ATTITUDE OF VEGETABLE GROWERS OF HILLY AREAS TOWARDS EXTENSION SERVICES

J. RAWAL¹, M.A. ANSARI²*
¹Senior Research Fellow, Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER), Government of India, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India
²Professor, Department of Agriculture Communication, College of Agriculture, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, 263153, Uttarakhand, India
* Corresponding Author : aslam1405@gmail.com

Received : 02-04-2020     Accepted : 26-04-2020     Published : 30-04-2020
Volume : 12     Issue : 8       Pages : 9748 - 9752
Int J Agr Sci 12.8 (2020):9748-9752

Keywords : Attitude towards extension, Agriculture Extension system, Hill Agriculture, Vegetable growers, Farmer’s attitude towards extension
Academic Editor : Dr Prabhu Narayan Meena
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Department of Agriculture Communication, College of Agriculture, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, 263153, Uttarakhand, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

Agriculture extension plays a pivotal role in disseminating information about the latest agriculture technology for sustainable agriculture development. However, the attitude of the farmers towards extension services determines the extent to which the technology recommendations are adopted by farmers. The present study was undertaken in two hill districts of the state of Uttarakhand to determine the attitude of vegetable growers towards extension services and find out the factors which affect their attitude towards extension services. The study sample comprised 160 farmers selected randomly from four villages spread across two districts with the highest vegetable production in the state. The findings revealed that the majority of vegetable growers (61.25%) displayed an unfavourable attitude towards extension services. Further, vegetable growers’ age, gender, education, income level, farming experience, mass media exposure, information-seeking behaviour were found to be positively correlated whereas caste and gender were negatively correlated with their attitude towards extension services. The study findings will help policymakers and extension administrators to improve the efficiency of the present extension services delivery systems so that they can improve the technology adoption thereby enhancing vegetable production in the state.

1. Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) (2018-19) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India. 2018-29. Sector-wise contribution of GDP of India.
2. Rawal J. and Ansari M. A. (2019) Asian Journal of Agriculture Extension Economics and Sociology, 36(4), 1-10
3. Verma A.P., Ansari M.A., Ranjan R., Raghuvanshi R., Patel D. and Bhatt A. (2016) International Journal of Agriculture Sciences, 8(49), 2076-78
4. Sunetha S. and Ansari M.A. (2014) African Journal of Agriculture Research, 9(19),1454-1460
5. Aphunu A. and Otoikhian C.S.O. (2008) African Journal of General Agriculture, 4(3), 165-169.
6. Swanson B.E. (2009) Proceeding of the 19th European Seminar on Extension Education, (ESEE’ 09), 113-117.
7. Umali Deininger D. and Schwartz L.A. (1994) World Bank Discussion Papers, Washington, ISBN-10,0821328034, 82.
8. Hu R.Z., Yang P. K. and Huang J. (2009) China Econ. Rev., 20, 303-315.
9. Likert R. A. (1932) Mysore Journal of Agricultural Science, 46 (4), 868-873.
10. Qtaishat T. and Sharafat A.L. (2012) American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 7(3), 370-377.
11. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2009) Growing Vegetables for Home and Market. Rome.
12. Indian Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. May-June 2014.
13. Jantwal V. (2015) Master’s thesis, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand.
14. Chayal K. and Dhaka B.L. (2010) Indian Research Journal of Extension Education, 10(2), 109-112.
15. Singh J., Kalra R., Sharma A. and Sanatombi K.H. (2014) Agriculture Update, 9(3), 377-382.
16. Mittal S. & Mehar M. (2011) International Maize and Wheat improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Socioeconomics Working Paper, 10, 8-19.
17. Pant B. and Rathi A. (2012) International Journal of Agriculture Management and Development, 2(4),263-269.
18. Ram J., Jirli B., Singh M. and Sharada. (2010) Interaction, 28 (1), 49-55.
19. Rawal J. and Ansari M.A. (2019) Asian Journal of Agriculture Extension Economics and Sociology, 36(4), 1-10.
20. Adedeji O., Du H. and Opoku-Afari M. (2013) IMF Working Paper Wp/13/139
21. Rebecca A.A. (2012) American Journal of Social and Management Science, 3(3), 99-105.
22. Ansari M.A. and Jantwal V. (2019) The Anthropologist, 38(1-3),9-16
23. Oluwasusi J.O. (2014) Journal of Agriculture Extension and Rural Development, 6(7), 303-310.
24. Prabhakar I. and Ansari M.A. (2011) Journal of Communication studies, 29(2).