Participatory group approach for sustainable development of agriculture in Kerala

Abstract

The study was aimed to analyse the participation efficiency and group efficiency of Government, Quasi-government and NGO sponsored farmers' groups of the State and to suggest a strategy for sustainable development of agriculture through participatory group approach. A sample of 250 farmers was selected at random from 50 farmers' groups from the five agro-climatic regions of the State . . Besides, one hundred extension personnel were selected as respondents of the study. The components and external factors of participation efficiency and group efficiency formed the variables of the study. The data were gathered by the use of interview schedule and questionnaire from farmers and extension personnel respectively. Statistical techniques such as Correlation, ANOVA, Principal components analysis and Step-wise multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the data. All the components of participation efficiency exhibited significant association with Participation Efficiency Index Value. Majority of the respondents fell in medium level of participation efficiency. Quasi-governmental groups and groups in Alappuzha district showed high level of participation efficiency. Communication behaviour, Sharing of responsibility and Competitive spirit were the components which influenced higher magnitude of variation in participation efficiency. The external factors such as Achievement motivation, Age, Cosmopoliteness, Risk orientation, Knowledge in farming, Innovation proneness, Economic motivation and Entrepreneurial behaviour explained 72 per cent variation in participation efficiency. All the components of group efficiency showed

significant association with Group Efficiency Index Value. Majority of the respondents were in medium level of group efficiency. Group efficiency was high in Quasi-governmental groups and groups in Kozhikode district. The components such as Productivity, Equity, Employment generation, Group cohesion and Sustained profit influenced higher magnitude of variation in group efficiency. The external factors such as Group action plan, Non-antagonistic goals, Incentives, Group size, Diversification of group activities and Effective supply of inputs explained 62 per cent of variation in group efficiency. Lack of co-ordination of different agencies, predominance of part-time farmers and inefficient monitoring mechanism were some of the constraints perceived as important. Extension personnel perceived that significant reduction in cost of cultivation is possible through group approach. Based on the results of the study, a strategy is suggested for the sustainable development of agriculture through participatory group approach.