A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF FARM SCIENCE CENTRE AS A QUANTUM CATALYST IN THE TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE DANGS DISTRICT OF GUJARAT STATE
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Date
2001
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AAU, Anand
Abstract
We are all aware that agriculture is the engine of our national growth and for that matter we have to move forward and be competitive. We should not lag behind in the Post-GATT scenario. The backbone of all agricultural extension endeavour is the transfer of agricultural information and technologies to enhance the productive capacity of fanners. India is now known to have sustained and significant rise in agricultural production in which the contribution of KVKs is quite phenomenal and vital. With this conviction, India government made announcement from time to time for the establishment of KVK in every district of the country. This investigation related to the role of Farm Science Centre in the tribal development is an attempt in this direction with the following objectives. 1. To study the socio-economic and psychological characteristics of the farmers of the villages adopted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra. 2. To study the impact of Krishi Vigyan Kendra in the surrounding villages in terms of increase in knowledge and adoption of improved technology. 3. To know the useful teaching methods adopted by trainers of Krishi Vigyan Kendra for rural development. 4. To study the attitude of the respondents towards Krishi Vigyan Kendra. 5. To evaluate the performance of Krishi Vigyan Kendra against targets and achievements. 6. To develop an extension strategy by obtaining the suggestions from farmers and Krishi Vigyan Kendra's staff for strengthening Krishi Vigyan Kendra. 7. To study the linkages and resources developed by KVK in the district. 8. To find out the consfraints of farmers m the adoption of improved farm technology suggested by Krishi Vigyan Kendra. 9. To study the relationship between the socio-economic and psychological characteristics and gain in knowledge and adoption of improved technologies. Research Methodology : The study was specially confined to KVK of Gujarat Agricultural University situated at Waghai as it is functioning in South Gujarat region of Gujarat state. In order to know the development of KVKs in Gujarat state, KVKs at Deesa, Devataj, Devgadh Baria, Waghai, Randheja, Ambheti, Chaswad, Golagamdi, Sadau and Samoda were covered. A sample of 100 trained and 100 untrained farmers of KVK Waghai were drawn randomly from 10 villages, which were also selected on random basis. From each village 10 trained and 10 untrained respondents were selected. Thus, a total of 200 farmers were selected for the study. The data in respect of the objective of evaluating the performance of Krishi Vigyan Kendra was gathered through a questionnaire, while information with respect to the impact of training programme was collected through a structured schedule designed for this purpose. The ex-post facto research design was employed in the study. The collected data were analysed by using statistical tools like frequency, percentages, co-efficient of correlation, multiple regression and path analysis. Major findings: 1. Majority of the trained respondents were middle aged, having primary level of education. They had nuclear family with 5 to 9 members and were participating in one social organisations. They were coming from lower caste possessing 2 to 5 hectares of land and majority had low extension participation. Majority of them were earning less than Rs. 10000 per annum and they had farming plus labour as main occupation. Majority of the respondents had high risk orientation, economic-motivation and scientific orientation. In case of untrained respondents, majority of farmers were also middle aged and they had formal education upto primary level. They were also having nuclear family of 5 to 9 members in the family. They were participating in one social organizations. They belonged to lower caste and were having 2 to 5 hectares of land. Majority of them were also earning less than Rs. 10000 per year. They had farming plus labour as main occupation and majority had low extension participation. Majority of the respondents had medium risk orientation, economic motivation and scientific orientation. 2. Majority of trained respondents had medium level of knowledge in paddy cultivation and high level of knowledge in gram cultivation. In combination of paddy and gram cultivation, majority of them had medium to high level of knowledge In case of untrained respondents, majority of them had low level of knowledge in paddy cultivation and medium level of knowledge in gram cultivation. In combination of paddy and gram cultivation, majority of the respondents had low to medium level of knowledge. It was also found that the extent of knowledge differed significantly with the trained and untrained respondents. 3. Majority of the trained respondents had medium level of adoption in paddy cultivation and gram cultivation. In combination of paddy and gram farming, majority of them were found to have medium level of adoption. In case of untrained respondents, majority of them had low level of adoption in paddy cultivation and gram cultivation. In combination of paddy and gram farming, majority of the untrained respondents showed their level of adoption at the medium level. It was also reported that the extent of adoption significantly differs with the trained and untrained respondents. 4. There are 54 per cent variation with knowledge and 30 per cent with adoption by independent variables. Extension participation, risk orientation and scientific orientation are the most important factors, whereas in case of adoption, family type, family size, extension participation, land holding and risk orientation had important bearing. Scientific orientation had maximum direct positive effect on the knowledge of the respondents followed by occupation, risk orientation and income. It was observed that land holding had highest positive direct effect on the adoption followed by family type and risk orientation. 5. The training aids such as Black Board, Printed/Cyclostyled Literature, Result Demonstration, Meetings and Method Demonstration have been used to the maximum extent by the trainers of KVK. 6. Majority of trained and untrained respondents had a favourable and unfavourable attitude towards Krishi Vigyan Kendra, respectively. The respondents of both the groups differed as regard their attitude towards KVK. 7. The performance of KVK was satisfactory in terms of staff position except KVKs at Devataj, Ambheti and Golagamdi. Subjectwise training courses by all KVKs in Gujarat was also satisfactory. The infrastructural facilities were satisfactory in all KVKs except at Devataj, Waghai, Chaswad and Golagamdi. First Line Demonstration recorded 15 to 52 per cent higher yield over local check. 8. During on campus training lodging and boarding facilities should be arranged. Training on plant protection and fruit crops should be arranged. 9. There was a strong linkage of KVK with government agencies as well as non-government agencies. 10. 'Inadequate availability of FYM', 'Lack of knowledge about plant protection measures', 'Inadequate source of finance', 'Lack of co-ordination among the farmers' and 'Fatalistic attitude towards technology' were important problems experienced by the respondents in farming. 11. Social participation, extension participation and scientific orientation of trained respondents were having positive significant relationship with the knowledge gained by the respondents. While family size had negative highly significant relationship with the knowledge. Education, family type, extension participation, land holding and risk orientation of trained farmers had positively significant relationship with the adoption of improved technology.
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Keywords
Extension Education, Agriculture, A Study