MSc

The present study entitled “Constraint analysis of farming on house terrace and distribution of grow bags” conducted in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation was carried out to identify the constraints in farming on house terraces and in the distribution of grow bags, to study the consumption pattern of vegetables by the urban families and to assess the knowledge and training need of respondents in farming on house terraces. The study was conducted in seven wards of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation namely Poojappura, Pettah, Manacaud, Kumarapuram, Karamana, Industrial Estate and Enchakkal. One hundred and five members of urban households involved in farming on house terrace, fifteen extension officials and thirty office bearers of selected residents associations of the selected wards were the respondents of the study. A well structured questionnaire and interview schedule was used to collect data regarding farming on house terrace from the respondents. Four dependent variables and thirteen independent variables were studied and analyzed with the help of statistical tools such as average, frequency, percentage, quartile deviation and correlation.
Regarding the constraints perceived by the respondents on farming on house terrace, ‘crop loss due to pests and diseases attack’ was perceived as the major constraint and ‘low quality grow bags and potting mixture issued by the private agencies’ was the major constraint in the distribution and usage of grow bags as perceived by the respondents and office bearers of residents associations of each wards. ‘Lack of timely availability of fund’ was the major constraint in the farming on house terrace and growbag distribution as perceived by the extension officials.
The consumption pattern of vegetables by the respondents revealed that majority (65.71%) of the respondents belonged to the medium category in consumption pattern of vegetables and had a positive and significant correlation with variables like age, education, area of house terrace, extent of micro irrigation, health consciousness, extension agency contact and relative advantage.
Majority (61.9%) of the respondents belonged to the medium category in the knowledge of respondents on vegetable cultivation and had a positive and significant correlation with variables like age, education, farming experience on house terrace, health consciousness, extension agency contact, self-reliance and relative advantage.
In the case of knowledge on farming on house terrace, majority (74.29%) of the respondents belonged to the medium category and had a positive and significant correlation with variables like age, education, experience in farming on house terrace, extent of micro irrigation, health consciousness, extension agency contact, self-reliance and relative advantage.
Regarding the training need of respondents on farming house terrace, ‘Plant protection’ was the most preferred subject for training by the respondents.
It was found that majority (47.62%) of the respondents belonged to the middle aged category and 43.81% are degree holders. Majority of respondents belonged to medium category in family labour utilization (64.76%), area of house terrace (52.38%), health consciousness (83.81%), extent of micro irrigation (66.66%), leisure time availability (83.81%), availability of inputs and infrastructural facilities (53.33%), extension agency contact (52.38%), market perception (60.95%), self-reliance (53.33%) and relative advantage (61.9%). Majority of the respondents belonged to lower category in experience in farming on house terrace (65.71%).
Considering the perception of extension officials towards farming on house terrace, majority (46.67%) of the respondents had medium level of perception towards farming on house terrace.
Thus the study revealed that majority of the respondents belonged to the medium category in the case of consumption pattern of vegetables, knowledge on vegetable cultivation and knowledge on farming on house terrace. ‘Plant protection’ was the most preferred subject for training by the respondents. ‘Crop loss due to pests and diseases attack’ and ‘low quality grow bags and potting mixture’ were the major constraints as perceived by the respondents and office bearers of residents associations whereas ‘lack of timely availability of fund’ was the major constraint as perceived by the extension officials. Timely availability of fund and proper extension activities can tackle the constraints to a great extend.