ADOPTION OF TEA CULTIVATION PRACTICES BY TRAINED AND UNTRAINED SMALL TEA GROWERS- AN EVALUATIVE STUDY IN UPPER BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY ZONE OF ASSAM
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Date
2021
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Abstract
The study entitled “Adoption of tea cultivation practices by trained and untrained small tea growers- An evaluative study in Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam” was carried out during 2020-21. Multistage purposive cum random sampling design was used for selection of respondents. A total of 400 (200 trained and 200 untrained) respondents constituted the sample of the study. Data collection was done by adopting the personal interview technique administering a structured schedule. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, ‘t’ test, weighted mean score, rank analysis, two sample ‘t’ test for comparing two means, correlation and multiple regression were the statistical techniques used for the analysis of data.
The study revealed that majority of the trained respondents (50.00%) were belonged to young age group. On the other hand majority of the untrained respondents (49.50%) were belonged to young age group. Majority of the trained respondents (25.00%) and untrained respondents (26.50%) were middle school level and primary school level, respectively. Moreover, majority of the trained respondents (78.50%) and untrained respondents (73.50%) had nuclear type of family. In case of operational land holding, majority of the trained respondents (52.00%) and untrained respondents (58.50%) were small farmers. It was found that majority of the trained (55.00%) and untrained (59.00%) respondents had medium level of annual income. It was observed that majority of the trained respondents (54.50%) and untrained respondents (63.00%) had only cultivation as occupation. In case of experience of tea growers 58.50 per cent of the trained respondents and 57.50 per cent of the untrained respondents had average experience (5-10 years). It was found that majority (40.50%) of the respondents had attended 2 days training programme. Majority of the trained (67.50%) and untrained (76.50%) respondents had medium level of mass media exposure. It was also observed that majority of the trained (60.50%) and untrained (72.00%) respondents had medium level of extension contact. Majority of the trained (77.00%) and untrained (90.50%) respondents had medium level of social participation. Majority (57.50%) and (57.00%) of the trained and untrained small tea growers possessed medium level of achievement motivation, respectively. In case of marketing orientation, it was found that majority (69.50%) and (74.50%) of the trained and untrained small tea growers possessed medium level of marketing orientation, respectively.
It has been also observed that majority of the trained (64.50 %) and untrained (69.50 %) small tea growers possessed medium level of economic motivation. Moreover, majority of the trained (71.00%) and untrained (75.50%) respondents had medium level of risk preference ability. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the trained (70.50%) and untrained (68.50%) respondents had medium level of scientific orientation. Regarding decision making ability majority of the trained (81.00%) and untrained (85.00%) respondents had medium level of decision making ability.
The study further revealed that majority of the trained (64.50%) and untrained (70.00%) respondents had medium level of extent of adoption, followed by 18.00 per cent of the trained and 16.50 per cent of the untrained respondents having low level of extent of adoption of recommended tea cultivation practices. Moreover, 17.50 per cent of the trained and 13.50 per cent of the untrained respondents had high level of extent of adoption of recommended tea cultivation practices.
A positive and significant relationship was found between extent of adoption and annual income, mass media exposure, extension contact, achievement motivation and scientific orientation of the trained small tea growers. On the other hand, size of operational land holding had a negative and significant relationship with the extent of adoption.
A positive and significant relationship was found between extent of adoption and mass media exposure and achievement motivation of the untrained small tea growers.
The two sample ‘t’ test between independent variables result revealed that there was positive and significant difference between trained and untrained small tea growers with respect to type of family, mass media exposure and extension contact.
The two sample ‘t’ test between dependent variable result revealed that there was positive and significant difference between trained and untrained small tea growers with respect to extent of adoption of recommended tea cultivation practices. It has been observed that trained small tea growers were good adopter of recommended tea cultivation practices than the untrained small tea growers.
The major problem faced by the small tea growers in adopting recommended cultivation practices as perceived by them were high cost of planting materials, inadequate knowledge regarding infilling, high cost of some fungicides and fertilizer, inadequate knowledge in the use of pesticides, inadequate knowledge on soil pH and its management, lack of awareness about the method of propagation and advantages of mulching, non availability of pruning machine, lack of courage in taking risk, lack of
proper guidance from linkage organisations, inadequate availability of land as per the activity to be carried out, poor economic status of STGs hamper mobilization of labour, lack of knowledge about proper techniques of marketing, high rate of interest of loan/credit, lack of proper transportation facilities and adequate training for skill development.