A STUDY ON SUSTAINABLE DRY FARMING IN CENTRAL DRY ZONE OF KARNATAKA
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Date
2021
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Abstract
This study entitled ‘A Study on Sustainable Dry Farming in Central Dry Zone of Karnataka’ was taken in the central dry zone (agro-climatic zone) of Karnataka state. Thorough review of literature revealed that very less investigations happened in the field of sustainable dry farming. Hence an attempt has been made to make an initial footprints in this untouched but very important field of investigation by framing five specific objectives. The primary data was collected from both dry farmers (N=250) and extension personnel (N=75) by selecting them with the help of multi-stage random sampling technique and the proportionate stratified random sampling technique respectively.
The findings of the study in case of profile of the dry farmers revealed that majority of them were found to be 36 to 62 years old (65.60 %), educated up to high school (32.00 %) with 3 to 26 years farming experience (51.20 %) and had 2 to 6 members in their family (86.80 %). Majority of them were small land holders (48.40 %) who were fell in low level in case of their level of HYV index (55.60 %), level of organic manure (86.80 %), level of fertilizers (78.00 %), level of pesticides (98.80 %) and farm power mechanization (75.60 %). While, majority were found in medium level in case of their extension contact (58.40 %), mass media utilization (56.40 %), economic motivation (84.00 %), management orientation (69.20 %), achievement motivation (67.60 %), level of aspiration (93.20 %), decision making pattern (62.00 %) and innovativeness (72.80 %). Whereas, majority were fell in high level in case of their level of rain water harvesting and moisture conservation measures (50.80 %), change proneness (64.00 %), risk orientation (76.40 %) and farming commitment (62.80 %).
The findings of the study in case of profile of the extension personnel disclosed that majority were found to be 38 to 59 years old (50.67 %), had master degree in agricultural science (70.67 %), had 1 to 16 years work experience (82.67 %) in the department with 42 to 51 hours work load (49.33 %) in a week and majority were found to have rural background i.e., born in rural areas (84.00 %). Whereas, majority were fell in medium level in case of their mass media exposure (76.00 %), extension service orientation (60.00 %), empathy (82.67 %), job satisfaction (64.00 %), career growth opportunities (88.00 %) and job stress (90.67 %). But majority were reported to have low level of training (65.33 %) in the department,
The findings of the study in case of the infrastructure facilities revealed that ‘coordination of activities’ (89.33 %), ‘authority & responsibility’ (89.33 %) and ‘monitoring & evaluation’ (89.33 %) were the most ‘timely available and adequate’ infrastructure facilities. Whereas, ‘training facilities to farmers’ (45.33 %), ‘resource persons’ (30.67 %) and ‘vehicles for mobility’ (25.33 %) were the least ‘timely available and adequate’ infrastructure facilities.
The findings of the study in case of extension tools and techniques revealed that ‘group meeting’ (98.67 %) and ‘exhibitions’ (98.67 %) were the most used extension methods. ‘Farm and home visit’ (90.67 %) was found to be the most suitable extension method to promote sustainable dry farming.
The findings of the study in case of extension programmes disclosed that eight extension programmes were found to have cent per cent functional implementation. ‘Raita Siri Programme’ (94.67 %) was found to be the most suitable extension programme to promote sustainable dry farming.
The findings of the study in case of organizational climate revealed that majority of the extension personnel perceived it as congenial at low level (53.33 %). The ‘planning aspect’ was found to be the most congenial dimension of the organizational climate.
The findings of the study in case of knowledge level of dry farmers on sustainable dry farming disclosed that majority were found to possess medium level (55.60 %) of knowledge. The independent variables of the dry farmers viz., family size (r=0.1235*), landholding (r=0.1360**), index of HYV (r=0.1062*), rain water harvesting and moisture conservation (r=0.3000***), farm power mechanization (r=0.1930***), extension contact (r=0.5240***), mass media utilization (r=0.3150***), economic motivation (r=0.2620***), change proneness (r=0.2450***), risk
orientation (r=0.2220***), management orientation (r=0.1900***), farming commitment (r=0.3190***), level of aspiration (r=0.1770***), decision making pattern (r=0.2540***) and achievement motivation (r=0.1490**) were found to have positive and significant influence over their level of knowledge. Whereas, the variables viz., level of use of organic manure (r=0.0776NS), level of use of fertilisers (r=0.0331NS) and level of use of pesticides (r=0.0775NS) were had positive and non-significant influence over their level of knowledge. The remaining independent variables viz., age (r=-0.0786NS), farming experience (r=-0.0742NS) and innovativeness (r=-0.0952NS) were had negative and non-significant correlation with the level of knowledge of dry farmers. Also chi-square test revealed that level of education had non-significant association (x2=84.650NS) with the level of knowledge of dry farmers. Finally the multiple regression revealed that the variables viz., family size (B=0.1357*), landholding (B=0.0838**), extension contact (B=0.2599***), mass media utilization (B=0.0898*), economic motivation (B=0.3093**), farming commitment (B=0.0753**) and decision making pattern (B=0.0257**) were found to be the determinant factors of the level of knowledge of dry farmers with the R square value 0.428 (F=8.120***).
The findings of the study in case of the knowledge level of extension personnel on sustainable dry farming disclosed that majority were found to possess medium level (61.33 %) of knowledge. The independent variables viz., work load (rs=0.371***), training undergone (rs=0.325***), extension service orientation (rs=0.440***), empathy (rs=0.243**) and carrier/professional growth (rs=0.283**) were had positive and significant relationship with their knowledge level. Whereas, the variables viz., age (rs=-0.321***) and work experience (rs=-0.255**) were had negative and significant influence over the level of knowledge. From the remaining variables, mass media exposure (rs=0.136NS) and job stress (rs=0.072NS) were had positive and non-significant relationship and the job satisfaction (rs=-0.059NS) had negative and non-significant correlation with the knowledge level of extension personnel. The chi-square analysis revealed that the level of education (x2=53.897*) had significant association and the rural-urban background (x2=36.034NS) had non-significant association with the level of knowledge of extension personnel.
The findings of the study in case of resource availability and their extent of adoption revealed that the ‘sprinkler irrigation system’ (96.00 %) and the ‘agricultural labour’ (8.00 %) were the most and the least ‘timely available and adequate’ resources in the central dry zone of Karnataka respectively. Whereas, the ‘quality fertilizers’ (76.00 %) and the ‘vermicompost’ (11.60 %) were the resources which got the most and the least full scale adoption in the central dry zone of Karnataka respectively. The ‘sprinkler irrigation system’ (60.80 %) was the resource which had highest availability-adoption gap.
The findings of the study in case of the performance level of extension personnel in promoting sustainable dry farming revealed that majority were found to have medium (rs=81.33 %) performance level. The independent variable carrier/professional growth (rs=0.327***) had positive and significant influence over the performance level. Whereas, the variable job stress (rs=-0.246**) had negative and significant correlation with the performance level. From the remaining variables, work load (rs=0.187NS), training undergone (rs=0.039NS), mass media exposure (rs=0.088NS), extension service orientation (rs=0.105NS), empathy (rs=0.155NS) and job satisfaction (rs=0.086NS) were had positive and non-significant influence and the variables, age (rs=-0.058NS) and work experience (rs=-0.011NS) were had negative and non-significant influence over the performance level of extension personnel.
‘Depleting underground water’ (87.60 %) and ‘seasonal labour non-availability’ (80.00 %) were the top two problems of dry farmers. Whereas, ‘need to make MSP to all agricultural crops’ (73.60 %) and ‘need to fill local water bodies at least once in a year through irrigation channels’ (58.00 %) were the top two suggestions of dry farmers to increase the adoption of sustainable dry farming practices.
‘Supporting micro irrigation technologies with subsidies’ (93.33 %), ‘awareness creation about long term benefits of the sustainable dry farming at village levels’ (89.33 %) and ‘intensification of utilizing MGNREGA scheme to construct water conservation structures’ (86.66 %) were the top three suggestions of the extension personnel to increase the adoption of sustainable dry farming practices.