Participatory technology intervention and its assessment through environmental scanning of high range home gardens in Idukki district: An action research

Abstract

The study on “Participatory technology intervention and its assessment through environmental scanning of high range home gardens in Idukki district: Action research” was conducted during 2017 to 2020 with the objectives to identify the crop dominance cum its technology gaps through environmental scanning of the high-range home garden systems and thereafter conduct action research for assessing the technology adoption through participatory technology intervention. Kerala is often consecrated as the 'Mecca of home gardens', owing to its rich species diversity, sustainability, ethnic values and as a means of livelihood. It contributes to the food, nutritional, economic needs and biodiversity security of the state fulfilling the different pillars of socio-economic and environmental stability in almost 70 lakhs home gardens in the state. In this study, Idukki district was selected with the intention to identify the variability in the structure and cropping pattern of the home garden systems of the high range areas. The numerical and economical dominance of crops were worked out in different crop based high range home gardens on a seven-point continuum and the results revealed that banana, black pepper, cardamom and cabbage were the most dominant crops in the high range home gardens. However, there were 25 crops in banana-based, 22 crops in black pepper-based, 23 crops in cardamom based and 37 crops in vegetable-based home gardens. An exploration on the diversity profile of high range home gardens under four agro ecological unit of Idukki revealed that significant variability existed in the crop diversity in high range home gardens. The diversity for the four major crop based home gardens viz., ‘banana, black pepper, cardamom and vegetables’ based home garden was calculated using Shannon-Weiner index of diversity and the highest total mean diversity index (2.185) was recorded in banana-based home gardens whereas the lowest diversity index was noted in vegetable-based home gardens (1.034). On enumerating the crop wise diversity index for different crop based high range home garden system, maximum biodiversity was observed for spices (1.425, 1.548 and 1.274) respectively in banana based, black pepper based and cardamom based high range home gardens. However, in vegetables-based home gardens maximum biodiversity (1.252) was observed for vegetables. The lowest biodiversity index was recorded in forage crops (0.054) for banana based high range home gardens, medicinal plants (0.417) in pepper-based home gardens, tubers (0.282, 0.019) respectively in cardamom and vegetables based high range home gardens. On comparing the region wise diversity index, it was observed that the courtyard had maximum biodiversity (2.596, 2.455, 2.312 and 1.189) respectively in all the four dominant crop based high range home gardens. However, the diversity index for banana and vegetable based high range home gardens did not vary much for courtyard and mid-region biodiversity. The technology need assessment for top seven dominant crops was done and the results revealed that production technology was the most needed compared to protection and value addition technology in banana and vegetables based high range home gardens. However, in black pepper and cardamom based high range home gardens, protection technology was the most needed compared to production and value addition. On assessing the perception of farmers for the technology needs of different crops under the four attributes viz., technology not available; technology available but not applicable; technology available, applicable but not sustainable; and technology available, applicable but sustainable, it was noted that highest weighted mean score was observed for the attributes viz., technology not available and technology available but not applicable for both production and protection technologies. The practice wise technology needs studies also reconfirmed the above findings with maximum technology need reported for nutrient management (5.50, and 5.00) in the case of banana and vegetables-based home gardens respectively, whereas for black pepper-based home gardens, maximum technology need was reported for foot rot disease (5.30). In the case of cardamom-based home gardens, maximum technology need was reported for cardamom thrips (4.40). Maximum of three levels of vertical diversification was observed in banana itself in banana-based home gardens, whereas in black pepper based home gardens maximum diversification was noted for black pepper and turmeric with three levels of vertical diversification. In cardamom-based home gardens, maximum vertical diversification was recorded in cardamom with four levels of diversification whereas in vegetable based home garden maximum diversification was noted in cabbage, strawberry, potato and carrot with two levels of vertical diversification. The study on the extent of horizontal diversification revealed that about 40 per cent of the banana-based home gardens exhibited 5-tier horizontal diversifications. About 46.67 per cent of black pepper dominant home gardens showed 4-tier of horizontal diversification whereas cardamom based home gardens exhibited 3-tier diversification. In case of vegetable based home gardens, more than 50 per cent of the home gardens exhibited more than 6-tier of diversification. About 75 per cent of the home gardens were comprised under the category of 4, 5 or 6 tier horizontal diversification. Based upon the technology needs of the dominant crops in different cropbased home gardens, frontline demonstrations were conducted in four home gardens on production aspects of banana and cabbage, and protection aspects for black pepper and cardamom. The study clearly highlights that adoption of scientific approach in banana cultivation and correct use of technology in accordance to KAU POP will help the farmer to derive more profit (BC ratio2.06) through improved production and also will enable the farmers to learn the skill of judicious use of fertilizers and pesticides. The adoption of scientific plant protection operations in black pepper also aids the farmers to counteract the impact of foot rot disease. However, in cardamom, farmers practice was more effective and it may be due to the usage of new generation insecticides and the frequent application of pesticides. The lower efficacy exhibited by KAU practice may owe the factors viz., development of resistance to quinalphos and also due to longer application intervals. The adoption of KAU POP practices increased the yield in cabbage compared to farmer practices, but the yield / plot was highest in farmers field as compared to KAU practice that can be substantiated by the additional plant number maintained by the farmer due to the adoption of lower spacing. The crowdsourcing of knowledge was done in four stages for different crops like banana, black pepper, cardamom and cabbage dominant home garden systems. The results on the checklist monitored by the lead farmer through crowd sourcing and percentage adoption of production activities of banana revealed that 86.30 per cent of the farmers fully adopted the technology. The high adoption of almost all practices or activities can be attributed to the outcome of crowdsourcing knowledge through farmer participatory approaches. The crowd sourcing studies on management practices of foot rot disease of black pepper revealed that more than 70 per cent of the farmers fully adopted the technology. The drenching of potassium phosophonate 3ml per litre @ 5-10 litres per vine was the most adopted practice (93.33 %) in black pepper based high range home gardens of Idukki district. In case of management practices of thrips in cardamom, the results showed that 70 per cent of the farmers fully adopted the recommended practices. However, it was interesting to note that farmers used different type of new generation pesticides, despite of its higher cost for the management of thrips to get high returns for the produce. In vegetable-based home gardens, the study revealed that 71.11 per cent of the farmers fully adopted the recommended practices. It was also noted that among the nine prescribed cultural operations 100 per cent of the farmers practiced earthing up operations, and 86.67 per cent of the farmers fully adopted the techniques of split dose application of fertilizers in right quantity and spraying of Pseudomonas. A total of seven technological dimensions were identified as suitable for the high range home gardens. The economical (7.79), environmental (7.87) and psychological (7.80), dimensions were the most important ones perceived by the participating farmers whereas economical (7.27), psychological (7.45), and political (7.40) dimensions were the important dimensions as perceived by the non-participating farmers. In case of extension personnel’s, economical (7.18), environmental (7.14), and psychological (6.76) dimension were perceived as the most important ones. The results of the cluster analysis revealed that the different clustering of sub dimensions of different major dimensions invariably shows the interaction effect. The study on distribution of respondents based on the extent of adoption of recommended practices revealed that about 40 per cent of banana farmers showed higher adoption rate of recommended practices whereas 70 per cent farmers of black pepper showed medium level of adoption. About 77.67 per cent and 60 per cent of cardamom farmers and cabbage growing farmers exhibited medium level of adoption. The relationship between ten independent variables with the dependent variable extent of adoption was worked out for the four major crop based high range home garden systems. It was found that in case of banana growing farmers five out of ten independent variable were positively and significantly correlating with the extent of adoption, wherein innovativeness (0.598), irrigation potential (0.665) and economic motivation (0.707) were significant at 1 per cent level of significance and market orientation (0.431) and extension contact (0.369) was significant at 5 per cent level of significance. In case of black pepper growing farmers four out of the ten independent variables were positively and significantly correlating with the dependent variable, wherein market orientation (0.541), extension contact (0.464), irrigation potential (0.607) and economic motivation (0.825) were significant at 1 per cent level of significance. Among the cardamom growing farmers it was found that five independent variables were found to be positively and significantly correlated with the extent of adoption, where market orientation (0.817), extension contact (0.834), innovativeness (0.727), irrigation potential (0.617 and economic motivation (0.533) were significant at 1 per cent level of significance. In case of the vegetable growing farmers, it was found that five out of the ten independent variables were positively and significantly correlated with the extent of adoption, wherein land area (0.521), market orientation (0.659), extension contact (0.579) and economic motivation (0.704) were significant at 1 per cent level of significance and annual income (0.381) was significant at 5 per cent level of significance. This study on the gender roles in different crop-based high range home gardens revealed that in case of banana, black pepper, cardamom and vegetablebased home gardens men involved more in land preparation, planting, crop protection and harvesting operations and women were involved in weeding and value addition however in case of vegetable based home gardens women engaged in irrigation also. The constraints delineated were, unpredictable natural calamities related crop loss (365) followed by extortionate cost of inputs (352), inadequate knowledge on scientific crop production (347) and lack of extension services (337) in the decreasing order of importance. The major suggestions as perceived by extension personnel’s for refinement of home garden farmers were, development of package of practices in tune with the home garden system (94.16%) and follow up and assistance by extension agencies on the adoption of recommended scientific practices (92.50%), promotion of FIGs and FPO’S for post-harvest handling and marketing (96.00%) and inclusion of market clusters to increase profit and to reduce the risk (92.50%). To conclude, the study establishes different level of dominance and diversity profile and delineated the technology needs, technology adoption and different dimensions suited for high range home gardens. The extent of horizontal and vertical diversification, the extent of adoption of technologies through crowd sourcing and the relationship of independent variables with extent of adoption was determined. The gender roles, constraints and suggestions for promoting sustainable high range home gardens were delineated.