Preetha L
Indigenous Practices in Rice Farming in Thrissur District - Vellanikkara Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture 1997
A research study was conducted to identify and codify the indigenous
practices in rice farming in Thrissur district. The study also aimed at analysing the
relationship of knowledge and adoption of indegenous practices of rice farmers with
their personal, socio-psychological and socio-economic characteristics. The
evaluative perception of the identified indigenous practices by the rice farmers,
extension personnel and rice scientists was also done.
The study was conducted in two phases - phase I and phase II. The
sample selected for the study consisted of 135 rice farmers and all available
extension personnel and rice scientists of Thrissur district. The phase I of the study
was conducted in 12 selected panchayaths and the phase II was conducted in 3
selected panchayaths of Thrissur district.
The research endeavour identified 80 indigenous practices and 20
indigenous beliefs related to rice cultivation of Thrissur district. The identified
practices and beliefs were documented and described along with its scientific
rationale.
The phase II revealed significant variation in knowledge score of rice
farmers in indigenous practices. It varied from 4.6 to 90.9 per cent. Adoption index
too showed significant variation with a range of 1 to 92.5 per cent.
Statistical analysis reveal that 27.05 per cent of the variation In
knowledge of rice farmers about indigenous practices was influenced by six variables
namely fatalism-scientism, annual income, area under rice cultivation, main
occupation, personal-localite exposure and risk preference, while 43.46 per cent of
variation in adoption of indigenous practices of rice farmers was explained by their
age, main occupation, farming experience, personal-localite exposure, economic
motivation, social participation and risk preference. The indigenous practices were
perceived as sustainable by 100 per cent of the respondent categories whereas only
38.58 per cent of the respondent categories perceived them as efficient.
The knowledge in indigenous practices and their extent of adoption are
found to be medium in 50 per cent of the rice farmers. This implies that most of the
old farming traditions are being gradually lost by farmers. Hence a systematic and
organised effort to document these indigenous practices is an urgent need to improve
the efficiency and productivity of crop cultivation. This calls for a multi-disciplinary
approach to comprehend and analyse the identified folk wisdom to enhance its
potentiality and accelerate the pace of technological change.
630.71 / PRE/IN
Indigenous Practices in Rice Farming in Thrissur District - Vellanikkara Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture 1997
A research study was conducted to identify and codify the indigenous
practices in rice farming in Thrissur district. The study also aimed at analysing the
relationship of knowledge and adoption of indegenous practices of rice farmers with
their personal, socio-psychological and socio-economic characteristics. The
evaluative perception of the identified indigenous practices by the rice farmers,
extension personnel and rice scientists was also done.
The study was conducted in two phases - phase I and phase II. The
sample selected for the study consisted of 135 rice farmers and all available
extension personnel and rice scientists of Thrissur district. The phase I of the study
was conducted in 12 selected panchayaths and the phase II was conducted in 3
selected panchayaths of Thrissur district.
The research endeavour identified 80 indigenous practices and 20
indigenous beliefs related to rice cultivation of Thrissur district. The identified
practices and beliefs were documented and described along with its scientific
rationale.
The phase II revealed significant variation in knowledge score of rice
farmers in indigenous practices. It varied from 4.6 to 90.9 per cent. Adoption index
too showed significant variation with a range of 1 to 92.5 per cent.
Statistical analysis reveal that 27.05 per cent of the variation In
knowledge of rice farmers about indigenous practices was influenced by six variables
namely fatalism-scientism, annual income, area under rice cultivation, main
occupation, personal-localite exposure and risk preference, while 43.46 per cent of
variation in adoption of indigenous practices of rice farmers was explained by their
age, main occupation, farming experience, personal-localite exposure, economic
motivation, social participation and risk preference. The indigenous practices were
perceived as sustainable by 100 per cent of the respondent categories whereas only
38.58 per cent of the respondent categories perceived them as efficient.
The knowledge in indigenous practices and their extent of adoption are
found to be medium in 50 per cent of the rice farmers. This implies that most of the
old farming traditions are being gradually lost by farmers. Hence a systematic and
organised effort to document these indigenous practices is an urgent need to improve
the efficiency and productivity of crop cultivation. This calls for a multi-disciplinary
approach to comprehend and analyse the identified folk wisdom to enhance its
potentiality and accelerate the pace of technological change.
630.71 / PRE/IN