Impact of operational research project on agricultural production

Abstract

With a view to assess the impact of operational research project In terms of difference In knowledge level attitude towards practices and adoption of recommended practices between project and shadow area, a study was conducted In operational research project on Integrated control of rice pests at Kuttanad. Independent variable3 viz., age, education, economic status, knowledge about operational research project, attitude towards operational research project and attitude towards scientific agriculture were included to study their relationship with dependent variables. Other factors considered In the study were farmers and staff's perception about the project, practices and problems. The study revealed that farmers of the project area had more knowledge about recommended practices, more favourable attitude towards chemical plant protection and higher level of adoption of recommended practices than the farmers of the shadow area. There was significant relationship between knowledge on combined recommended practices and adoption of combined recommended practices but there was no significant relationship between attitude towards chemical plant protection and adoption of chemical plant protection. Of the six independent variables age had no significant relationship with dependent variables viz., knowledge on combined recomended practices, attitude towards chemical plant protection and adoption of combined recommended practices. In the case of education and economic status expect for knowledge on combined recommended there were no significant relationships with other dependent variables. Other three independent variables viz., knowledge about operational research project, attitude towards operational research project end attitude towards scientific agriculture showed significant relationship with dependent variables. Majority of the farmers and staff of the project showed favourable perception about the project and the recommended practices. The important problems perceived by farmers were high cost of fertilizers, low price of paddy and lack of capital The problems identified by the staff in the transfer of technology were lack of co-ordination between Agricultural University and State Department of Agriculture, inadequate budget provision lack of sufficient staff.