Browsing by Author "Surendran, G"

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Impact of operational research project on agricultural production
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1982) Surendran, G; Thiagarajan Nair, G
With a view to assess the impact of operational research project In terms of difference In knowledge level attitude towards practices and adoption of recommended practices between project and shadow area, a study was conducted In operational research project on Integrated control of rice pests at Kuttanad. Independent variable3 viz., age, education, economic status, knowledge about operational research project, attitude towards operational research project and attitude towards scientific agriculture were included to study their relationship with dependent variables. Other factors considered In the study were farmers and staff's perception about the project, practices and problems. The study revealed that farmers of the project area had more knowledge about recommended practices, more favourable attitude towards chemical plant protection and higher level of adoption of recommended practices than the farmers of the shadow area. There was significant relationship between knowledge on combined recommended practices and adoption of combined recommended practices but there was no significant relationship between attitude towards chemical plant protection and adoption of chemical plant protection. Of the six independent variables age had no significant relationship with dependent variables viz., knowledge on combined recomended practices, attitude towards chemical plant protection and adoption of combined recommended practices. In the case of education and economic status expect for knowledge on combined recommended there were no significant relationships with other dependent variables. Other three independent variables viz., knowledge about operational research project, attitude towards operational research project end attitude towards scientific agriculture showed significant relationship with dependent variables. Majority of the farmers and staff of the project showed favourable perception about the project and the recommended practices. The important problems perceived by farmers were high cost of fertilizers, low price of paddy and lack of capital The problems identified by the staff in the transfer of technology were lack of co-ordination between Agricultural University and State Department of Agriculture, inadequate budget provision lack of sufficient staff.
Participatory group approach for sustainable development of agriculture in Kerala
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Surendran, G; Balakrishna Pillai, G
The study was aimed to analyse the participation efficiency and group efficiency of Government, Quasi-government and NGO sponsored farmers' groups of the State and to suggest a strategy for sustainable development of agriculture through participatory group approach. A sample of 250 farmers was selected at random from 50 farmers' groups from the five agro-climatic regions of the State . . Besides, one hundred extension personnel were selected as respondents of the study. The components and external factors of participation efficiency and group efficiency formed the variables of the study. The data were gathered by the use of interview schedule and questionnaire from farmers and extension personnel respectively. Statistical techniques such as Correlation, ANOVA, Principal components analysis and Step-wise multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the data. All the components of participation efficiency exhibited significant association with Participation Efficiency Index Value. Majority of the respondents fell in medium level of participation efficiency. Quasi-governmental groups and groups in Alappuzha district showed high level of participation efficiency. Communication behaviour, Sharing of responsibility and Competitive spirit were the components which influenced higher magnitude of variation in participation efficiency. The external factors such as Achievement motivation, Age, Cosmopoliteness, Risk orientation, Knowledge in farming, Innovation proneness, Economic motivation and Entrepreneurial behaviour explained 72 per cent variation in participation efficiency. All the components of group efficiency showed significant association with Group Efficiency Index Value. Majority of the respondents were in medium level of group efficiency. Group efficiency was high in Quasi-governmental groups and groups in Kozhikode district. The components such as Productivity, Equity, Employment generation, Group cohesion and Sustained profit influenced higher magnitude of variation in group efficiency. The external factors such as Group action plan, Non-antagonistic goals, Incentives, Group size, Diversification of group activities and Effective supply of inputs explained 62 per cent of variation in group efficiency. Lack of co-ordination of different agencies, predominance of part-time farmers and inefficient monitoring mechanism were some of the constraints perceived as important. Extension personnel perceived that significant reduction in cost of cultivation is possible through group approach. Based on the results of the study, a strategy is suggested for the sustainable development of agriculture through participatory group approach.