Browsing by Author "Smitha, K P"

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Emotional intelligence and job performance of Kerala Agricultural University scientists
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture ,Vellayani, 2022) Saradhi,Prasanna; Smitha, K P
The study entitled "Emotional intelligence and job performance of Kerala Agricultural University scientists," was conducted during the year 2020-2021. The objective of the study was to assess the gender differential in emotional intelligence of Kerala Agricultural University scientists and its influence on their job performance. Organizational constraints experienced by scientists were also studied and suggestions for improvement were delineated. The study was conducted in the colleges, research stations, KVKs and other centers under Kerala Agricultural University, representing the three zones of Kerala, viz., the Northern zone, the Central zone, and the Southern zone. A total of 120 scientists, including 40 from colleges, 40 from research stations, and 40 from KVKs and other centers, were selected by adopting stratified proportionate sampling. From each group of 40 scientists, it was ensured that 20 were female and 20 were male respondents. There were two dependent variables and 14 independent variables in this study. Emotional intelligence and job performance were the dependent variables. The scale developed by Goleman (1995) was used to assess emotional intelligence. Job performance was assessed by developing an index for the study, under five dimensions: teaching, research, extension, self development efforts, and administrative and institution building activities. Based on the analysis of the data, it was found that majority of the respondents (66.66%) had a medium level of emotional intelligence. From the MannWhitney U test, it was revealed that there was no significant difference between male and female scientists in their emotional intelligence, but in the case of job performance there was a significant difference between male and female scientists in all dimensions except teaching. From the factor analysis it was observed that out of 5 dimensions self awareness and motivating oneself were the major components that contributed to the emotional intelligence whereas teaching and research were the two major dimensions that contributed towards job performance. On performing principal component analysis – biplot, it was observed that involvement in administrative and institution building activities is comparatively lesser for all other categories of respondents except college teachers whereas the PCA – biplot of emotional intelligence has shown uniformity in 127 distribution of all categories of respondents for all components. The study revealed that the majority of the respondents (85.83%) had a medium level of job performance. Analysis of the profile characteristics of KAU scientists revealed that majority of the respondents (65.9%) were middle aged, had doctoral degrees (73.3%), job experience of less than 10 years (40.83%), nuclear families (75.8%), belonged to urban areas (61.7%) and had adequate promotional opportunities (66.7%). It was also observed that most of the respondents had a medium level of family income (65%), attitude towards profession (68.3%), self-confidence (65%), organisational climate (76.7%), perceived workload (73.33%), leadership quality (85%), organisational commitment (72.5%), and job stress (70%). From the correlation analysis it was revealed that the factors having relationship with emotional intelligence were promotional opportunities, self confidence, organisational climate, leadership quality, organisational commitment, and job stress whereas Job performance was having relationship with age, job experience, attitude towards profession, self-confidence, organisational climate, and organisational commitment. The study also revealed that there was no significant association between emotional intelligence and job performance of KAU scientists. Major constraints perceived by the KAU scientists were lack of practical oriented capacity building programme and its follow up, less promotion / growth opportunities for scientists, lack of teamwork, empathy and mutual understanding among the scientists, lack of adequate infrastructure facility (office/ laboratory facilities/ quarters etc.,), poor library facilities and lack of availability of adequate books in the university library. The constraints experienced by the scientists need to be considered in order to improve the performance of the KAU scientists at their work place. The major suggestions delineated by the respondents for improving the job performance of KAU scientists were improvement of infrastructure facilitates for escalating work efficiency, democratic and transparent decisions by the authorities and impartial actions, more promotion/ growth opportunities for scientists, favourable organizational climate for team building and boosting the morale of the scientists, and clarity of roles for scientists regarding teaching, research, and extension.
Environmental concerns in the development projects on rice farming under decentralized planning
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2011) Smitha, K P; Anilkumar, A
Impact of covid -19 pandemic on tapioca growers in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh: A comparative study
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture ,Vellayani, 2023) Kotha Rajesh.; Smitha, K P
The study entitled "Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on tapioca growers in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh: A comparative study," was conducted during the year 2021-2022. The objective of the study was to compare the perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on tapioca growers in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. To analyse personal, socio-psychological characteristics of tapioca growers and identify its relationship with the extent of COVID-19 impact on them. To delineate the constraints experienced by tapioca growers in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh during COVID-19 pandemic and to formulate policy prescriptions for alleviating its adverse impacts. The study was conducted in two states viz., Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala and East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh was purposively selected for the study, considering the highest area and production of tapioca. From the two selected districts one block each was identified for the study based on area and production of tapioca. Accordingly, from the Thiruvananthapuram district, Kilimanoor block, and from East Godavari district, Peddapuram block were selected for the study. From each block three panchayats viz., Pulimath, Pazhayakunnummel, Nagaroor panchayats from Kilimanoor, and Anuru, C. B. Devam, R. B. Patnam panchayats from Peddapuram were selected for the study and from each panchayat 20 tapioca growers were selected randomly, thereby a total of 120 respondents (60 from Kerala and 60 from Andhra Pradesh) was considered for the study. One dependent variable i.e., impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pre farmgate and post farmgate operations and 12 independent variables were selected for this study. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pre-farmgate and post-farmgate operations was measured by developing a scale for the study, under four dimensions: pre-farmgate operations, post-farmgate operations, socio-psychological factors, and economic & institutional factors. Based on the analysis of data obtained from survey, it was found that majority of the respondents had medium level of impact on pre-farmgate operations in Kerala (78.33%) and Andhra Pradesh (66.7%). In Kerala post-farmgate operations (73.3%), socio-psychological factors (78.3%), economic and institutional factors (76.6%) and in Andhra Pradesh postfarmgate operations (76.6%), socio-psychological factors (86.6%), economic and institutional factors (73.3%) had medium level of impact on COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of profile characteristics of tapioca growers revealed that majority (62.5%) of the respondents were belonged to middle aged category in both Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. More than one third of respondents in Kerala (35%) had secondary school level of education and in Andhra Pradesh (38.3%) respondents belonged to read and write only category. Majority (57.5%) of the respondents had high farming experience which was more than eight in both states. Majority of the respondents were belonged to medium land holding category in Kerala (43.3%) and large land holding category in Andhra Pradesh (60%). Majority (74.16%) of the respondents had medium level of economic motivation in both the states. Majority of the respondents cultivated tapioca in small areas in Kerala (38.3%) and large areas in Andhra Pradesh (56.6%). Majority of respondents in Kerala (86.6%) belonged to medium information source utilization pattern whereas in Andhra Pradesh (73.3%) respondents belonged to low information source utilization pattern. About 63.33 per cent, 80 per cent, 65 percent and 66.6 per cent of respondents had medium level of self-confidence, risk orientation, market orientation and social participation respectively in both states. Problem solving ability was high for respondents of Kerala (50%) and medium for respondents of Andhra Pradesh (75%). From the Mann-Whitney U test, it was revealed that there was significant difference between Kerala and Andhra Pradesh of tapioca growers in level of impact on COVID-19 pandemic. From factor analysis it was observed that out of four dimensions pre-farmgate operations and post-farmgate operations were the major components that contributed to level of impact on COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala whereas in Andhra Pradesh socio-psychological factors and post-farmgate operations were two major dimensions that contributed towards impact of COVID-19 pandemic. On performing principal component analysis -biplot of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, it was observed that percentage variance explained by PC components on impact of COVID-19 pandemic. From the correlation analysis it was revealed that the factors having relationship with impact of COVID-19 pandemic were age, farming experience, size of landholding, area under tapioca cultivation, self-confidence, information source utilization, risk orientation, market orientation and problem solving ability in Kerala whereas in Andhra Pradesh impact of COVID 19 pandemic was having relationship with age, farming experience, size of land holding, area under tapioca cultivation, information source utilization, and market orientation Major constraints experienced by the tapioca growers in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh during COVID-19 pandemic were minimum support price was not fixed by the government to support tapioca farmers during the pandemic, wild boar attack on tapioca crop during COVID19 pandemic, due to lower demand in the market tapioca was sold at a lower price, labour shortage in various farming and marketing operations, farmers couldn’t sell their produce to processing industries, lack of insurance facilities against post-harvest loss. Policy prescriptions for alleviating adverse impacts in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh are provision of minimum support price, new methods of technologies should be reached through extension system & media for managing wild boar attack during COVID-19 pandemic, value addition technologies to convert produce into different forms that have good demand in market, utilising machinery and by engaging labour that reside within the place of crop production for overcoming of labour shortage. A platform where tapioca farmers, processing industries make deals should be provided for tapioca farmers to sell their produce to processing industries, Government insurance should be provided to tapioca farmers to sustain farming, combat the situations of pandemics in Andhra Pradesh technical assistance should be improved and make available all the time, access of tapioca farmers to financial institutions and warehouses should be encouraged to overcome lack of credit and poor storage facilities, contract farming can be encouraged where produce is directly procured by industries.
Management of foliar blight of amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor L.) caused by rhizoctonia solani kuhn using microbial antagonists
(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Smitha, K P; Kamala Nayar
The possibility of biological control of foliar blight pathogen of amaranthus Rhizoctonia solani with microbial antagonists was studied. Trichoderma longibrachiatum and a fluorescent Pseudomonas sp., Pl were found to be most effective in inhibiting R. solani in vitro. After mass multiplication the selected antagonists were formulated in an insert carrier material, viz., talc and were tested separately by different methods of application under greenhouse conditions. Soil application followed by foliar spray with one per cent suspension of the formulated product of the microbial antagonists was selected as the best method of delivering the biocontrol agent in checking the disease in vivo. Green house studies conducted indicated that soil application followed by foliar spray with T. longibrachiatum was more effective in suppressing the disease than by either combining the fungal and bacterial antagonists or by applying the bacterial antagonist Pl alone. Further, it was revealed that the abiotic elicitor salicylic acid had no synergistic influence on biocontrol properties of the antagonists. Application of T.longibrachiatum in the soil followed by foliar spray at 15 days interval starting from 25 days after sowing was very effective in controlling the disease in field conditions. There was no appreciable difference in the yield of plants. There was an earlier induction of the enzymes PAL and PO in plants treated with Trichoderma longibrachiatum compared to plants sprayed with mancozeb. Level activity of PO was high in R. solani inoculated plants in the presence of trichoderma longibrachiatum. The content of total phenols in plants treated with T. longibrachiatum was found to be low.