PhD Thesis
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Item Technology dissemination of KVK through FLDs : a multidimensional analysis(Department of Agricultural Extension Education, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2026-01-05) Chippy Xavier; Jayalekshmi GThe study investigated the acceptance and perceived efficacy of agricultural technologies disseminated by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). Its core aims were to evaluate farmer acceptance and effectiveness of these technologies across Kerala's Agro Ecological Zones (AEZs), determine their contribution to food security and climate resilience, and formulate improved dissemination strategies. The study encompassed all 19 Agro Ecological Units (AEUs) in Kerala. A multi-stakeholder sample of 387 respondents was assembled through random selection, comprising 230 farmers, 115 extension personnel, and 42 KVK scientists. To quantify adoption, a Technology Acceptance Index (TAI) was constructed, grounded in the innovation-decision process viz., knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation and confirmation. Each component was studied using a set of indicators. Analysis of the knowledge component across the 19 AEUs revealed considerable disparity, with index values spanning from 0.338 to 0.693. This range signifies that the level of understanding and awareness of agricultural technologies among farmers varies significantly, from poor to very good, depending on their geographic and ecological zone. The overall average knowledge index for all AEUs combined was found to be 0.490, indicating a moderate level of agricultural knowledge across the entire study region. Statistical analysis confirmed that the differences in knowledge levels between these 19 units were not due to chance, with a statistically significant gap (p < 0.05) separating them. AEU-6 emerged as the top performing unit with the highest mean knowledge index (0.693), while AEU-20 registered the lowest (0.338). The persuasion index of all the AEUs ranged from 0.318 to 0.603, indicating a variation from low to high persuasion index of the AEUs. The aggregate mean persuasion index across all AEUs was calculated at 0.531, indicating a moderate overall level of persuasive capacity. Critically, statistical analysis found no significant difference (p > 0.05) in these scores across the AEUs, despite AEU-15 registering the highest index (0.603) and AEU-4 the lowest (0.318). The decision component was measured using eight indicators. The decision index among the AEUs exhibited considerable variation, ranging from 0.348 to 0.680, which reflects a spectrum of decision-making capacities from low to high across the units. The mean decision index value of 0.50 signifies a moderate overall level of decisiveness among AEUs. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the AEUs, suggesting that the decision-making ability was not uniform across the units, with AEU-15 attaining the highest index (0.680) and AEU-21 the lowest (0.348). The implementation index across the AEUs showed notable variability, ranging from 0.239 to 0.591, indicating differences in their operational and execution capacities from low to high levels. The overall mean index of 0.441 suggests a moderate degree of implementation efficiency among the AEUs, implying that while some units demonstrated relatively effective execution of activities, others performed at a comparatively lower level. Statistical analysis revealed that these variations were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Among the AEUs, AEU-7 recorded the highest implementation index (0.591), reflecting stronger operational coordination, while AEU-23 had the lowest (0.239). The confirmation index across the AEUs displayed noticeable variability, ranging from 0.318 to 0.693, indicating a wide spectrum of confirmation capacities from low to high among the units. The overall mean index value of 0.485 denotes a moderate level of confirmation behavior across AEUs. Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) among the AEUs highlights that these disparities stem from variations in performance and behavioral attributes. Specifically, AEU-6, with the highest index (0.693), reflected a stronger commitment to reinforcing adoption through feedback, farmer interaction, and continued technical support, whereas AEU-14, with the lowest index (0.318), indicated gaps in post-adoption communication, monitoring and resource support. Technology acceptance refers to the degree to which farmers are willing to adopt and effectively use new agricultural technologies, based on their knowledge, perceived benefits, ease of use, and existing conditions. The TAI represents the mean total of components of the innovation decision process viz. knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation and confirmation. The TAI of the FLD farmers in the AEUs ranged from 0.279 to 0.611, indicating a significant variation of low to high technology acceptance. The mean TAI across all AEUs was 0.476, which indicated a moderate level of overall technology acceptance. The results revealed noticeable variation in the TAI among the AEUs, indicating differing levels of responsiveness and receptivity towards demonstrated technologies. Out of the total AEUs, eight (2, 7, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, and 20) registered technology acceptance levels below the overall mean, whereas eleven (1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, and 23) showed higher-than-average acceptance. The overall pattern highlights that while a majority of AEUs demonstrated relatively positive acceptance behavior, a substantial segment still exhibited lower engagement with the demonstrated technologies. This mixed response points to structural, managerial, and contextual differences influencing the acceptance process across AEUs. To find if there was significant difference between the AEUs, ANOVA test was carried out. The significant difference (p < 0.05) in the TAI across various AEUs can be attributed to disparities in institutional efficiency, resource availability, and socio- economic as well as environmental conditions influencing farmers’ decision-making behavior. Variations in access to extension services, quality of demonstrations, and frequency of technical interactions play a crucial role in shaping farmers’ perceptions and trust toward demonstrated technologies. With a mean TAI of 0.476 and a standard deviation of 0.089, the data indicate that the average respondent exhibits a moderate level of technology acceptance, with scores clustered moderately around the mean. The range, from a minimum of 0.279 to a maximum of 0.611, confirms that the spectrum of adoption propensity spans from pronounced reluctance to robust acceptance. Effectiveness of KVK demonstrated technologies was gauged across five dimensions: efficiency, productivity, quality, profit and sustainability. The analysis of the data reveals that the overall mean total score (71.24) across all AEUs indicates a moderate to high level of performance in terms of efficiency, productivity, quality, profit, and sustainability. Among these parameters, efficiency (mean = 14.37) and profit (mean = 14.35) scored slightly higher than sustainability (mean = 13.98). At the AEU level there is meaningful heterogeneity in impact of demonstrated technologies on food security and climate resilience. Several units (e.g., AEU-13 with 66.7% high) show markedly higher proportions of respondents reporting positive outcomes, while others (e.g., AEU-10 and AEU-14 with 58.33% low) register low impact. These local differences imply that the effectiveness of demonstration programs is context-sensitive: some AEUs are achieving increasingly tangible and measurable outcomes, whereas others are not translating demonstrations into perceived improvements in food security and climate resilience. The reported mean total of 87.93 and standard deviation (SD) of 7.36 provide valuable quantitative insight into the overall impact of demonstrated technologies on food security and climate resilience. The result signifies a generally favorable reception of demonstrated technologies among farmers. Therefore, the aggregate mean underscores the potential of KVK led interventions to generate measurable improvements in agricultural performance at the community level. The data confirms a significant and sustained extension effort across Kerala, with a cumulative total of 603 FLDs conducted from 2019 to 2021. This substantial number underscores the KVK network's pivotal role as a primary channel for on farm technology validation. The total FLDs per KVK range from 32 (Palakkad) to 54 (Thrissur), indicating varying levels of operational intensity. Across the three-year period, the highest total farmer participation was recorded in Kozhikode (393), Palakkad (390), Thrissur (383), Kasargod (367), and Alappuzha (367). These figures indicate that these KVKs have demonstrated strong field-level engagement and effective implementation of FLDs, possibly due to the presence of diverse cropping systems and favorable institutional support. In contrast, Ernakulam (178), Idukki (188), and Kannur (211) recorded comparatively lower cumulative participation, which may be attributed to smaller geographic areas, specific cropping patterns, logistical and infrastructural constraints. Overall, a majority of the respondents recognized KVK dissemination methods as effective, suggesting satisfactory outreach, relevance, and adaptability of KVK-led technology transfer efforts across AEUs. At the disaggregated level, AEUs 7, 4, 10, 13, and 21 recorded relatively higher proportions of respondents reporting high effectiveness (ranging from 58% to 67%). These zones likely represent areas where KVKs have implemented participatory and contextually adaptive dissemination strategies—such as demonstrations and field days, aligning with local farming systems and constraints. Conversely, AEUs 1, 6, and 12 displayed comparatively higher proportions of respondents in the low effectiveness category (over 55% in some cases), suggesting possible limitations in method suitability, communication reach, or farmer engagement in these ecological contexts. Understanding adoption behavior helps identify the determinants influencing farmers’ decisions, including socio-economic status, risk perception, resource availability, institutional support, and environmental suitability. Out of a total of 230 respondents, 114 (49.57%) exhibited low adoption behavior, while 116 (50.43%) showed high adoption behavior. This nearly equal distribution suggests a balanced pattern of technology adoption among farmers across the AEUs, indicating that while dissemination and exposure to innovations are relatively widespread, individual and contextual factors continue to influence the degree of technology uptake. A closer examination of the AEUs reveals that in zones such as AEU-4, AEU-12, AEU-14, AEU-18, AEU-21, and AEU-23, a relatively higher proportion of respondents demonstrated high adoption behavior (ranging between 53% and 58%). A systematic diagnosis of constraints is critical for enhancing the relevance and impact of KVK programs. Survey data revealed a stakeholder divergence in perceived barriers: farmers identified limited access to quality seeds/planting material and inadequate marketing as primary obstacles, while extension personnel emphasized farmer awareness gaps and funding shortfalls. Respondent-proposed solutions focused on financial support (subsidies, credit, insurance), awareness campaigns, capacity building, multi-stakeholder collaboration, adequate resource allocation, robust monitoring and evaluation, and improved digital knowledge management. In conclusion, this research achieved its objectives by developing the Technology Acceptance Index (TAI) to measure adoption, assessing technology effectiveness and impact on food security and climate resilience, identifying implementation constraints, and outlining dissemination strategies. The study further established the significant influence of farmer socio-psychological profiles on technology acceptance.Item Climate resilience of peri- urban agriculture in Kerala : a farming system based assessment(Department of Agricultural Extension Education, College of Agriculture ,Vellayani, 2024-02-12) Pooja Krishna, J; Jayalekshmi, GThe study entitled ‘Climate resilience of peri-urban agriculture in Kerala: A farming system-based assessment’ was conducted from 2019 to 2023 and focused on the climate resilience of peri-urban agriculture in Kerala. The primary objectives were developing the Climate Resilience Index (CRI) for the Agro- Ecological Units (AEUs) of Alappuzha, Palakkad, and Kannur districts, identifying the dimensions of roles played by various developmental departments/institutions in building climate resilience, exploring current impediments in implementation of climate change mitigation measures in agriculture and propose suggestions to overcome the same. The study was conducted in the peri-urban areas of 13 AEUs of Alappuzha, Palakkad, and Kannur districts. From peri-urban areas of each AEU, affected farmers were identified and listed in consultation with officials. From the prepared list, 30 farmers were selected at random. Also, from each district, 20 extension personnel were selected randomly. Thus, a total of 450 respondents comprising 390 farmers and 60 extension personnel were selected for the study. Climate resilience was expressed as the function of the three core dimensions- absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities. Each dimension was studied under five factors viz. physical, environmental/ecological, social, economic, and psychological factors. The absorptive capacity index has been constructed using 31 indicators, adaptive capacity index using 18 indicators, and transformative capacity index using 23 indicators. Thus, a total of 72 indicators were selected for the development of CRI. The procedure for calculating the CRI comprised four steps considering the assumed relationship to climate resilience, normalizing data for comparison, aggregating the indicators across each dimension, and computation of the index.Item Performance effectiveness of biodiversity management at gramapanchayats in Kerala(Department of Agricultural Extension Education, College of Agriculture , Vellayani, 2024-03-11) Rehma, A Victor.; 1. Anil Kumar, AThe study entitled ‘Performance effectiveness of biodiversity management at Grama Panchayats in Kerala’ was conducted from 2019 to 2023. The primary objectives were to study the performance effectiveness of Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) at Grama Panchayat level in Kerala, Socio- political dynamics in biodiversity management and perception of BMC members and other stakeholders on depletion of natural resources. Constraints experienced by the BMCs in implementing biodiversity conservation were also studied. Historical documentation of environmental movements for biodiversity conservation in Kerala was also undertaken. Based on the biodiversity richness and ecological sensitivity four blocks each were selected purposively from low lands of Kannur and Alappuzha districts, mid lands of Kollam and Malappuram districts and high ranges of Wayanad and Idukki districts of Kerala. Thus, a total number of 12 blocks were identified for the study. From each block 5 Panchayats were selected randomly. Therefore, a total number of 60 Panchayats were selected for the study. BMC members and other stakeholders comprised the respondent categories. From each Panchayat selected, 3 BMC members each were identified randomly. Hence, 15 BMC members were selected from each block. Thus 60 BMC members each were selected from low lands, mid lands and high ranges. Therefore, a total of 180 BMC members were selected from the 6 districts for the study purpose. In the other stakeholder respondent category, a minimum of 5 each were ensured from the traders, social activists, general public, farmers and officials of departments concerned with biodiversity. Twenty-five other stakeholders from the above categories were selected from each block. Thus 100 stakeholders each were selected from low lands, mid lands and high ranges. Therefore, a total of 300 other stakeholders were selected from the 6 districts for the study purpose. Thus, a total of 480 respondents comprising of BMC members and other stakeholders were selected for the study. The relationship between twelve independent variables with performance effectiveness of BMC Members was worked out and it was found that ten out of twelve independent variables were positively and significantly correlated. The variables that had positive and significant correlation were gender (0.312), education (0.278), environmental concern (0.388), self-confidence (0.343), leadership (0.210), perception of workload (0.225), decision making ability (0.351), political orientation (0.236), participation efficiency (0.518) and environmental awareness (0.271) at 1 per cent level of significance. Education (0.312), environmental concern (0.369), self-confidence (0.196), leadership (0.296), decision making ability (0.327), political orientation (0.200), participation efficiency (0.263) and environmental awareness (0.231) of BMC members had positive and significant correlation (1%) with their perception of depletion of natural resources. The major constraints experienced by the BMCs in implementing biodiversity conservation were lack of interest of members in BMC activities, PBR preparation was considered as one time task by many BMCs who do not take efforts to update the information, public are not aware of activities of BMC, PBR preparation its timely updation and development of an electronic database of PBR is an enormous task, BMC members them self were not aware of the activities to be carried out by BMC, training programmes was not properly designed for elected representatives and officials of local governments. The environmental movements for biodiversity conservation in Kerala were Silent Valley movement (1973), Save Chaliyar Movement (1974), Mullaperiyar Dam Movement (1979), Kallen Pokkudan Movement (1989), Movement against Endosulfan (2000), Plachimada Coca-Cola Movement (2000), Muthanga Adivasi Movement to Recover Land (2003), Thottapally anti-mining movement (2003), Panamaram Airport Movement (2013), Aranmula Greenfield Airport Movement (2014), Ayiravallipara environmental movement (2022) Suggestions that can be put forward for improving the performance effectiveness of BMCs includes, provide regular trainings and handholding support to BMC members, conduct awareness programs and campaigns to educate the community about the importance of biodiversity conservation and existence of an institutional mechanism for implementing the same, timely and systematic updation of PBR should be done. All the BMCs should take effort to complete e-PBR, undertake comprehensive biodiversity surveys and assessments to understand the local flora and fauna, develop a database to document the biodiversity in the area, including threatened and endangered species, regular evaluation of BMC performance and seeking feedback from community members, provision of incentives or recognition to individuals or groups that contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation efforts, ensuring that BMC activities are sustainable and continue beyond the tenure of individual committee members. BMC activities should be made mandatory and strictly followed up by Kerala State Biodiversity Board, BMC meetings should be conducted regularly and registers has to be maintained systematically and constitution of BMC should be strictly based on as per Kerala Biological Diversity Rules 2008, Section 22 Sub Section (4) and should not be based on any kind of nepotism, staff strength of KSBB at the district co-ordination level has to be increase for strictly monitoring the activities of BMCs at the district level.Item Effectiveness of geriatric horticulture therapy (GHT) among the inmates of care home : a case study based action research in Thiruv Anathapuram district(Department of Agricultural Extension Education, College of Agriculture ,Vellayani, 2024-03-13) Palaparthy Steffi.; Sreedaya, G SThe present study, entitled “Effectiveness of Geriatric Horticultural Therapy (GHT) among the inmates of the care home: A case study based action research in Thiruvananthapuram District,” was conducted with the objective of developing a protocol for geriatric horticultural therapy and studying its impact on the cognitive, psychological, physical, and social well-being of the inmates of the care home”. The study also identified the reasons for joining the care home and the constraints faced by the inmates during their stay at the care home. The study was conducted in pre-test and post-test experimental designs at the government care home in Pulayanarkotta, under the Department of Social Justice, Government of Kerala, in Thiruvananthapuram district. This was purposefully selected as the study required the constant physical presence of the researcher, and care home Pulayanarkotta was the only government old age home in Thiruvananthapuram district having facilities for initiating small gardens. Out of the total 158 inmates, 31 who had a history of severe psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, dementia, very significant visual or hearing impairment, major upper and lower limb motor difficulties (bedridden), and suffered from severe medical conditions were excluded from the study. A baseline survey was conducted for the remaining 127 inmates, and a sample of 60 inmates with the highest scores in the baseline survey was selected for this experimental study after obtaining their consent. Pre-intervention data was collected through interview schedules and other secondary sources of data obtained through staff support before and after the intervention. The effectiveness of GHT was measured in terms of the cognitive, psychological, physical, and social well-being of inmates in care homes. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being, the General Activities of Daily Living Scale (GADL), and the Social Well-Being Questionnaire by Jacqueline Radzyk were used to measure cognitive, psychological, physical, and social well-being, respectively. The statistical tools used were frequency, percentage analysis, mean, standard deviation, correlation coefficient, paired t-test, MANOVA, Chi-square, Z-test for proportion, regression analysis, and related samples Wilcoxon signed rank test. In the first phase of the study, a protocol for GHT was developed with a specific list of horticultural therapeutic activities potentially suitable for each observation under the selected 4 dimensions of wellbeing, namely cognitive, psychological, physical, and social well-being of the inmates of the care home. The protocol was developed after the judges' rating and in consultation with the experts of the department of physical health and rehabilitation at Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram and experts from various psychology departments of government colleges in Kerala. The relevancy index of each GHT activity was calculated, and a high relevancy index of activities indicated high content validity. Thus, GHT activities that had a relevancy index of more than 85 percent were selected for protocol development. In addition, those activities suggested by the judges were also included in the protocol. A total of 72 activities under four components were developed as a protocol. The Metabolic Equivalents (MET) score of each activity, which describes the intensity of each of the developed therapeutic activities of the protocol, was also included in the protocol. The activities were finalised in such a way that each of the sub-dimensions contained all three MET categories, namely low, medium, and high. In the second phase, a developed protocol was implemented among the inmates of the care home to assess the effectiveness of GHT on their cognitive, psychological, physical, and social well-being for 15 minutes per participant three times a week for sixteen weeks. Observations were taken before and after the intervention. The inmates were divided into six groups of ten each for easy implementation of the GHT. The results revealed that 46.67 percent of inmates were in the age category of 60–65 years, 65% were female, and the majority (81.67%) of them belonged to the Hindu religion. About 23.33 percent of the inmates had primary and higher secondary educational status, respectively; 51.67 percent were daily labourers; and the majority (88.33%) depended on care homes, i.e., didn’t have any financial support. The majority (86.67%) were widowed, 35% had a single child, and 85% belonged to nuclear families. About 46.67 percent of them joined care homes in less than one year, 61.67 percent had no visitors, and 70 percent of them consumed medicines continuously. The results of the paired t test indicated a significant difference between the cognitive components of inmates in care homes before and after the implementation of GHT. The cognitive components of behaviour were further divided into five components: attention, registration, recalling, orientation, and language. The result of the paired t test of these five subdimensions revealed a significant difference between the pre- and post-scores of the attention component. However, cognitive components such as registration, recalling, orientation, and language did not show any significant changes. Results also showed an association between gender, BP, and MMSE scores, with men having higher BP. There was also an association between gender, MMSE scores, and the presence of diabetes, indicating that more men had diabetes and lower MMSE scores. The results of gender-related variations in MMSE scores and Body Mass Index (BMI) categories showed no significant associations. College Thiruvananthapuram and experts from various psychology departments of government colleges in Kerala. The relevancy index of each GHT activity was calculated, and a high relevancy index of activities indicated high content validity. Thus, GHT activities that had a relevancy index of more than 85 percent were selected for protocol development. In addition, those activities suggested by the judges were also included in the protocol. A total of 72 activities under four components were developed as a protocol. The Metabolic Equivalents (MET) score of each activity, which describes the intensity of each of the developed therapeutic activities of the protocol, was also included in the protocol. The activities were finalised in such a way that each of the sub-dimensions contained all three MET categories, namely low, medium, and high. In the second phase, a developed protocol was implemented among the inmates of the care home to assess the effectiveness of GHT on their cognitive, psychological, physical, and social well-being for 15 minutes per participant three times a week for sixteen weeks. Observations were taken before and after the intervention. The inmates were divided into six groups of ten each for easy implementation of the GHT. Engaging in Geriatric Horticultural Therapy (GHT) offers multifaceted benefits. Activities like plant care and observation of leaves and flowers can enhance individuals' cognitive behaviour. Tending the garden, taking brisk walks, and nurturing plants can have a positive impact on psychological well-being. Participating in GHT activities like walking with roommates, sharing gardening experiences, and teamwork can contribute to improved social well-being. Horticultural therapy is a comprehensive approach that significantly improves the well-being and learning experiences of students. It fosters better concentration, academic performance, and environmental awareness. Additionally, GHT can help alleviate the financial and health-related burdens of stress associated with urbanisation, benefiting individuals and communities by enhancing overall wellbeing, promoting togetherness, reducing stress, and improving mental and physical health.Item Leadership dynamics of farmer in lead farmer centered extension advisory and delivery services (leads) in Kerala : critical analysis(Department of Agricultural Extension Education, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2024-06-03) Sreekanth, M S.; Bindu PodikunjuThe study entitled ‘Leadership dynamics of farmers in Lead Farmer Centered Extension Advisory and Delivery Services (LEADS) in Kerala: A critical analysis” was conducted with the primary objectives of developing a Leadership Competency Index (LCILEADS) for measuring the leadership competency of lead farmers and analyzing the contributing indicators of LCILEADS. Leadership competency development package was also developed for improving their leadership competencies. Eliciting and evaluating role expectation and role performance of lead farmers and satellite farmers was done. Constraint analysis on role performance was done and guidelines for effective leadership performance were also developed. Study also envisaged to find out the effectiveness of LEADS in Kerala for which a multi-dimensional scale was developed. The study was conducted in Kollam, Kannur, Palakkad and Wayanad districts. From each district, 30 lead farmers,30 satellite farmers and 30 practicing farmers were selected for the study, thereby constituting 90 farmers per district. Thus, a total of 360 respondents were selected for the study. To summarise, Kollam had the highest leadership competency index (6.60) and the least was found in Wayanad district (0.624). Psychological dimension was found to have the highest index value (0.705) and least index value was found in political dimension (0.550). The PCA results indicated that group cohesion, assertiveness, adoption of organic measures in farming and membership in organisations were the major contributing indicators of the LCILEADS. Effectiveness of LEADS programme was found to be high in Palakkad in all the respondent categories of lead, satellite and practicing farmers and lowest effectiveness was found in Wayanad in all respective categories. Among the dimensions’ technical efficiency was found to be the most significant. In case of perception, there was a no significant difference in perception of satellite farmers regarding the role expectation of lead farmers, but there was significant difference in perception of practicing farmers regarding the role expectation of satellite farmers. The LCDPLEADS developed as part of the study was found to effective in imparting knowledge and skill in all aspects, especially in case of good agricultural practices and soil sampling. The major constraints experienced in leads programme were technology repetition over the years and inadequate technology innovation fund. In conclusion, leadership competency stands as a linchpin for the sustainable advancement of agriculture. In a sector grappling with technological evolution, environmental challenges, and global market dynamics, effective leadership is imperative. Competent leaders drive innovation, foster collaboration, and navigate complexities inherent in modern agriculture.Item Technology assessment and refinement in coastal homegardens of Kerala: linkages with biodiversity and household livelihoods(Department of Agricultural Extension Education, College of Agriculture , Vellayani, 2024-01-15) Roshni Thampi; KAU; Allan Thomas; Joy, MThe study entitled “Technology assessment and refinement in coastal homegardens of Kerala: Linkages with biodiversity and household livelihood” conducted from 2019 to 2023 focused on the primary objectives to assess crop diversity, identify the dominance of crops, delineate technology needs, sorter dimensions of technologies and analyze the adoption and technology gaps through action research for sustainable coastal home garden systems. The study also examined the social anthropogenic variables of coastal home garden farmers and explored the linkages between biodiversity and household livelihoods in terms of perceptions and practices by farmers. Constraints in the coastal home garden farming system as perceived by farmers and extension personnel were also studied. The study was conducted in homegardens of three coastal Agro Ecological Units (AEU 1- Southern coastal plains, AEU 3- Onattukara Sandy Plains and AEU 4- Kuttanad) of southern Kerala. 35 farmer respondents were chosen from the home gardens of selected panchayats, comprising 15 participants and 20 non-participants who had at least 25 cents. The total numbers of respondents for the study were 165 comprising 105 coastal home garden farmers, 30 Agricultural Officers and 30 Scientists. Within the framework of Participatory Technology Assessment and Refinement, a collaborative effort was made to select appropriate technology for the primary crops within specific AEUs. This encompassed the evaluation of technology for bittergourd in AEU 1, chilli in AEU 3, and cowpea in AEU 4. Furthermore, Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) were conducted to showcase and validate KAU-proven technologies that were deemed suitable for these specific crops. The structural configuration in terms of dominance-biodiversity profile of crops in coastal home gardens of southern Kerala was studied under two aspects viz., numerical and economic dominance and the diversity profile of coastal homegardens in Kerala. The study revealed that in AEU 1, out of the 82 identified crops, the most dominant one was coconut (5.90) followed by bittergourd (5.81) whereas in AEU 3 a total of 78 crops were identified, of which the maximum dominance was noted with black pepper (5.65) followed by chilli (5.26). In AEU 4 a total of 85 crops were identified of which the maximum dominance was noted with cowpea (5.24). The study compared the mean diversity index across different AEUs and found that AEU 4 exhibited the highest diversity index at 1.547, followed by AEU 3 at 1.159, and AEU 1 at 1.058. When examining the crop-wise diversity profile of coastal AEUs, fruits had the highest diversity index at 0.998, followed by vegetables at 0.878, and spice crops at 0.850. Conversely, the lowest biodiversity index was recorded for tubers at 0.360 and ornamental plants at 0.357. In AEU 1, the maximum diversity index was observed for spices at 0.801, followed by vegetables at 0.770, and medicinal crops at 0.741, with tubers having the lowest diversity index at 0.350. In AEU 3 and AEU 4, the highest diversity index was noted for fruit crops at 1.181 and 1.164, respectively, while the lowest diversity index was recorded for medicinal plants at 0.225 and 0.226 respectively. One-way ANOVA analysis revealed no significant difference in crop diversity among selected AEUs, but there was a significant difference in crop-wise diversity for plantation crops, multipurpose trees, medicinal plants, tubers, and ornamental plants. In terms of region-wise biodiversity, the mid-regions had the highest diversity index at 1.433, while the courtyard of coastal home gardens had the lowest diversity at 1.117. The study on vertical diversification of crops in different coastal AEUs revealed that in AEU 1 maximum diversification was seen for banana with six levels of diversification whereas in AEU 3 maximum diversification was seen for banana and coconut with five levels of diversification. In AEU 4 the maximum diversification was seen for coconut and banana with four levels followed by cowpea and black pepper with two levels of diversification. The extent of horizontal diversification was also recorded and found that 40 % of the homegardens in AEU 1 had 5 tier diversification whereas in AEU 3, 60 % of the home gardens had 6 tier or more diversification. In case of AEU 4, 73.33% of the homegardens were having 6 and more tiers of diversification. The study revealed that a significant percentage (53.33%) of homegardens in all AEUs had six or more tiers of diversification. This study involved assessing the technology requirements for the top dominant crops in the selected AEUs. The study identified that in AEU 1, the maximum technology need was recorded with production practices of bittergourd (6.83), whereas in AEU 3, the highest technology need was noted with protection practices (leaf curl disease management) in chilli (6.67). In AEU 4, highest technology need was noted for production practices in cowpea (6.50). Based upon the technology needs of the dominant crops in different AEUs, FLDs were conducted in selected three homegardens on production aspects of bittergourd (AEU 1) and cowpea (AEU 4) and protection aspects for chilly (AEU 3). The FLD in all the AEUs of study clearly highlights that scientific approach in farming and correct use of technology in accordance to KAU POP will help the farmer to derive more profit through improved production. The B:C ratio for FLD studies on bittergourd cowpea was found to be higher (1.96 and 1.78) compared to farmers practices (1.37 and 1.42). Research showed that using scientific methods like KAU practices reduced leaf curl disease in chilli by 48.19%, emphasizing the importance of adopting these techniques. The study also examined how farmers adopted KAU practices. It was found that 77.14% of AEU 1 farmers had low adoption, while 74.29% of AEU 4 farmers had high adoption. In AEU 3, 51.43% had low adoption. The study also categorized farmers as innovators (0.95%), early adopters (16.19%), early majority (34.29%), late majority (32.38%), and laggards (16.19%). In the study, a reliable scale was developed to assess technology-related aspects in Kerala's coastal home gardens. The Single ANOVA tool helped choose indicators with a mean value below 4.49, resulting in 26 variables across 8 dimensions. For reliability, the odd-even split-half method was used, yielding a strong correlation of 0.846 for the half-test and 0.917 for the full test. Pearson's correlation coefficients also confirmed the scale's validity by exceeding 0.25 at a 0.05 significance level. The scale was administered to respondents and the results showed that participating farmers perceived economic dimensions (4.62), environmental dimensions (4.30), and psychological dimensions (4.31) as the most important. Non-participating farmers, on the other hand, considered economic dimensions (4.61), psychological dimensions (4.14), and human resource dimensions (4.12) to be significant. Extension personnel, in their evaluation, rated economic dimensions (4.28), human resource dimensions (4.04), and political dimensions (4.03) as the most important factors. Cluster analysis was done for different dimensions for different categories of respondents and it invariably shows interaction effects of different dimensions of technology. The analysis was done using Ward linkage with 26 indicators, representing 8 dimensions of technology in coastal homegardens. For participant farmers 3 clusters were identified. The first cluster comprised of 10 indicators viz., profit, sustainability, technical efficiency, interpersonal relationship, initial cost, bureaucratic support, perception of technology, coordination, supply chain and acquisition of information that showed strong association. The second cluster encompassed 12 indicators that demonstrated proficiency in areas such as credit access, effective decision-making, keen observability, viability, adept resource management, resource recycling capacity, reasonable price expectations, local resource utilization, ready availability, utilization of family labour, dependable delivery reliability, and skilled labour requirements. The third cluster, comprised of four dimensions, exhibited characteristics related to flexibility, strong social networking, effective budgeting abilities, and openness to utilizing open-source technology. Analysis of livelihood assets revealed that social assets scored the highest mean value (239.3) followed by human assets (227.3), physical assets (185.6), natural assets (172.3) and financial assets (176). ANOVA confirmed that there is significant difference between AEUs in case of all assets except human assets and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the strength and significance of the relationship between these variables. The results showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.311, p < 0.05) between total assets and biodiversity. This suggests that as the total assets of the communities increase, the level of biodiversity also tends to increase. The study delved into gender roles within various coastal home gardens, with a focus on dominant crops. In AEU 1, particularly in bittergourd cultivation, men were predominantly engaged in labour-intensive tasks like land preparation (54.29%) and drain preparation (85.71%). Women, conversely, played more active roles in activities such as weeding (51.43%), kitchen gardening (57.14%), and harvesting (51.43%). Both genders actively participated in operations like irrigation (62.86%), plant protection activities (57.14%), and post-harvest tasks (51.43%). In AEU 3, where chilli cultivation was highlighted, men took on tasks like drain preparation (62.86%) and fencing (74.29%), while women were prominently involved in sowing seeds (68.57%), planting seedlings (57.14%), plant protection (57.14%), kitchen gardening (54.29%), harvesting (74.29%), and post-harvest operations (62.86%). Both men and women contributed to activities like applying manure (62.86%) and fertilizers, as well as weeding (54.29%). In AEU 4, centered on cowpea cultivation, men primarily handled land preparation (60%). Interestingly, women took on most responsibilities related to cowpea cultivation including, applying manure (57.14%), sowing seeds (51.43%), planting seedlings (51.43%), applying fertilizer (57.14%), weeding (51.43%), kitchen gardening (57.14%), and harvesting (60%). Both genders were involved in applying irrigation (54.29%). A chi-square test assessed the significance of gender differences in home garden activities, revealing a strong association between gender and agricultural tasks. The calculated chi-square statistic was 192.78, surpassing the table value of 33.92 at a 0.05% significance level, affirming the substantial gender differences in home garden activities. The study identified a total of 22 constraints within coastal home gardens, which were rated by respondents. The most significant challenges reported by coastal home garden farmers were, lack of scientific knowledge (1031) followed by salinity issues (rated at 1010), flooding concerns (1008), ineffectiveness of plant protection methods at recommended dosages (rated at 969), insufficient knowledge about plant protection chemicals (960), the impact of climate change (948), and the absence of proper drainage systems (916), listed in descending order of importance. Key suggestions to improve coastal home gardens as perceived by farmers and extension personnel were, the creation of customized packages of practices tailored to the coastal home garden system, enhanced on-going support and guidance from extension agencies for the adoption of recommended scientific practices and the promotion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to enhance post-harvest handling and marketing Social anthropogenic variables of coastal home garden farmers like age, education, gender, occupation, economic motivation, extension contribution, irrigation potential, information source utilization, credit orientation, training need, market orientation and adoption were also studied. In essence, the research revealed a multifaceted profile of dominance and diversity within the coastal home garden community. Furthermore, it outlined specific technology requirements, adoption patterns, and dimensions conducive to the development of coastal home gardens. Additionally, the study delved into aspects related to livelihood assets, gender roles, constraints, and provided valuable suggestions to promote the sustainability of coastal home gardens in the Kerala region.