Buyer behaviour of rice farmers towards selected agricultural inputs in Thrissur District
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Date
2003
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Department of Rural Marketing Management, College of Co-operation, Banking and Management,Vellanikkara
Abstract
The study on 'Buyer behaviour of rice farmers towards selected
agricultural inputs in Thrissur district' was undertaken with the following
objectives:
1. to analyse the buyer behaviour of the rice farmers in relation to the
quantitative, qualitative and market attributes of rice varieties and
agrochemica\s,
2. to examine the source preference of seeds and agrochemicals, and
3. to assess the influence of technocrats and input supply agencies on the
buying behaviour.
The study was conducted in Pazhayannur block in Thrissur district.
Pazhayannur block was having the highest area of rice cultivation and four
pc nchayaths namely Pazhayannur, Chelakkara, Thiruvilwamala and Kondazhy
were selected based on highest area of cultivation. From each panchayath each
padasekharam was identified with highest net cropped area. A sample group of
30 farmers, comprising of small, medium and large fanner proportionately from
each padasekharam constituted the total 120 respondents.
The study made an explorative search in to the buyer behaviour of the
respondents towards seeds and agrochemicals. The respondents were practicing
two seasonal cultivations namely. virippu and mundakan. The summer crop
{JIIIljO was not practicing due to lack ,of irrigation facilities. The main seed variety
popular among the respondents was Kunjukunju, a non-descript variety. Some of
them were using a HYV namely, Kanchana, on experimentbasis and it was
released by Kcrala Agricultural University. The reason for preferring non-
descript variety to HYV was that respondents had no faith in the high yielding
properties of HYV seeds and they feared that such properties would decline
within 2 to 4 generations. Variety loyalty was high among the respondents in case
o i' Kunjukunju as they were using it for last 20 years. The respondents were aware
aoout 3 or 4 varieties where, more than 100 varieties are available in the state.
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They were using their own output for seeds and an insignificant portion were
pproaching Krishi Bhavan.
In case of agrochemicals, the study revealed that majority of the
respondents were using FACT fertilizers followed by SPIC and BASF's brands
were the leading plant protection chemicals in the study area. The respondents
identified availability as the major factor influenced the continuous usage of
FACT fertilizers and HASF's brands. They were depending upon private outlets
for purchasing agrochemicals and were forced to buy the available brands, as the
traders were interested in some specific manufacturers based on the commission
t ey earned. The respondents were using the agrochemicals according to the
stages of application and brand multiplicity done nothing in the usage of
grochemicals.
The influence of technocrats including the agriculture officers and
extension officers on the buying behaviour of the respondents was less and that of
sales persons was high, especially in case of agrochemicals. The fanners were
depending upon private trader for selling of output, as the private traders
t. emselves will arrange the transportation of the end produce. But a major
problem faced by the respondents was the low price offered by the private
traders, comparing to the actual price prevailed in the market.
The study emphasise that steps should be taken to increase the awareness
of the farmers about HYV seeds and agrochemicals. The state agriculture
department and agricultural university should expand their extension activities,
and importance should be given in the field of researches on the buying
behaviour of farmers, especially that of rice farmers as rice being the staple food
of Kerala. Besides, the results point out vividly to the prime need for a systematic
and effective marketing facilities for the farm output and a thorough price support
system to improve the agricultural production, and ultimately the income of the
fanner. '
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172106