PhD

The study on "Dynamics of Co-ordination for agricultural development in the
context of democratic decentralization" was conducted with the objective of
analyzing effective co-ordination among the agencies involved in agricultural
development in Thrissur district of Kerala. Expost facto research design was followed
to conduct the study. Stratified multi stage random sampling was used for selecting
agencies and respondents. 'Behaviourally Anchord Rating Scale (BARS)' method
developed by Campbell et at. (1973) was used for the construction of scale. The
respondents of the study comprised of 100 officers-in-charge/representatives of the
agencies involved in agricultural development. Interview schedule was used for both
the relevancy test and data collection.
Thirty subdimensions (behaviours) of effective co-ordination under four major
dimensions; structural, functional, technological and psychological and socio political
for agricultural development were anchored for measuring the level of co-ordination
and thereby identify factors and indicators and explore problems among the agencies
involved in agricultural development.
A multidimensional composite scale consisting of 60 items was constructed for
quantifying effective co-ordination for agricultural development and applied to the
selected sample. The scale was highly reliable and valid. Considerable percentage of
respondents at district panchayat level (37.50%), block panchayat level (38.78%),
grama panchayat level (36.84%) and at entire Thrissur district (34.00%) showed a
'medium' level of co-ordination performance in agricultural development activities.
The remaining 62.50 per cent, 6l.22 per cent, 63.16 per cent and 66.00 per cent
belonged to 'low' to 'high' category of co-ordination performance.
Out of thirty sub dimensions, eight namely; pattern of authority, co-ordination
committee, pattern of communication, clarity of objectives and programmes,
technology prioritization, empathy, motivation and .accommodation were extracted

through factor analysis at district panchayat level and in addition to the former, one
more 'interpersonal skills' from 'psycholoical and socio political dimension' was
screened at block panchayat level along with one more 'technical orientation' from
'functional dimension' was screened at grama panchayat level. These ten
sub dimensions were treated as essential factors of effective co-ordination for
agricultural development. Out of these ten factors) seven namely; pattern of authority,
co-ordination committee, clarity of objectives and programmes, technology
prioritization, empathy, motivation and accommodation were treated as indicators of
effective co-ordination due to the maximum variation explained by these
sub dimensions on level of co-ordination. Maximum extent of co-ordination
performance of respondents at district panchayat level (72.46%), block panchayat
level (67.51 %), grama panchayat level (65.57%) and entire Thrissur district (68.47%)
was in 'psychological and socio political dimension', whereas, maximum gaps viz;
43.66 per cent, 55.00 per cent, 50.78 per cent and 43.99 per cent respectively were in
'structural dimension'. Extent of overall co-ordination performance in the entire
dimensions was 60.76 per cent and gap was 39.74 per cent.
"Lack of proper interaction among the agencies involved in agricultural
development" was rated as the most important problem, while, "professional jealousy
of representatives limiting frequent communication with each other" was perceived as
the least important among problems related to effective co-ordination among the
agencies involved in agricultural development.
"Establishment of co-ordination committee at all levels involving the
representatives of all agencies involved in agricultural" development" was rated as the
most important suggestion, while, "fundamental restructuring of agency programmes
through collaborative projects/schemes" was perceived as the least important among
suggestions to strengthen effective co-ordination among the agencies involved in
agricultural development.

Among the participating agencies; 'Panchayat Department', 'Soil Conservation
Department', 'Co-operation Department', 'Kerala Agro-Industries Corporation',
'National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and 'South
Malabar Grarnin Bank' were 'very close' to effective co-ordination for agricultural
development, whereas, 'Irrigation Department', 'Kerala Forest Research Institute'
and 'The New India Assurance Company Limited' were 'far distant' from effective
co-ordination at district panchayat level.
At block panchayat level, 'Irrigation Department' and 'Department of Agriculture'
were 'very close' to effective co-ordination, whereas, 'Soil Conservation
Department', 'Animal Husbandry Department', 'Kudumbasree', 'Kerala State
Electricity Board' and 'State Bank of India' were 'far distant' from effective
co-ordination.
At grama panchayat level, 'Annual Husbandry Department' was 'very close',
whereas, 'Rural Development' was 'far distant' from effective co-ordination.
The study, it is believed, could bring out the subtle details of effective
co-ordination, which would provide deeper insight to the policy makers and top
management in this state and the country as well on how to strengthen co-ordination
among the agencies involved in agricultural development.
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