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Vol XI No. 2 July - December, 2010
1. Determinants of Household Food Security: The Case
of Mareko Woreda, Ethiopia, Zerihun Nigussie and Ayalneh Bogale
Abstract
Food
insecurity has begun to make a serious impact and has become a
prominent issue in the development debate recently. This study was
undertaken in Ethiopia to identify the socio-economic determinants
of food security. The data analyzed came mainly from a survey of 150
rural households in 5 different Kebeles of the Woreda, which were
selected based on probability proportional to size. The household
food security/insecurity status was measured by the direct
measurement of household food consumption in the 12 months study
period using the household food balance sheet model as reported from
household recall. Logistic regression model was applied to identify
the correlates of household food security in the study area. Land
holding, total cereal production, income obtained from safety-net,
number of oxen owned, off-farm and non-farm income, sex of household
head and livestock holding were found to affect household food
security positively; while adult equivalent household size and
quantity of chemical fertilizer applied were found to have negative
effect. Based on the findings of the study, short term and long term
interventions are recommended to alleviate the food insecurity
problem.
2. Urban Agriculture: A way forward to augment Food
and Nutritional Security in cities, G.R.Desai and N.Balasubramani
Abstract
The process
of urbanisation is fast spreading across different countries and
regions to which India is no exception. Migration to urban areas is
increasing to access the facilities and improved level of living.
This process has resulted in emergence of many issues such as demand
for food, employment, income generation, safe disposal of urban
waste etc. in urban areas. Since provision of food and nutritional
security of the population in urban areas is a top priority it is
felt necessary to introduce urban agriculture as a development
strategy to address the requirement partially. The present
study
examines the profile of urban population, the pattern of purchase
and consumption and level of satisfaction with two major commodities
like vegetables and milk. The study highlights the need to promote
urban agriculture as a development strategy.
3. Awareness and Adoption of Technologies by Women
Headed Households, K.Uma Rani and K.Sai Maheswari
Abstract
This study
examines the extent of participation of women heading the
households, in agriculture and livestock activities and their
awareness and adoption of related technologies. Results reveal that
around 50 per cent of the sample women were not aware of the
technologies. Some of the suggestions to improve awareness include,
organizing location specific training based on the crops grown in
the area; telecasting programmes to create awareness, choosing
fields belonging to women heading the households for demonstrations
and training under Farmers Field Schools to encourage their
participation, and delegating women extension functionaries for
providing extension advise and services to these women. Extension
programmes, need to give special emphasis on the needs and problems
of women heading the households and mainstream them into the
developmental programmes.
4. Determinants of Adoption of Soil and Water
Conservation Practices in Ethiopia Girmachew Siraw
Abstract
This study,
undertaken in the environs of Simen Mountain National Park of Amhara
state attempts to identify determinants and extent of adoption of
soil and water conservation technologies. Both qualitative and
quantitative methods were used in the study. Descriptive statistics
and a logistic model were employed to identify the factors, which
determine adoption of soil and water conservation practices. It is
evident from this study that socio economic and institutional
factors influence the level of investment households commit to soil
and water conservation. The result shows that the explanatory
variables viz., the number of years the household made farming as a
living, the total household labor and visit of the extension agent
are significantly related to adoption of soil and water conservation
practices by the farmers.
5. Perception of Farmers about Kisan Credit Card
Scheme, Karthika Venugopal , P.J. Boniface and R. Sendilkumar
Abstract
In order to
ensure a hassle-free system in dispensing credit to farmers, the
concept of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) was introduced in 1998 and
operated at the grass root level. This study was conducted with 60
KCC holders of Adat Farmer's Service Co-Operative Bank (AFSCB) in
Adat village of Thrissur district. Eighty seven percent of KCC
holders have agriculture as the mainstay of livelihood. Majority of
the respondents opined that the interest rate and present credit
limit of KCC was at a moderate level. Twothirds of the respondents
expressed that procedural formalities were moderate for getting KCC
and also to get credit in time. The Scheme was perceived as good by
a majority of respondents.
6. Factors Influencing Adoption of Sericultural
Technologies, S. Lakshmanan
Abstract
This study
examines factors influencing adoption of sericultural technologies
by farmer households in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district in
Karnataka. The results reveal that adoption of HYV of mulberry and
rearing of CSR hybrids were significantly influenced by cocoon
price, extension support and family labour. To increase adoption
level in the study villages in particular and in general in
Karnataka, the Department of Sericulture (DOS) has to encourage new
farmers through free supply of HYV mulberry cuttings and arrange
credit to construct rearing house and organize training for the
farmers to rear CSR silkworm races. In addition, DOS has to maintain
stable cocoon price to assure that sericulture is more profitable
and sustainable.
7. Constraints in Commercial Banana Cultivation,
K.G.Sangeetha and S. Mothilal Nehru
Abstract
Banana is
one of the important commercial tropical crops in India. This study
carried out in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, identifies and
analyzes constraints in commercial banana cultivation as perceived
by the growers, as a part of formulating an extension strategy for
improving commercial banana cultivation. The results reveal
production constraints including incidence of pests and diseases
followed by labour scarcity while economic constraints include high
cost of inputs, high labour charges, price fluctuation, inadequate
credit and marketing facilities, high transportation charges etc.
The study suggests that, most of the production and economic
constraints can be addressed by promoting group farming, farmers
consortium, decentralized planning and building market linkages to
make banana cultivation a profitable enterprise.
8. Technological gap among Vegetable Growers, R.S.
Suman
Abstract
This
research study was undertaken in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh
under ex-post facto research design. A sample of 600 vegetable
growers representing 20 villages of Kullu and Manali was drawn using
purposive random sampling technique. The results of the study
indicate that the technological gap was found high in seed
treatment, plant protection measures, water management, hoeing and
weeding, field preparation and manure and fertilizer application,
while, low technological gap was observed in recommended varieties
and harvesting. The overalltechnological gap of the respondents in
respect of vegetable production technology was found to be 35 per
cent. The independent variables viz. cropping intensity,
infrastructural experience, education, social participation, farm
size, nature of irrigation, socio-economic status, economic
motivation, innovativeness, knowledge about vegetable production
technology, attitude towards vegetable production technology, source
of information and extension participation were found statistically
significant and negatively correlated with technological gap,
whereas, age did not show any relationship with technological gap.
9. Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) in Fisheries,
B. Nightingale Devi, S.K. Mishra, Arpita Sharma, S.N.Ojha and N. A.
Pawar
Abstract
This paper
examines Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) relating to Fisheries,
being practiced in Manipur. The ITKs studied, include fishing
methods, fish aggregating devices, fish processing and storage, fish
health management, preservation of gears and nets, use of fish waste
as manure etc. The study suggests that this indigenous knowledge
could serve as an entry point to sustainable utilization and
management of natural resources, through the exploration and
integration of the knowledge into modern technologies. There is need
for a suitable linkage mechanism and for documentation and proper
utilization of ITKs.
10. Consumer’s Perception about Use of Recycled Water
for Urban Agriculture, Aman Preet Singh Brar and Balram Dogra
Abstract
Urban
agriculture could provide a complementary strategy to reduce urban
poverty, food insecurity and enhance urban environmental management.
Use of typical urban resources could include labour, organic waste
and urban waste water for irrigation. However before implementing
such a project, the view point of consumers needs to be considered.
This study carried out in urban Punjab attempts to understand
consumers’ perception about use of waste water for promoting urban
agriculture. The study reveals that over 80 per cent of the
respondents in urban areas are willing to use recycled water
provided quality of treated water is assured. In addition, proper
education of the consumers and transparency about quality of waste
water will lead to sure success of the project.
11. Conflict Management Behaviour of Agricultural
Officers, P.Venkata Rao and V.Gopalakrishna Rao
Abstract
This study
analyses Conflict Management Behaviour of agricultural officers. The
study revealed that coordination, empathy, decision-making ability,
job experience and attitude towards the organization were
significantly related with Conflict Management Behaviour. The
perception of work load and span of control were negatively related
with Conflict Management Behaviour. All the variables taken for the
study together explained a significant about 62.04 per cent of
variation in Conflict Management Behaviour. The authors suggest that
training programmes reed to be organized on conflict managment while
encouraging participatory decision making and planning.
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