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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur
The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively.
Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively.
On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs.
In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc.
During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU).
Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.
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ThesisItem Open Access Role of Agricultural Labourers in Decision Making in Paddy Production by Farmers in Thiruvananthapuram District(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Jiju Alex, P; KAU; Padmanabhan, V BA research study entitled, “Role of agricultural labourers in decision – making in paddy production by farmers in Thiruvananthapuram district” was under taken with a view to identify the areas of decision – making by agricultural labourers with the employer farmers in paddy production, to identify the role perception and role performance of male and female agricultural labourers in decision – making, to study the role of male and female agricultural labourers in decision – making as perceived by the farmers employing them and to analyse the characteristics of male and female agricultural labourers in relation to their role perception and role performance. The study was conducted in the three Agricultural sub – divisions of Thiruvananthapuram district, namely Attingal, Neyyattinkara and Nedumangad. Stratified two – stage random sampling was followed to select 60 farmers, 60 male Agricultural labourers and 60 female agricultural labourers. Data were collected from farmers and labourers using separate interview schedules. Suitable statistical techniques like percentage analysis, simple correlation analysis, step – wise regression analysis, path analysis and student’s t test were employed in the analysis of data. Thirty one areas of decision – making in paddy production were identified in which agricultural labourers had their role with the employer farmers. The study indicated that the role perception and role performance of agricultural labourers, though not excellent was generally good in activities they involve most frequently. A vast majority of male labourers were found to have considerably higher role perception in decision – making with the farmers in agricultural practices such as variety to be selected, type of manures and fertilizers to be used in basal application, type of fertilizers required for top dressing and irrigation of crop in the mainfield. Remarkably higher fractions of female labourers were observed to have significant role perception in decision – making areas namely, spacing to be adopted for transplanting, time of weeding and harvesting number of labourers required for transplanting, weeding, harvesting, threshing, winnowing and processing of straw. Significantly higher fractions of the male respondents were reported to have high role performance in deciding the variety to be selected, interval of irrigation required, type of fertilizers required in the nursery and mainfield, number of ploughing required for top dressing, time of weeding, time of application of plant protection chemicals and number of labourers required for weeding. Role performance of majority of female agricultural labourers was higher in deciding various aspects of transplanting, weeding and harvesting. Role perception and role performance of Agricultural labourers were found to be significantly correlated to each other. Significant difference was observed among male and female agricultural labourers with regard to overall role perception and role performance. Majority of farmers perceived the role of male agricultural labourers, ‘as important’ in deciding the number of labourers required for transplanting, type of manures and fertilizers to be used in basal application, irrigation of crop in the mainfield, time of weeding, number of labourers required for weeding operations, time of application of plant protection chemicals and quantity of plant protection chemicals. Role of female agricultural labourers in deciding various aspects of transplanting, weeding and harvesting was ascribed significant importance by the employer farmers. Significant positive correlation was observed for three characteristics of both male and female agricultural labourers, namely, attitude towards job, attitude towards scientific agricultural practices and knowledge of scientific agricultural practices with their role perception as well as role performance. ‘Period of employment under the farmer’, contributed as much as 53.84 per cent variation in the role perception of male agricultural labourers. ‘Knowledge of scientific agricultural practices’ accounted for 37.76 per cent variation in the role perception of female labourers. With regard to role performance, knowledge of scientific agricultural practices accounted for 46.06 per cent variation in the case of male agricultural labourers and ‘period of employment under the farmer’ accounted for 58.20 per cent variation in the case of female agricultural labourers. ‘period of employment under the farmer’ had maximum direct effect on the role perception of male agricultural labourers, whereas, it was ‘knowledge of scientific agricultural practices’ which had maximum direct effect on the role performance.ThesisItem Open Access Profile analysis of coconut climbers in Thiruvananthapuram district(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Sakeer Husain, A; KAU; Shilaja, SThe study, “Profile of coconut climbers in Thiruvananthapuram district “ was carried out with the following specific objectives. 1. To assess the availability of labour for coconut climbing as perceived by the coconut farmers. 2. To analyse the socio-psychological and economic profile of agricultural labourers engaged in coconut climbing. 3. To study the employment and wage pattern of coconut climbers. 4. To identify the constraints experienced by the coconut climbers with a view to suggest welfare measures, if any The study was confined to Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state. The total number of respondents for the study was 100 coconut farmers and 100 coconut climbers. Coconut farmers were selected using random sampling technique and the coconut climbers were selected using key informant technique. The study revealed that 52 per cent of the coconut farmers perceived the availability of coconut climbers as more than sufficient and 48 per cent perceived the availability of coconut climbers is not sufficient to meet their requirements. Majority of coconut climbers came under middle aged group with an average age of 38. More than 75 per cent of the climbers belonged to scheduled castes. Majority of the climbers had nuclear families with a family size of less than 5 members. On an average, the family educational status of the respondent was at primary school level. A great majority of them had a farm size of 6-15 cents, with low housing facilities. The experience of majority of climbers in their profession was found to be upto 15 years. There was some mobility of labour among coconut climbers. However, 55n per cent of them had low occupational mobility. The coconut climbers selected for the study had an average family annual income of Rs. 25055 and an average family expenditure of Rs. 23317. Even though their average savings was found to be Rs. 2483 per year majority of them saved only less than this amount. Similarly, a great majority of the climbers had indebtedness of only less than the average indebtedness of Rs. 668 in a year. Majority of the coconut climbers studied were having low political participation, low social participation, low economic motivation, low achievement motivation and low level of aspiration. On other hand, they had high cosmopolite orientation, high risk preference and possessed only less amount of traditional values related to agriculture. The attitude of the coconut climbers towards their profession was found to be favourable. Majority of the respondent climbers had only a limited knowledge about P.P measures in coconut. Similarly, they had only a very low awareness and utilization of welfare programmes. It was also found that, on an average, the coconut climbers were employed for 218 days in an year, with 164 days in coconut climbing. They received maximum number of days of employment during the month of March, May and February. The daily average wage rate of coconut climbers was Rs. 82.30 with a monthly income of Rs. 1496. They earned higher income during May, followed by March, February and April. Among the various constraints, ‘After attaining a certain age, even before becoming old, one cannot climb the palms’ and ‘No fixed income during rainy season’ were perceived by the coconut climbers as their major constraints.ThesisItem Open Access Differential preference of work by agricultural labourers and their employment and wage pattern in Thiruvananthapuram district(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Sindhu, Devi P; KAU; Sobhana, GThe study, ‘Differential Preference of Work by Agricultural Labourers and Their Employment and Wage Pattern in Thiruvananthapuram District’ was condutcted in 10 panchayats of the district with the following specific objectives. 1. To analyse the employment pattern of agricultural labourers of Thiruvananthapuram district. 2. To analyze the wage pattern of agricultural labourers of Thiruvananthapuram district. 3. To study the differential preference by agricultural labourers towards various agricultural operations and to analyse the reasons for preference or non-preference. 4. To study the socio-economic and psychological profile of agricultural labourers. 5. To suggest ways and means for equitable distribution of employment and income throughout the year. The study was conducted in 10 randomly selected panchayats of Thiruvananthapuram district. A sample of 120 agricultural labourers ie, 60 male and 60 females, selected 12 labourers from each panchayat formed the respondents. Out of this, 40 laboureres formed the sub-sample, from whom the data regarding the employment and wage pattern were collected with the help of a special schedule. Personnel Interview was conducted with the help of a pre-tested, well structured interview schedule to collect data. Along with this, the differential preference by agricultural labourers towards different agricultural operations and the reasons for the preference or non-preference were also collected. The profile characteristics selected for the study were age, sex, caste, religion, family type, family size, family income, experience, socio-economic status, cosmopoliteness, mass media participation, indebtedness, level of aspiration, achievement motivation, attitude towards scientific agriculture, attitude towards agricultural labour, participation in decision making, knowledge in farming and knowledge about improved farm implements. Salient findings of the study are as following. During May to October, more employment was obtained for agricultural labourers. Total number of days employed by a male agricultural labourer was 167 days and that of a female agricultural labourers was 141 days in a year. Number of days employed in agricultural labour was more than the number of days in employment in non-agricultural field. They were unemployed for about six to seven months in a year. The works mostly engaged by the male agricultural labourer were digging, application of organic manure and fertilizers, basin preparation for coconut, taking mounts for tapioca etc. Transplanting, weeding and harvesting were the jobs mostly the female agricultural labourers engaged. Average daily income of the male agricultural labourer was Rs. 12.16 from agricultural labour and Rs. 8. 86 from non-agricultural works. The same for a female agricultural labourer was Rs. 8.95 from agricultural labour and Rs. 2.40 from non-agricultural works. In a male agricultural labour household and in a female agricultural labour household, the contribution of income from agricultural labour to the total annual household income were 53 per cent and 55.5 per cent respectively. Average annual income per agricultural labour household was Rs. 11382.20. Male agricultural labourers preffered the hard works such as ploughing, digging, leveling, land preparation, basin preparation, taking pits for banana, taking mounts for tapioca etc., as they possessed more strength and stamina for doing these operations and also due to the high wage rates for these operations. Female agricultural labourers preferred mostly transplanting, weeding and harvesting of paddy crops as these operations provided maximum number of days of employment to them. Least preference was given to plant protection by both male and female labourers as this is the most dangerous operation. Majority of agricultural labourers were young, scheduled caste Hindus from nuclear families with less than five members. Majority of them were with low family income, low indebtedness, an experience of about 25 years, and high cosmopoliteness. Majority of male labourers were with high education, high socio-political participation, high socio-economic status, high mass media participation, high level of aspiration (past, present and future), high achievement motivation and high attitude towards scientific agriculture. Majority of female labourers were with low education, low socio-political participation, low socio-economic status, low mass media participation, high level of past and present aspiration but low level of future aspiration, low achievement motivation and low attitude towards scientific agriculture. Majority of the agricultural labourers had low attitude towards agricultural labour, high level of knowledge in farming and low level of knowledge about improved farm implements. Majority of the male labourers had high participation in decision making while majority of female labourers had low participation. There was significant difference between male and female agricultural labourers with respect to their socio-political participation, socio-economic status, cosmopoliteness, mass media participation, level of aspiration (Present and future), achievement motivation, attitude towards scientific agriculture, participation in decision making, knowledge in farming and knowledge about improved farm implements.ThesisItem Open Access Participation of farm family women in sericulture in the Palakkad district(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Sajan, Andrews K; KAU; Geethakutty, P SA Research study entitled “Participation of Farm Family Woman in Sericulture in the Palakkad District” was conducted to identify the extent of participation of farm family woman in decision making and in the operations in sericulture in relation to their personal, socio-cultural and techno-economic factors and the constraints and consequences there of. The study area comprised of the four agricultural subdivisions of the Palakad district namely, Alathoor, Mannarkad, shornur and Chittoor. A stratified random sample of 150 sericulture units was selected for the study. Data were collected from the woman heads of sericulture units using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Appropriate statistical techniques like correlation analysis, regression analysis and path analysis were done to analyse the data. The extent of participation of farm family women in sericultural operations (EPSO) was measured in terms of two dimensions namely actual hours of work and nature of participation in each of the operations. Nineteen operations in sericulture (seven under mulberry cultivation and twelve under silkworm rearing) were identified and included in the study. The extent of participation of farm family women in decision making in sericultural operations (EPDS) was measured in terms of two dimensions, nature of participation and frequency of participation. Thirty important areas of decision making in sericulture were identified and measured in the study. The study revealed that only a small percentage of the farm woman had put forth ‘high’ and ‘medium’ participation in sericultural operations while, a majority of them were of ‘low’ and ‘very low’ participation in various activities of sericulture enterprise. Operation wise analysis revealed that in almost all operations of mulberry, farm women had no major contribution. Only in the case of application of chemical fertilizers, pruning, weeding and harvesting of leaves at least some amount of participation could be accounted, which were carried out either ‘jointly’ or with ‘supervision’ only. Majority of the farm women spend 2-5 hours for chopping the leaves, feeding the worms, caring the worms at moulting, bed cleaning, protection of worms, moulting of worms, harvesting of cocoons and cleaning and grading of cocoons with ‘joint’ nature of participation. Regarding the extent of participation of farm family women in decision making in sericulture operations the study revealed that nearly one third of the farm women had ‘medium’ involvement, while a majority of them had either ‘low’ or ‘very low’ participation. A majority of the farm woman had ‘joint’ participation in decision making in all activities of mulberry cultivation none of the respondents had ‘solely’ participation in decision making in any of the activities of mulberry cultivation and silk worm rearing. More than fifty per cent of farm woman made ‘joint’ decisions in matters regarding number of feedings to be given to worms, size and quality of leaves, spacing of worms, caring of worms, method of bed cleaning, number of trays, time of mounting of worms, harvesting of cocoons, and grading and cleaning of cocoons with moderate frequent participation. The simple correlation analysis showed that out of sixteen variables, except age all variables were positively and significantly related with EPSO. Multiple regression analysis revealed that five variables namely experience in sericulture, scientific orientation, management orientaition, attitude towards sericulture and family income were significant in explaining the variability in EPSO. Except age and education all the variables showed positive and significant correlation with EPDS. Multiple regression analysis revealed that only two variables namely information source utilization and attitude towards sericulture were significant in explaining the variability in EPDS. The major constraints experienced by the farm family women in participation in sericulture and decision making were low price of the cocoons and price fluctuations in the market, lack of leisure time availability, lack of knowledge about the practices and death of worms due to diseases. Enhancement of managerial economy, economic utilization of leisure time and status elevation in the family were identified as the most important positive consequences experienced by the farm family women in sericulture. The major negative consequences experienced by the farm family women due to their participation in sericulture were lack of time to attend children and other farm and home operations, drudgery, exhaustion and frustration.ThesisItem Open Access Interpersonal communication behaviour of members of group farming committees in the adoption of rice production technology(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Vipinkumar, V P; KAU; Rajan, S KarippaiA study on the interpersonal communication behaviour efficiency (IPCBE) of the members of rice Group Farming Committee was carried out using 240 respondents selected from the four highest paddy growing districts of Kerala state, namely Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Alappuzha. The data were collected with the help of a pretested structured interview schedule by personally interviewing the respondents selected from four highest paddy growing blocks of the above districts. The analysis of the data revealed that, out of fifteen selected personal and socio – psychological characteristics (independent variables) twelve variables were positively and significantly related with IPCBE namely education, socio – economic status, extension orientation, scientific orientation, mass media participation, social participation, cosmopoliteness, knowledge, attitude towards Group Farming, attitude towards other farmers, information source use pattern and farmsize. Of these maximum variation on the dependent variable was caused by four characteristics namely attitude towards other farmers, socio - economic status, extension orientation and attitude towards Group Farming. For measuring the dependent variable IPCBE an index was developed by identifying nine sub – dimensions namely communication skill, competence, empathy, authenticity, interpersonal trust, consistency, positiveness, reciprocity and rationality. The analysis of data revealed that all these dimensions were positively and significantly related with IPCBE, but the maximum variation on IPCBE was caused by mainly four sub – dimensions namely communication skill, empathy, competence and interpersonal trust. The perceived group cohesiveness of the committee members as influenced by IPCBE also was measured and found a positive and significant influence of IPCBE on it. The extent of information flow for adoption of rice production technology through interpersonal means also was measured by listing down the eight critical operations of Group Farming and found that the maximum extent of information flow took place with regard to ‘plant protection’ and the least extent with regard to ‘seed treatment’.ThesisItem Open Access Adoption behaviour of sericulturists a multivariate analysis(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Susamma, P V; KAU; Geethakutty, P SA study was undertaken to estimate the knowledge level and extent of adoption of recommended practices in mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing by the sericulturists. It also aimed to identify the factors which motivated them to start this new enterprise and their constraints in adoption as well as Reasons for non-adoption by prospective sericulturists. The study was conducted during 1993-94 among the sericulturists in Palakkad and Thrissur districts of Kerala. The respondents for the study included both sericulturists (n=120) and prospective sericulturists (n=60). The data were collected by interview method using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. It was found that majority (70%) of the respondents belonged to the medium adoption category. In the case of mulberry cultivation the adoption levels for FYM and fertilizer application and plant protection ware lows while in silkworm rearing, the practices like care at moulting, storage of leaf, temperature and relative humidity control. Sterilization of rearing rooms and appliances, bed disinfection and disease control were adopted only partially. Most of the farmers had only lesser rearing house and equipment facilities and reared lesser number of dfls. Majority of the respondents (56.67%) had knowledge gap above the average level. Leisure time availability, innovativeness, risk orientation, annual income and knowledge about recommended practices were the best set of variable for predicting the extent of adoption. Knowledge about recommended practices had the maximum direct effect on extent of adoption. Education level, innovativeness, risk orientation, extension linkage and attitude towards sericulture were the best set of variables for predicting the knowledge level of sericulturists. Extension linkage had the maximum direct on their knowledge level. Profitability of the enterprise was the most important motivating factor. Whereas a successful neighbouring sericulturist was the most important motivating agent. Low price of cocoon, high cost of fertilizers, unfavourable climatic conditions, high labour cost, lack of marketing facilities and heavy disease incidences were the important constraints. Most of the prospective sericulturists had not adopted sericulture due to the low price of cocoons which makes this enterprise non-profitable. Lack of adequate infrastructural and marketing facilities, lack of capital, lack of credit facility etc. were other important reasons for non-adoption.ThesisItem Open Access Participation of farm family women in marginal homestead farming systems in the Thrissur district(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Sureshkumar, R; KAU; Kumari Sushama, N PThe study aimed at analyzing the nature and extent of participation of farm family women in agricultural operations and decision making in the identified marginal homestead farming system. The study was undertaken in three panchayats of Thrissur district namely Melur, Pananchery and Thekkumkara. From each panchayat, 50 homesteads were selected randomly. The female head of the family was selected as the respondent from each homestead. The dependent variables of the study were the nature and extent of participation of farm family women in agricultural operations and in decision making. These variables were quantified using measurement devices developed for the study. Twenty independent variables were selected for the study viz., age, education, farm size, family size, farming experience, extension participation, mass media participation, social participation, extension contact, knowledge about scientific crop production, knowledge about dairy/poultry management, attitude towards farming, level of aspiration, economic motivation, innovation, proneness, cropping intensity, achievement motivation, self-confidence, risk preference and information source utilization. All these independent variables were quantified with the help of available measurement procedures. The data were collected using pre-tested structured interview schedule prepared for the purpose. The statistical tools used were correlation analysis, categorization, multiple linear regression analysis, step down regression analysis and multivariate path coefficient analysis. The study revealed that coconut based homestead farming system is the predominant one in Thrissur district. Of this, coconut-banana-vegetable crop combination occupied the first position followed by coconut-banana –yams. Also most families have a variety of other enterprises, of which dairying occupied the first place followed by poultry. The nature and extent of participation of farm family women in agricultural operations of coconut was found to be ‘supervision only’ and that too ‘to some extent’ and in decision making they participated ‘jointly’ with their husbands. In the case of banana, they ‘only supervised’ many of the agricultural operations and it was also ‘to some extent’ and in the case of decision making majority ‘sometimes’ participated ‘jointly’ with their husbands. As far as vegetables are concerned, majority ‘solely’ participated to a ‘greater extent’ in the agricultural operations and ‘sometimes’ participated ‘jointly’ with their husbands in decision making. Regarding yams, majority participated in the form of ‘supervision only’ and that too to ‘some extent’, whereas they ‘sometimes’ participated ‘jointly’ with their husbands in decision making. Considering other enterprises like dairy/poultry, majority ‘solely’ participated to a ‘greater extent’ in the activities and in decision making they ‘always’ participated ‘solely’ in these areas. The results of correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, step down regression analysis and path analysis revealed that only seven independent variables namely extension participation, mass media participation, knowledge about scientific crop production, knowledge about dairy/poultry management, attitude towards farming, achievement motivation and self confidence influenced the nature and extent of participation in agricultural operations. Whereas the results of correlation analysis, multiple lenear regression analysis, step down regression analysis and path analysis revealed that only 8 variables influenced the nature and extent of participation of farm family women in decision making. They were mass media participation, extension contact, knowledge about dairy/poultry management, attitude towards farming, economic motivation, cropping intensity, achievement motivation and self confidence.ThesisItem Open Access Risk management behaviour of banana growers(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Ranjana Damodaran, T; KAU; Muraleedhara Prasad, RThe study was undertaken in selected give panchayaths of Thrissur district, to analyse the extent of risk management behavior of banana growers in relation to their attitude and perception about risk in banana cultivation. The respondents selected for the study included both summer banana cultivators (n=120) and Kazhchakula cultivators (n=30). The study revealed that majority of summer banana cultivators as well as Kazhchakula cultivators belonged to medium category in their distribution based on attitude towards risk in banana cultivation and perception about risk in banana cultivation. In the case of summer banana, majority of the farmers were found to adopt the adjustment of planting time while all the Kazhchakula cultivators had adapted the recommended irrigation schedule. It was found that the summer banana cultivators had resorted to individual decision making mostly in the case of inter cultural operations while group decision making was observed in the case of flood control measures and heavy rain control measures and for utilizing transport facilities about half of the farmers were taken joint decisions. However almost all practices adopted by the farmers for cultivation of Kazhchakula were based on individual decisions. Among the selected independent variables prior exposure to risk, farm size, vocational diversification and irrigation potential were found significant in predicting the maximum variation in attitude towards risk in farming. While, family labour, irrigation potential, vocational diversification, self reliance, experience in banana cultivation, annual income and farm size were important in predicting attitude towards risk in banana cultivation. Irrigation potential, credit orientation as well as self reliance were found significant in predicting the perception about risk in banana cultivation. The highest direct and indirect effect on attitude towards risk in farming was due to irrigation potential and man media exposure. Vocational diversification and experience in banana cultivation had the maximum direct and indirect effects on attitude towards risk in banana cultivation when perception about risk in banana cultivation was analysed, vocational diversification, prior exposure to risk and age had the highest direct and indirect effects.