MSc

To assess the impact of various development programmes in promoting pepper production, a study was carried out in Cannanore, Payyannore and Tellichery sub-divisions of Cannanore district in Kerala. The impact was studied, by finding out the level of awareness, attitude towards the extent of adoption under the pepper development programmes. The relationship between and among the selected dependent and independent variables was studied. The constraints in the adoption of various recommended practices for increasing pepper production as perceived by the farmers were also identified.

The study revealed that there was significant difference in the level of awareness, attitude and extent of adoption among beneficiaries and non-benificiaries in the case of all the three selected pepper development programmes viz., pepper package programme, pepper rejuvenation programme and integrated programme for development of spices. It was also found that the beneficiaries had a higher level of awareness, attitude and extent of adoption in the case of pepper package programme when compared with other programmes.

The relationship of the three selected dependent variables viz., awareness, attitude and extent of adoption with the twelve independent variables was also studied in the case of both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of pepper package programme, pepper rejuvenation programme and integrated programme for development of spices.

Intercorrelation analysis of dependent variables viz., awareness, attitude and extent of adoption revealed that there was positive and significant relationship between each other in respect of both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries for all the three pepper development programmes.

Also, intercorrelation analysis of the selected twelve independent variables viz., age, education, farm size, indebtedness, risk orientation, innovativeness, economic motivation, scientific orientation, market orientation, export orientation and information source used, were also conducted in respect of both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries for all the three pepper development programmes.

Inadequate and untimely supply of inputs, destruction of vines due to quick and slow wilt diseases, high cost of plant protection equipment and fertilizers were the major constraints as perceived by the respondents in the descending order.