Browsing by Author "Kishore Kumar, N"

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Agricultural information support service vis-a-vis kisan call centre: a performance auditing
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2016) Shely Mary Koshy; Kishore Kumar, N
Analysis of farmers` participation in the participatory technology development (PTD) process vis-a- vis plant protection in vegetables at Kunnathukal panchayath
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2003) Suthan, L; Kishore Kumar, N
Cause and effect analysis of in-migration of agricultural labourers
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) Bijimol Baby, K; Kishore Kumar, N
The present study entitled as ''cause and effect analysis of in-migration of agricultural labourers'' was carried out with the following objectives. (1) To study the patterns of migration of agricultural labourers. (2) To study the factors responsible for migration ie., (a) The push factors responsible for migration, and (b) The pull factors responsible for migration (3) To study the socio-psychological effects due to migration (4) To study the profile characteristics of migrated agricultural labourers. The over-riding objective is to study the patterns of in-migration of agricultural labourers by assessing the factors responsible for migration and to study the socio-psychological effects due to the migration. The study was conducted in six randomly selected panchayats (Krishi Bhavan) of the Kaduthuruthy subdivision, Kottayam district. A sample of 120 in-migrated agricultural labourers ie 20 migrant labourers under each panchayat were selected through accidental sampling procedure, formed the respondents of the study. Personal inteerview was conducted with the help of well structured and pre-tested interview schedule to collect data from the migrated agricultural labourer respondents. The profile characteristics selected were analysed and studied. The patterns of migration, factors responsible for migration and consequences of migration were also studied in detail. The results obtained by employing suitable statistical techniques were as follows. The study revealed that majority of the migrated agricultural labourers were found to have medium level of job experience, medium socio-economic status, medium level of indebtedness, medium knowledge about scientific agricultural practices, medium level knowledge about the development programmes of agricultural labourers, and medium level of innovativeness. Majority of the respondents had high level of Aspiration, high attitude towards labour-union, high economic motivation and high level of self-confidence. Most of the respondents belonged to middle age group and their purpose of indebtedness was mainly for agricultural purposes. Migration pattern-1 based on the permanency of stay and duration of residence was positively and significantly correlated with migration pattern-2 based on origin and destination of movement. Education is negatively and significantly correlated with migration pattern-1 based on permanency of stay and duration of residence. Migration pattern-2 based on the origin and destination of movement had a negative and significant correlation with migration pattern-3 based on the composition of migrants. Migration pattern-3 based on composition of migrants was positively and significantly correlated with knowledge about development of agricultural labourers and also with self-confidence. The migration pattern-3 based on composition of migrants had a negative and significant correlation with house types as well as with occupation. Migration pattern-4 based on the type of decision for migration was positively and significantly correlated with Economic motivation and also with Innovativeness. A positive and significant correlation was observed between age and consequences of migration. The major push factors responsible for migration were un-employment, low wage, indebtedness, small-holding, poverty, frustration, decline of natural resources etc. The push factors responsible for migration is positively and significantly correlated with pull factors responsible for migration, purpose of indebtedness and job experience. A negative and significant correlation was observed between Education and push Factors responsible for migration. The major pull factors responsible for migration were superior opportunity of employment and to earn higher income, better job security, preferable environment and living condition, better food, better social net-work, dependency movement etc. A positive and significant correlation was observed between pull factors responsible for migration and purpose of indebtedness. Major consequences on socio-psychological effects due to migration were social tension, high economic status, higher knowledge, labour shortage, intercast marriage, labour glut, low wage, more satisfaction etc. Majority of the respondents were of daily migrants as per migration pattern-1 based on the permanency of stay and duration of residence. Majority of respondents were of local area migrants as per migration pattern-2 based on the origin and destination of movement. Majority of respondents migrate in group and decision for migration was self- initiated. Majority of respondents migrate in group and decision for migration was self- initiated.
Effective agricultural information delivery system-an action research among farmers
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2008) Nazreen Hassan, S; Kishore Kumar, N
Extension providers and client expectations include superior information accessing and dissemination, ongoing farmer-extension-research communications and marketing. AgIDS offer tremendous potential for accelerating development. They are transforming our lives, creating wealth and impacting every facet of human endeavor. Agricultural marketing requires connectivity between the market and exporters, growers, traders, industry consumers, through wide area network of national and international linkages in order to provide day-to-day information with regard to commodity arrivals and prevailing rates etc. this study was carried out with the objective of bringing out the underlying facts in the Information Communication technology available to the benefit of the farmers. Thiruvananthapuram district has been purposively selected for the study because this is the only district in Kerala having information kiosks being operated in the Krishibhavans. From the ten Krishibhavans three Krishibhavans were selected based on the maximum numbers of users of this ICT facility based on the records available in the Krishibhavans. The respondents were selected by random sampling method. 60 user farmers and 30 non-user farmers from each panchayat were selected and they formed the respondents of this study. A total of 270 farmers were contacted for the study. From a review of related literature and discussion with experts a comprehensive list of variables were selected. The dependent variables included attributes of ICT, Communication behaviour, information need and skill requirement. Majority of the farmers came under middle age group. Majority of the farmer in both the categories were found to be marginal farmers. Mostly the users were in a better socio economic group. The Extension Service must be able to provide information that makes a difference. ICTs are tools that help build human network, increase public awareness and provide access to information and knowledge for the use of people. They include Telephone, Fax, GIS, Radio, Television, Print, Internet, Video, Audio, Computer and technologies on the drawing boards. Possession of ICT tools by users was found to be higher than the nonusers except for farm magazines where the nonusers out-numbered the users. The mean of the socio technical variables was found to be the maximum for physical compatibility and desirability in the case of users. This was followed by social acceptability and simplicity. This was followed by physical compatibility and social acceptability. In both the cases user education had the minimum score. So this area needs more attention. Majority of farmers in both the categories perceived efficiency of ICT as ‘saving time and money in interacting’ and has ‘all information the farmer wants’ in the nonuser category. This was followed by one stop shop information by the users and supports marketing in the case of non users. There existed significant relation ship between the dependent variables. Also significant relationship was observed in the relationship that existed between some independent variables and dependent variables. A majority of the users claim that they slightly agree to the fact that their productivity has increased compared to the previous year. Analysis of variance showed a comparison between the user group and the non user group. It was found that the user group was higher in the case of all dependent variables. But in the case of information need it was found to be almost similar. A need assessment can help Extension educators to decide whether an extension program should be improved and how the services should be better delivered. The farmers needed information on agriculture such as market rates, bio pesticides, bio fertilizers. These areas ranked top in their information needs. This was followed by organic farming, plant protection and cropping practices. The skill requirement of the non-users farmers was more than the user farmers. The action research was conducted in the form of training on the skills of using computers. The participants for the research were selected by random sampling from the list of non user farmers’ interviewed. The farmers were exposed to the skills for five hours for two days i.e., for ten hours each to a group of thirty members. The influence of Training on the non-users observance on their knowledge gain, and skill acquisition at different intervals of time on the existing ICT facility was studied by documenting the knowledge gain, and skill acquisition at one week, one month and three months interval by the trainees. The results of paired‘t’ test on knowledge gain and skill acquisition showed high significance between different intervals of time. As perceived by the farmers it was found that lack in skill was the major problem that prevented most farmers in accessing through the ICT facility. The farmers also gave out some suggestions to bring this facility in a more effective manner. The study indicated anew strategy for solving the problems in technology dissemination by finding out the actual needs of the farmers in harnessing the benefits of ICT.
Farmer producer organizaions (fpos) of Idukki district: a multidimensional analysis on role, function and performance (rfp)
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Akhil Ajith; Kishore Kumar, N
Innovations in technology dissemination (ITD): in Kannur distrcit
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2016) Namitha Reghunath; Kishore Kumar, N
Multi- dimensional analysis of self - employment among farm women
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Priya Varma, H; Kishore Kumar, N
The present study entitled “ A Multi-dimensional Analysis of Self-employment among Farm Women” was done with the following major objectives. 1. To analyse the attitude of farm women towards self-employment in agriculture and allied fields. 2. To study the personal socio-psychological factors that would influence the attitude of farm women towards self-employment in agriculture and also their entrepreneurial behaviour. 3. To analyse the preferences of farm women regarding the various self-employment avenues in agriculture. 4. To analyse the training needs of farm women in the various avenues. 5. To suggest a suitable training strategy for farm women. 6. To identify the constraints faced by farm women in doing self-employment in agriculture. The study was conducted in Neyyattinkara Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram District. Using a 2 stage randam sampling procedure, a total of 120 farm women were selected from four panchayats. Personal interview was conducted with the help of well structured and pre-tested interview schedule to collect data from the respondents. The collected data were analysed using suitable statistical procedures. The results thus obtained were as follows Majority of the respondents were found to be having high educational status, small size of holdings, low farming experience, low annual income, low social contact, high massmedia contact and high information source utilisation. A favourable attitude towards self –employment in agriculture was recorded for majority of respondents. Their entrepreneurial behaviour was also high. Other attributes which are necessary for entrepreneurship like self-confidence, innovativeness, economic motivation, management orientation, participation in implementing decisions and risk orientation were also high. Two thirds of the respondents were having low knowledge level. Age, farming experience and economic motivation showed negative correlation with attitude. Regarding preferences of farm women for the various self-employment avenues, vegetable production was the most preferred one followed by poultry and mushroom cultivation. Training needs were analysed for the major areas by computing the weighted mean training need score. In vegetable production, preparation of insecticide and fungicide solution had the high score. Majority of the farm women preferred peripatetic type of training, medium duration of training and the summer season for training. The most preferred venue was farm/residence of progressive farmers and the methodology chosen was demonstration. Lack of sufficient financial assistance was identified as the most important constraint by majority of the farm women.
Role of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in empowerment of farmers
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Jyothish, Mannambeth; Kishore Kumar, N
Developmental programmes implemented through government machinery could not bring about much changes in the rural sector as far as the developmental aspects are concerned. At the same time, many of the NGOs working in the rural areas could bring about attractive results. So a study was undertaken to identify the dimensions of empowerment of farmers through NGOs, to study the roles played by NGOs, to study the extent of people participation and to develop a strategy for empowerment of farmers. Kannur district was selected as the locale of study and ten functional NGOs were randomly selected. From each NGO, ten beneficiaries and ten non beneficiaries were selected as respondents. Data was collected using structured pre tested interview schedule. Nineteen variables were selected for the study and from that fourteen variables identifies as dimensions of empowerment. The beneficiaries were found better compared to non beneficiaries in almost all the variables studied. The perception about the role of NGOs were more with the beneficiaries than non beneficiaries. Extent of participation in. the various activities were also more with beneficiary farmers. Lack of evaluation, Non co-operation from the government side and lack of financial support and lack of follow up were the main constraints faced by •NGOs. The steps for strengthening NGOs include effort from government side, training of staff, constant touch with academic institutes properly documented programmes, coordination between NGOs and experimenting with new ideas. Strategy for empwerment of farmers aims at collection of data, assessing needs, creating awareness, establishing rapport, identification of resources, organising people in subgroups, defining goals and achieving objectives.
Scenario analysis of cardamom growers in cardamom hill reserves of Kerala
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Anju, S; Kishore Kumar, N
Scenario analysis of rice cultivation in Palakkad district
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2017) Athira, H; Kishore Kumar, N
The present study entitled Scenario Analysis of Rice Cultivation in Palakkad district’ was conducted in four blocks of Palakkad district with objectives : to assess changing trends in rice cultivation in Palakkad district, delineation of factors leading to shifting of rice cultivation, attitude of farmers towards rice cultivation, perception of farmers on governmental interventions, major constraints experienced by the farmers and finally to suggest a comprehensive strategy for revival of paddy cultivation in the district. The study was carried out in four blocks of Palakkad district, namely Alathur, Nenmara, Pattambi and Malambuzha. Thirty farmers were selected from each of these four blocks making a sample of 120 respondents. Data was collected by interviewing the respondents personally with the help of pre – tested and well-structured interview schedule. The data collected were processed, coded and tabulated with the help of different statistical tools. The salient findings of the study are as follows: On analysis of data it was found that the area under paddy cultivation significantly reduced in the past years. Rice was cultivated in an area of 1.45 ha in 1990 and it declined to 0.83 ha by the year 2016. At present area under rice cultivation in the district is 42 per cent (83,998 ha) of the total area in the state. The productivity of rice increased from 1845 Kg/ha in 1970 to 2728Kg/ha by the year 2016. The findings of the study indicate that majority of the respondents were old aged with sufficient farming experience, with agriculture as their primary occupation. Majority of them possessed primary to high school level of education, and none of them were illiterate. Farmers in high productive blocks had more extension agency contact and extension participation compared to the farmers in low productive block. Analysis of the perception of farmers on various governmental interventions to revive rice cultivation shows that, most of them were useful. Production bonus for rice and operational support for Padasekhara samithi were found to be extremely useful. The farmer’s attitude towards rice cultivation is an important element in sustaining rice cultivation. In this study, majority of farmers belonged to medium attitude category in both high productive block (68.33 per cent) and low productive block (85 per cent). Perception and attitude of farmers towards rice cultivation were positively and significantly correlated with extension agency contact, extension participation, economic motivation, innovation proneness, market orientation and credit orientation. There are many reasons which force the farmers to stop rice cultivation. These are grouped into four categories namely, technological reasons, economic reasons, social/ecological reasons and political reasons. Unavailability and high cost of labour, irresponsibility of Government in Paddy procurement and lack of reasonable support price, fluctuating price and marketing problem, uneven rainfall pattern and changing climate, less access to enough irrigation water etc. were the important constraints identified in this study. The suggestions put forth by the farmers were, to increase the minimum support price of rice, facilitate better water management system, spread the idea of green army to more areas and make available timely supply of good quality seed and at reasonable prices. The study therefore revealed that, to revive the current scenario of rice cultivation in the district a comprehensive strategy is needed focusing on area expansion, productivity enhancement, and to augment income from rice based farming, better irrigation and water management system and greater investment in research and extension in order to meet the upcoming challenges.