and their dosages were the major constraints faced by redgram growers. The most important suggestions made by the redgram growers to overcome the constraints viz: Timely assistance at the time of drought was foremost one followed by timely technical guidance, supply of plant protection equipment on subsidy, timely of fertilizers and supply of subsidies, provision of good marketing facilities, provision of timely credit at lower interest, provision of support price, exposure through field visits, developing suitable varieties for drought resistant and supply of high yielding varieties.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    A STUDY ON PERFORMANCE OF CUSTOM HIRING CENTRES IN CHITTOOR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
    (Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 2019) RAJYALAKSHMI, M.B.; SAILAJA, V
    Agriculture is a labour intensive occupation. Increased cost of maintenance of draft animals and growing scarcity of farm labour has created new challenges to farmers. The basic requirement among farmers is to meet such competition by reducing labour usage and maximize labour productivity and judicious use of mechanized power by the farmers. Mechanical power is largely consumed in big land holdings and is still beyond the reach of small and marginal holdings which constitutes around 80 per cent of the total land holdings. This is due to the fact that the small and marginal farmers, by virtue of their economic condition are unable to own the machinery on their own or through institutional credit. Therefore in order to bring farm machinery available within the reach of small and marginal land holdings collective ownership or custom hiring centre (CHC) play a major role. Custom hiring has the potential to be one of the most effective strategies to introduce high quality and most efficient farm mechanization to the small farm holdings. The custom hiring enables new machines to be used at their maximum capacity and enables farmers to gain access to technology they would otherwise not be able to afford. Government of Andhra Pradesh promoting custom hiring centres in order to make available the high cost machinery within the reach of small and marginal farmers. Therefore, there is every need to analyze the performance and utilization of the services of custom hiring centres of the State Department of Agriculture that were maintained and utilized by the farmers. Keeping the above aspects in view, a comprehensive study entitled “A STUDY ON PERFORMANCE OF CUSTOM HIRING CENTRES IN CHITTOOR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA xv PRADESH” was under taken which was presented in the State Level Technical Programme meeting at the University headquarters, Lam, Guntur in the month of May 2018 and approval has been obtained. Ex-post-facto research design was followed in the present investigation. Chittoor district was purposively selected. Groundnut is the major crop in the district and considerably a good number of custom hiring centres were also functioning in the district for hiring machinery to carry various operations in groundnut cultivation. Eight mandals viz.,Peddamandyam,B.Kothakota,Peddathippasamudram(P.T.M),Molakalache ruvu,Kalikiri,Kalakada,Kambhamvaripalli and Gurramkonda were purposively selected where maximum number of custom hiring centres were present. Two villages were selected purposively from each mandal where the maximum number of users of custom hiring centres were present. Thus sixteen custom hiring centres were selected from sixteen selected villages. Among the sixteen selected custom hiring centres, the respondents were selected based on proportionate random sampling procedure from each selected custom hiring centre thus making a total of 120 respondents. A pre tested interview schedule with measurement devices of all the variables was used for the collection of raw data. The data was collected by personal interview method through a structured interview schedule and analyzed by employing suitable statistical tools. The analysis of profile characteristics of users of custom hiring centres indicated that majority of the respondents were middle aged, belonged to male category with primary school education, small farmers with medium farming experience, social participation, innovativeness, management orientation, annual family income, accessibility, extension contact, mass media exposure, trainings received, achievement motivation and economic orientation. Majority of the custom hiring centres have shown medium level of performance. Majority of the respondents were utilizing the services of custom hiring centres upto medium extent. Correlation analysis revealed that there was a positive and significant relationship between education, social participation, innovativeness, management orientation, annual family income, accessibility, extension contact, mass media exposure, trainings received, achievement motivation, economic orientation with the performance of the custom hiring centres. However age, gender, farm size and farming experience had non-significant relationship with the performance of the custom hiring centres. All the selected 15 independent variables put together explained about 65.30 per cent variation in the performance of custom hiring centres. xvi Correlation analysis revealed that there was a positive and significant relationship between education, social participation, innovativeness, management orientation, annual family income, accessibility, extension contact, mass media exposure, trainings received, achievement motivation, economic orientation with the extent of utilization of the custom hiring centres. However age, gender, farm size and farming experience had nonsignificant relationship with the extent of utilization of the custom hiring centres. All the selected 15 independent variables put together explained about 63.20 per cent variation in the utilization of custom hiring centres. The most important constraints in the utilization of services of custom hiring centres based on rank as indicated by farmers were non availability of farm machinery during peak season; lack of timely availability of farm machinery; damage to the kernals due to the use of machinery (groundnut dry pod thresher); non availability of skilled farm machinery operator; overlapping farming operations; non availability of service centres for repairing the machinery in the vicinity of CHCs; lack of awareness about type of machinery available at CHCs; location of the field; lack of shelter for keeping the machinery. The most important suggestions for efficient utilization of services of custom hiring centres based on rank as indicated by farmers were expansion of custom hiring centres each at panchayat where ever necessary so that small and marginal farmers can access the services of custom hiring centres; training of man power for efficient handling of the farm machinery; need to strengthen the custom hiring centres by increasing the number of farm machinery. This will overcome the problem of timely non availability particularly during the peak season, especially to the small and marginal farmers, other suggestions given were strengthen the subsidy component for these custom hiring centres by the government; creating awareness for hiring of machinery in CHCs; fixed hiring charges for the machinery by the district monitoring team and provision of subsidy for construction of shelter for keeping the machinery. Based on the results obtained through the present research, the scope of custom hiring centres were explored and a suitable strategy was designed for effective functioning and utilization of services of custom hiring centres.
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    FARMING PERFORMANCE OF WHEAT FARMERS IN KHAS KUNAR DISTRICT OF KUNAR PROVINCE IN AFGHANISTAN
    (Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 2019) NOORHABIB; PRASAD, S.V
    Wheat was the most extensively grown cereal crop in many parts of the world and Afghanistan. Majorly it is consumed as human diet it is also known as "The king of cereals". Wheat was eaten by 2.5 billion people in 89 countries. Afghanistan majorly depends on agriculture and animal husbandry for its GDP. Agriculture is the mainstay of Afghanistan and wheat was the main staple crop in the country. Hence this study was undertaken, which was presented in the State Level Technical Programme meeting at the University headquarters, Lam, Guntur in the month of May 2018 and approval has been obtained. The present study was conducted with broad objectives to assess the farming performance of wheat farmers. Ex-post- facto research design was followed for the study. The investigation was carried out in four villages of Khas Kunar district of Kunar province. This province was purposively selected for conducting the study because as the investigator hails from the same area. From each of the selected village, 30 respondents were selected by following simple random sampling procedure thus, making a total of 120 respondents who were cultivating wheat crop. The data were collected by personal interview method through structured interview schedule. Appropriate statistical procedures were employed to analyze and interpret the data. Author : NOORHABIB Title of the thesis : “FARMING PERFORMANC OF WHEAT FARMERS IN KHAS KUNAR DISTRICT OF KUNAR PROVINCE IN AFGHANISTAN” Degree to which it is submitted : Master of Science in Agriculture Faculty : Agriculture Department : Agricultural Extension Chairperson : Dr. S.V.PRASAD University : Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University Year of submission : 2019 xiv The analysis of profile characteristics of the farmers indicated that majority of the farmers engaged in wheat cultivation were middle aged illiterate, small farmers, with medium farming experience, low mass media exposure, low extension contact, medium social participation, high scientific orientation, high economic motivation, high innovativeness, medium achievement motivation and low deferred gratification. Correlation analysis revealed that the selected independent variables viz., farm size, farming experience, mass media exposure, extension contact, social participation, economic motivation, innovativeness, achievement motivation and deferred gratification had positive and significant relationship with farming performance. Age had negative and significant relation with the farming performance of wheat farmers. The variables education and scientific orientation had non-significant relationship with the farming performance of wheat farmers. Regression analysis revealed that out of the 12 selected independent variables farming experience, mass media exposure, social participation, scientific orientation, economic motivation and deferred gratification were positively and significantly contributed to the most of the variation in farming performance of wheat farmers. The problems indicated by the farmers with regard to wheat cultivation are in the following rank order, less awareness of technology, unavailability of suitable market price for the farmers produce, lack of improved varieties or hybrids, poor economic conditions of the farmers, lack of credit facilities, high cost of critical inputs, lack of subsidy on inputs, lack of training programmes, lack of sufficient agricultural extension agencies at different levels, lack of transport facilities, shortage of extension personnel, pests and diseases, lack of ICTs, absence of proper irrigation system and improper agricultural price and policies. The suggestions given by the farmers to overcome the problems are in the following rank order, availability of improved seed, improvement of marketing infrastructure, giving subsidy on critical inputs, construction of advanced irrigation systems, increasing the frequency of training programmes, restructuring the policy framework in agriculture, improving the credit facilities, increasing the strength of extension personnel and number of extension agencies, technologies for plant protection, introduction of ICTs and providing cold storage facilities.
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    MARKETING BEHAVIOUR OF WOMEN AGRIPRENEURS IN KADAPA DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
    (Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 2019) LAKSHMI DEVI, C; PRAVEENA, P. L. R. J.
    Today’s knowledge based economy is fertile ground for entrepreneurs in India. It is rightly believed that India has an extraordinary talent pool with virtually limitless potential to become entrepreneurs. Recent interest in agricultural development coupled with the problems of poverty and unemployment and opening of markets has brought the concept of rural agri entrepreneurship to the fore. The women entrepreneurs are considered to be the most important economic agents for the economic augmentation of any country. It is well known fact that women play key role in conservation of basic life support systems. Hence entrepreneurship development is a possible approach to empower women. The government of India had implemented a number of programmes for empowerment of the women so as to hasten the entrepreneurship development among rural women and help them to enhance their personal capabilities and increase decision making status in the family and society as a whole and also this programmes have been focused on diversification of agriculture and strengthening of its value addition & its linkage with wider economy. Hence this study was undertaken, which was presented in the State Level Technical Programme meeting at the University headquarters, Lam, Guntur in the month of May 2018 and approval has been obtained. The present study was conducted with broad objectives to assess marketing behaviour of women agripreneurs. Ex-post-facto research design was followed in the present investigation. Kadapa district was purposively selected owing to the large number of women engaged in agri-preneurial activities in the district. The three mandals viz., Chinthakommadinne, Chennur and Badvel in Kadapa district were purposively selected for the study since it is having highest number of women agripreneurs. Two villages from each mandal were selected by following xiv simple random sampling procedure, thus making a total of six villages for the study. From each of the six selected villages, 20 respondents were selected by following simple random sampling procedure, thus making a total of 120 respondents. A pre tested interview schedule with measurement devices of all the variables was used for the collection of raw data. The data were collected by personal interview method through a structured interview schedule and analyzed by employing suitable statistical methods. The analysis of profile characteristics of the women indicates that majority of the women involved in agripreneurial activities are middle aged, with high school education with medium entrepreneurial experience, social participation, innovativeness, decision making ability, annual income, economic orientation, credit orientation, extension contact, mass media exposure, risk orientation, management orientation, training received market facilities and market intelligence. Majority of the women had medium level of involvement in agrpreneurial activities. Majority of the women agripreneurs had medium extent of marketing behaviour. Correlation analysis revealed that age, education, social participation had positive and non significant relationship whereas, entrepreneurial experience, decision making ability, risk orientation, innovativeness, management orientation, annual income, economic orientation, credit orientation and extension contact, mass media exposure, training received, market facilities and market intelligence had positive and significant relationship with extent of involvement of women in entrepreneurial activities. Multiple Linear Regression analysis revealed that economic orientation and market intelligence were positively significant as evident from their significant ‘t’ values. This implied that risk orientation, economic orientation, credit orientation and market intelligence have contributed to most of the variation in the involvement of respondents in agripreneurial activities. Correlation analysis revealed that education, social participation, entrepreneurial experience, risk orientation, innovativeness, management orientation, decision making ability, annual income, extension contact, mass media exposure, training received, market intelligence had positive and significant relationship where as age, economic orientation, credit orientation and market facilities had positively non significant relationship with marketing behaviour of women agripreneurs. Multiple Linear Regression analysis revealed that entrepreneurial experience, credit orientation and market facilities were found negatively xv significant as evident from their significant t’ values and innovativeness, decision making ability, annual income and extension contact were found positively significant as evident from their significant ‘t’ values. This implied that education, innovativeness, management orientation, decision making ability, annual income and extension contact have contributed to most of the variation in the marketing behaviour of respondents. The constraints were categorized as socio personal, marketing related constraints, technological constraints, infrastructure constraints and financial constraints. Indifferent attitude of the society was perceived as major socio personal constraint by the respondents followed by difficulty in travelling, lack of recognition and appreciation, fear of social security, conflict due to dual responsibilities, lack of freedom, male dominance, lack of self confidence and lack of support from other family members. Financial constraints faced by women entrepreneurs were lack of own funds and resources, limited working capital, shortage of capital in starting the business, lack of government assistance, inadequate loan, delay in sanctioning the loan, procedural norms in getting loans, lack of education in financial management and improper utilization of funds. Under technological constraints, experienced workers leaving the unit after sufficient exposure was the major constraint as opined by majority followed by non availability of skilled manpower, lack of knowledge of various government schemes, lack of adequate skill to start new venture, not getting the opportunity of entrepreneurship training. It is followed by marketing constraints like high production cost, inadequate publicity, exploitation by middle men, heavy competition with big enterprises, shortage of manpower for selling the products, difficulty to sell the product in market, lack of knowledge of how to market the product, inappropriate price for the products, fluctuation in the prices of the product, fluctuation in the demand of the product, late payment by the customers. Constraints pertaining to infrastructure in rank order as expressed by the respondents were inadequate space& building, shortage of equipments or machines, inadequate communication facility, inadequate water supply and inadequate power supply. Major suggestions given by the respondents to overcome these problems were organising more skill oriented training programmes to develop entrepreneurial capabilities, providing local market for agro based processed food products, providing subsidies for purchasing the equipment for processing, providing loans at low rate of interest and creating awareness about different trainings and govt. schemes.
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    IMPACT OF NATIONAL INITIATIVE ON CLIMATE RESILIENT AGRICULTURE PROJECT IN ANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
    (Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 2019) KALYAN BABU, K; PRAVEENA, P.L.R.J.
    Agricultural productivity in rainfed areas continues to remain low and unstable due to weather aberrations and recurrent droughts undermine the food, fodder and livelihood security of the rural mass. Rainfall is the key variable influencing crop productivity in rainfed farming. Intermittent and prolonged droughts are a major cause of yield reduction. To overcome the drought farmers have to be ready to adopt climate resilient agriculture technologies. Ananthapuram is the second most drought-affected district of India. Keeping in view of the above, the present study entitled “Impact of National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture Project in Ananthapuram district of Andhra Pradesh” was undertaken. The study was framed in such a manner to analyse the profile characteristics of farmers with knowledge, extent of adoption and impact of climate resilient technologies and to find out the relationship between the selected independent variables and dependent variable. Ex-post-facto research was followed in the present investigation. Ananthapuram district of scarce rainfall zone was purposively selected as the KVK, Reddipally located in this district has been demonstrating climate resilient technologies through NICRA project. Out of 64 mandals in Ananthapuram district, four mandals were selected. Among four mandals, two mandals Singanamala and Narpala wherein NICRA is being implemented and two non NICRA implemented mandals namely Bukkarayasamudram and Garladinne were selected by simple random sampling. Six villages were selected wherein three were NICRA beneficiary and three were non NICRA xiv villages. The three NICRA implemented villages from two mandals were Chakrayapeta and Peravali (Singanamala mandal) and Chamaluru (Narpala mandal). The three non NICRA villages from two mandals were Siddaramapuram and Pasalur (Bukkarayasamudram mandal) and Kanampalle (Garladinne mandal). From each of selected village, twenty respondents were selected by following simple random sampling procedure. Thus the sample comprises of 60 NICRA beneficiary farmers and 60 non beneficiary farmers, thus making a total of 120 respondents. Majority of the NICRA farmers were middle aged, educated upto high school level, medium to large farmers with high to medium farming experience, medium to high annual income, mass media exposure, risk orientation, training undergone, economic motivation, diversification, fair to good cropping pattern, medium to low social participation, irrigation status, high to medium information seeking behavior and low to high cropping intensity. In case of non NICRA farmers majority were middle aged, educated upto high school level, medium to large farmers with medium to high farming experience, medium to low annual income, mass media exposure, risk orientation, training undergone, information seeking behavior, economic motivation, diversification, fair to poor cropping pattern, low to medium social participation, irrigation status, and low to medium cropping intensity. Majority of the NICRA farmers had medium to high level of knowledge, extent of adoption and impact whereas majority of non NICRA farmers had medium to low level of knowledge, extent of adoption and low to medium level of impact was observed. The independent variables education, farming experience, annual income, risk orientation, social participation, training undergone, information seeking behavior, economic orientation, cropping pattern, diversification, cropping intensity and irrigation status were positively significant with level of knowledge of climate resilient technologies whereas age and mass media exposure were positively non significant and farm size was negatively non significant with level of knowledge of climate resilient technologies. All the fifteen selected independent variables put together explained about 76.40 per cent variation in the knowledge of the respondents on climate resilient technologies. The independent variables education, farming experience, annual income, mass media exposure, risk orientation, social participation, training undergone, information seeking behavior, economic orientation, cropping pattern, diversification, cropping intensity and irrigation status were positively significant with extent of adoption of climate resilient technologies whereas age was positively non significant and farm size was negatively non significant with extent of adoption of climate resilient technologies. All the selected fifteen independent variables put together explained about 78.70 per cent variation in the extent of adoption of climate resilient technologies. xv The independent variables education, farming experience, annual income, mass media exposure, risk orientation, social participation, training undergone, information seeking behavior, economic orientation, cropping pattern, diversification, cropping intensity and irrigation status were positively significant with impact of climate resilient technologies whereas age and farm size was positively non significant with impact of climate resilient technologies. All the fifteen independent variables put together explained about 87.70 per cent variation in impact of climate resilient technologies. Regarding socio personal constraints expressed by the respondents inability to accept new practices was ranked first followed by more interested to follow conventional practices, lack of awareness about climate change, inability to take risk, increasing labour scarcity, illiteracy of the farmer and small size of the farm. The financial constraints expressed by the respondents in the rank order were lack of credit/capital, high cost of inputs, higher investment cost on farm implements, poor economic status of the farmer, lack of market access, inadequate institutional financial support and lack of savings. The technological constraints opined by the farmers in rank order were lack of knowledge on adaptation method, lack of access to irrigation water, lack of effective advisory system on climate change, lack of availability of improved seed, inadequate services through CHCs and lack of timely weather based information. The suggestions given by the respondents in rank order were regular training to farmers on various climate resilient technologies, provision of effective timely advisory system on weather and climate variability at village level, establishing, monitoring and maintenance of CHCs through Village Climate Risk Management Committees, provision of loans by government agencies/institutions at low interest rates, drought tolerant varieties to be made available with farmers through seed banks, ensuring public ware housing facilities in the vicinity of villages to avoid post harvest losses, prioritization of agricultural activities in MGNREGA to avoid labour scarcity. The synopsis of the study was presented by the head of the department at the State Level Technical Program meeting held at the University headquarters of Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University in the month of May, 2018 and it was approved by the University authorities.
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    INPUT UTILIZATION PATTERN OF RICE FARMERS IN NELLORE DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
    (Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 2019) DEEPA, C; SATHYA GOPAL, P.V.
    Rice cultivation is the classical and traditional occupation for the crores of the people in the world. It is one of the important livelihood options for majority of the poor as well as it is an occupation with export potential. Having such broad avenue for the farming community, rice cultivation is always been treated as esteemed activity by the rice farmers. The farmer always taking it as a challenge for getting higher yields and high income per unit area. In this context, farmers are exploiting all the possible opportunities to enhance the farm output. During the course of action, the inputs namely, seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and rodenticides play a major role in determining the net income per unit area of rice cultivation. The utilization of inputs greatly influencing the farmers by way of their availability, quality, timely application, dosage, method of application etc., in rice cultivation. Majority of the high yielding and superfine varieties are highly fertilizer responsive, highly susceptible to different pests and diseases which led to intensive use of inputs in rice cultivation. To have substantial plant growth as well as to obtain desired yield, both straight and complex fertilizers were made available in the market for the rice farmers. The increased rates of fertilizers coupled with over dose as well as, inappropriate time and method of fertilizer application by the rice farmers resulted in high investment towards fertilizers. On the other side, heavy incidence of different pests and diseases as a result of both environmental and manmade factors forced the rice farmers to go heavy usage of pesticides in rice cultivation. Further, the herbicides are also gaining their importance in rice cultivation to replace man power for weeding. Several herbicides were released in the market especially for rice crop to control both broad leaved and narrow leaved weeds. There are also herbicides to be applied at different stages of rice crop to completely keep the weed free rice crop. However, all these herbicides are costly and incurring high expenditure in rice cultivation. Rodenticides are also important to reduce the menace of rats in rice cultivation. Hence, the present study on input utilization pattern of rice farmers was undertaken. Ex- post- facto research design was adopted for the study. The study was carried out in three mandals of Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh which were purposively selected, where rice is intensively grown. A sample of 120 farmers were randomly selected from the twelve selected villages. The data were collected by personal interview method and analyzed by employing suitable statistical tools. Seventeen independent variables were subjected to statistical analysis for the purpose of categorization of the respondents and for studying their relationship with the dependent variables i.e. knowledge test and extent of extent of precision of rice farmers. Majority of the rice farmers engaged in rice farming were middle aged, medium farmers with high school education, medium annual income, cost of cultivation, net returns, farming experience, extension contact, social participation, mass media exposure, economic orientation, management orientation, innovativeness, decision making ability, scientific orientation, risk orientation and deferred gratification. Correlation analysis revealed that, the variables education, extension contact, social participation, mass media exposure, economic orientation, scientific orientation, risk orientation, management orientation, innovativeness and net returns were positively and significantly related with the knowledge level of rice farmers. The variables like age, farming experience and cost of cultivation were negative and significantly related with the knowledge level of rice farmers. On the other side the variables annual income, farm size, decision making ability and deferred gratification were non-significantly related with the knowledge level of rice farmers. Regression analysis revealed that all the seventeen selected independent variables put together explained 55.20 per cent variation in the knowledge level of rice farmers. Further, it also revealed that farming experience was negatively significant have contributed to most of the variation in knowledge level of rice farmers. Correlation analysis revealed that, the variables education, extension contact, social participation, mass media exposure, management orientation, economic orientation and scientific orientation were positively and significantly related with the extent of precision of the rice farmers. On the other side the variables annual income, risk orientation, innovativeness, decision making ability and deferred gratification were non-significantly related with the extent of precision of the rice farmers. Regression analysis revealed that all the eleven selected independent variables put together explained 66.50 per cent variation in the production constraints of rice farmers. Further, it also revealed that risk orientation, innovativeness, decision making ability and deferred gratification were non-significant have contributed to most of the variation in extent of precision of the rice farmers. Regarding factors influencing the rice farmers in input utilization, “False prestige in the society” was found to be the major factor and ranked first. Followed by “Desire of getting high yield”, “Knowledge on input utilization” and environment were mentioned as critical factors by large majority of respondents “Introduction of new molecules at regular intervals”, “Lack of timely extension support”, “Mixing of two/three chemicals in single application” and “Confusion among different brands of chemicals” were also mentioned as main factors by majority of the rice farmers. The majority of the rice farmers felt that the ‘High cost of inputs’ as one of the major constraints and it was ranked first among all the constraints. ‘Exploitation of input dealers’ followed by ‘Non availability of need based inputs’ ‘Lack of skills in application of inputs’ are major constraints faced by the rice farmers in input utilization. The other constraints include ‘Poor quality of inputs’, ‘Adulteration of inputs’ ranked sixth, ‘Lack of timely extension support’ ranked seventh and ‘Illiteracy’ ranked eighth. License to input dealers was the major suggestion and ranked first. Followed by monitoring of new molecules, awareness programs to use inputs in accordance with climate, regular training programs to update the latest developments in research, timely extension support and regular supervision by state department were the major suggestions given by the rice farmers.