A STUDY OF THE TRADITIONAL BELIEF SYSTEM IN DAIRY HUSBANDRY AMONG TRIBALS OF ATTAPPADY
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Date
1998
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES Mannuthy - Thrissur
Abstract
The imperative of traditional beliefs or indigenous
knowledge and its documentation and validation has been a
major theme for research quite recently. Tribal societies
have nurtured, over centuries, many a beliefs in the field of
dairy farming. A study was conducted among the tribal dairy
farmers of Attappady block in Palakkad district with the
objectives of inventorying the beliefs, determining the
strength and rationality of beliefs, knowing the extent of
adoption of beliefs etc. Rationality of beliefs was judged by
experts identified for the purpose. A total of seventy three
beliefs were studied after categorising them under fourteen
domains.
Most of the farmers studied were of middle age group,
illiterates and by occupation agriculture and other labourers.
Majority had a low profile of communication characteristics
since mass media exposure, extension agency contact and
personal localite exposure were less.
There were a little more of weak believers than strong
believers of traditional beliefs among them. Further,
majority of the respondents had only middle level awareness
about traditional beliefs. Among the highly aware group there
were more of strong believers than weak believers.
Out of the socio-personal variables studied, age and
experience in dairying were positively and significantly
correlated with degree of belief and extent of adoption. Out
of the psychological variables, man-nature orientation,
innovativeness and scientific orientation were negatively and
significantly correlated with degree of belief and extent of
adoption. Among the communication variables mass media
exposure was negatively and highly significantly correlated
with degree of belief.
All the beliefs studied were found to be strongly held
beliefs and one-fourth of all beliefs were irrational. Extent
of adoption of all beliefs were measured and it ranged from
eighty eight adopters for a belief to twelve for another.
The fact that almost one-fourth of all beliefs were
irrational is a matter of concern. As practicing of these
irrational beliefs could result in non-adoption of modern
scientific practices, thereby blocking technology diffusion.
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