|
|
Vol XII No. 1, January - June, 2011
1. Adoption of Improved Chickpea Production Package in East
Shoa, Ethiopia, Almaz Giziew, Ranjan S. Karippai, and Teklu Tesfaye
Abstract
Chickpea is one of the major pulse crops grown in Ethiopia. It plays
an important role in improving household income, nutrition and food
security. Despite its high production potential in Eastern Shoa in
general and the study districts in particular, chickpea growers did
not benefit from chickpea production. Low production, which is
mainly associated with non-adoption and unwillingness of farmers to
adopt the recommended chickpea production package were among the
major problems. The objective of this study was to identify factors
influencing adoption and intensity of adoption of chickpea
technology package in Ada'a and Akaki districts. Results of the
econometric (Tobit) model indicated hat sex of household head, land
holding, social participation, attitude towards chickpea technology
package and innovation proneness were found to have positive and
significant influence on adoption and intensity of adoption of
improved chickpea production package. On the other hand, experience
in chickpea cultivation had shown negative and significant
relationship with adoption and intensity of adoption of improved
chickpea production package. Female-headed households could not
adopt chickpea technology. This might be due to lack of access to
information sources. Accordingly, opportunities for equal access for
women farmers should be provided through provision of empowerment
intervention.
2. Cultivating the Underutilized: Non - Timber Forest
Produce in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia..........Asefa Teferi and Aklilu
Amsalu
Abstract
Production of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) by forest fringe
communities has invaluable importance, both from the perspective of
rural livelihood security and resource conservation. It ensures food
availability particularly during slack periods and provides cash
income when other income sources such as coffee are non-existent.
Despite the rich potential of Jimma zone for NTFPs, the community
has not benefited from the multiple functions of the natural
afromontane forest in the area. This study was conducted to assess
the state of production and utilization of NTFPs in the study area,
and to identify major production challenges and opportunities. The
analysis was made using both primary and secondary data. Descriptive
statistics were used to examine the association between different
groups and the degree of integration with NTFPs. The study found
that pest incidence, lack of inputs, shortage of land and limited
skilled personnel, absence of irrigation and the expansion of chat
were the major production constraints identified. It was also found
that the different wealth groups depend on NTFPs to varying degrees.
Hence, the study underscores the importance of strengthening
extension service, access to credit, control of wild animals,
promoting farmers' field school and creating forward and backward
linkages.
3. Technological Needs of Women in Dairying, K. Uma
Rani
Abstract
Women play an active role in tasks related to animal husbandry.
Rearing the milch cattle, poultry, goatery, sheep rearing are some
of the livestock enterprises in which women are actively involved to
supplement the income of their families. In many places the entire
management of the livestock, particularly in dairying, is done by
women alone. The present study examines the profile of the women
involved in dairying, their awareness about the recommended
practices and the technological needs expressed by them to improve
their information base. The study highlights the need for training
these women on certain critical dairy husbandry practices.
4. Farmers' perception on usefulness of ICT
initiatives in Agriculture, P.Gidda Reddy, P.Punna Rao, M.Mallika
and I.Aruna Sri
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the perception of farmers on the
usefulness of ICT initiatives for farming. Farmer beneficiaries of
ICT initiatives namely, aAQUA, e-choupal, V-Agri, V-Aqua, e-Sagu and
Farmers Call Centre (FCC) covering Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and
Andhra Pradesh were interviewed. The results of the study revealed
that the initiatives were moderately useful for farmers for
obtaining agriculture and related information for their farms.
Though, the queries of farmers were addressed as required, the
expectations of the farmers are high and hence the utility and
performance of the ICT initiatives need to be improved.
5. Veterinary Services suitable for Privatization in
Sheep and Goat Farming, M.Srinivasa Reddy and B. Sudhakar Rao
Abstract
Privatization of veterinary services is considered as one of the
strategies to improve the quality of the services and decrease the
burden on scarce public resources. This paper attempts to identify
the veterinary services suitable for privatization, in the areas of
sheep and goat farming in Andhra Pradesh. The study concludes that
veterinary services, which have economic importance need to be
identified and methodologies evolved for their adoption by the
farmers.
6. Promoting Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: a
Framework for Managing Multi, Institute Consortia.....Sreenath
Dixit, B. Venkateswarlu and A.P. Srivastava
Abstract
Watershed development approach has been followed for over three
decades to address the complex and diverse development needs of
rainfed areas. The challenges of development in these areas demand
multi disciplinary and multi institutional approaches. The coming
together of institutions having strengths in different areas of
watershed development, community mobilization and institutional
development as a consortium to implement what are called watershed
plus or sustainable rural livelihoods projects is a recent
phenomenon. It has become more of a necessity as a result of
increasing complexity of development. This paper traces the
evolution of the consortium concept over time, discusses project
implementation and institutional frameworks and documents the first
hand experiences emanating from out of one such multi disciplinary
multiinstitute consortium. Besides, it attempts to deduce the
learnings accrued as a result of implementing a large project aimed
at improving the livelihoods of the rural poor by a consortium of
private, public, and nongovernment organizations.
7. Marketing Scenario of Fruits and Vegetables in
Kerala, G.S. Sreekala, P.G. Sadan Kumar and S.Nirmala Devi
Abstract
The vegetable and fruit marketing system in Kerala involves a long
chain of intermediaries taking exorbitant margins resulting in low
farmer's share in consumer's price. The involvement of
intermediaries results in multiple handling, loss of quality,
malpractices in weighment, handling, payments etc. Vegetable and
fruit cultivation in Kerala is predominantly undertaken by small,
marginal farmers and landless agricultural workers who lease the
land. In order to sustain the interest of vegetable and fruit
growers and motivate them for enhancing production, it is necessary
to ensure that they get a reasonable price. A marketing channel
which ensures a good and reasonable price to the producers as well
as consumers with least number of intermediaries has to be
identified. Due to interventions by public sector organizations,
vegetable and fruit marketing in Kerala has improved the farmers'
share of consumers price. This paper reviews the role of public
sector organisations, their interventions in vegetable and fruit
marketing in Kerala, strengths and weaknesses.
8. Rice Farming Systems in Backward Regions:
Socio-economic assessment and sustainable livelihood analysis, Shaik
N. Meera, S. Arun Kumar, P. Muthuraman, K.Chiranjeevi, V. Rajendar
Reddy, and Mangal Sain
Abstract
Evolving a methodology for livelihood mapping at micro level in the
vulnerability context helps in preparation of suitable strategies
and policy interventions. It is also important to assess different
factors associated with and influencing the livelihood options of
the weaker and vulnerable sections of the farming community like the
scheduled caste/ scheduled tribe (SC/ST) farmers. The present study
investigated the livelihoods of SC/ST target population in Kothakota,
Wanaparthy and Pebbaire mandals (blocks) of Mahaboobnagar district
which is identified as one of the backward regions by the Government
of India. This is expected to immensely help in defining the
technological interventions and other developmental efforts. For the
first time, an effort is made to develop a strong base so that
improving the livelihoods could be addressed in a more scientific
way rather than focusing on isolated efforts. The study found that
sustainable livelihoods was at the medium level which can be
attributed to high social capital and social networks even though
human, physical, natural and financial capitals were not
encouraging.
9. Awareness and Adoption of Improved Sericulture
Technologies, N.Sakthivel, P. Kumaresan, R. Balakrishna, and B.Mohan
Abstract
The paper attempts to analyze the awareness and adoption pattern of
sericultural practices by the farmers of Thirunelveli and
Virudunagar districts in Southern Tamil Nadu. The adoption rate was
good for plant spacing, weed management, irrigation and leaf/shoot
harvesting with respect to mulberry cultivation technology. In case
of silkworm rearing, the adoption rate was very good with simple
technologies such as bed spacing, shoot rearing, ventilation,
moulting care, harvesting of cocoon, transportation of cocoon etc.
On the other hand, the rate of adoption was less or partial with
respect to application of fertilizers, rearing silkworm in separate
rearing house, disinfection of rearing house and appliances,
maintenance of rearing hygiene and integrated pest management
practices. The correlation analysis showed that extension contact
and training programmes played an important role in educating the
farmers to adopt improved technologies.
10. Factors Affecting Skill of Teachers in the
Agricultural University, K.T. Lahariya and N.R. Koshti
Abstract
Skill in teaching is the manifestation of the knowledge of a subject
and the communication ability of a teacher. The skills possessed by
a teacher are of utmost importance in transmitting knowledge to the
students. Keeping this in view, the objectives of this study are to
assess the skill possessed by teachers to impart instruction in the
Agricultural University; and find out the relationship between
selected socio-personal and psychological characteristics and skill
of teachers.
|
|
