Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology
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Barriers to Adopting the State Crop Insurance Scheme: A Case of Banana Farmers in Wayanad
No full textAims: This study systematically identifies and prioritizes the major constraints affecting farmers’ adoption and effective use of the State Crop Insurance Scheme (SCIS).
Study Design: A descriptive survey design was employed.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted during 2024 in six Panchayats across Kalpetta and Mananthavady blocks of Wayanad District.
Methodology: A sample of 150 insured farmers who had incurred crop loss was interviewed. Six categories of constraints were ranked using Garrett’s Ranking Technique to assess their relative severity.
Results: Timeliness of claim disbursement emerged as the most critical constraint, followed by premium affordability and limited awareness of alternative insurance schemes. Accessibility to banking services, procedural requirements, and documentation issues were also reported but ranked lower in severity.
Conclusion: Delays in claim settlement and gaps in awareness significantly limit the effectiveness of SCIS. Strengthening extension services, simplifying claim procedures, ensuring timely disbursement, and improving institutional access can enhance farmers’ participation and contribute to more resilient and sustainable banana farming in disaster-prone regions
Post-Processing Constraints on Converting Calamansi Wastes into Marketable Products in the Philippines
No full textThis study aims to explore the Post-Processing of calamansi waste in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines, formerly a prominent calamansi-producing province. Calamansi waste management is crucial due to its potential for creating valuable marketable products. The research employs a mixed-method approach including surveys, focus group discussions, waste management assessments, key informant interviews, and secondary data analysis. These methods are used to analyze socio-demographic profiles, farming practices, and operational dynamics within the calamansi industry. Interviews with farmers, processors, and traders identify multiple constraints affecting efficient calamansi waste utilization. These include technical challenges, economic constraints, inadequate infrastructure, logistical difficulties, and regulatory issues. Despite these challenges, the study reveals significant potential to convert calamansi waste into valuable products. Key findings highlight substantial gaps in stakeholder knowledge about opportunities in calamansi waste utilization. The study emphasizes the critical need for innovation in Post-Processing equipment to enhance efficiency and profitability. Implications of the research include recommendations to raise awareness among industry stakeholders, foster technological advancements in waste processing, and strengthen the calamansi production value chain in the Philippines. Furthermore, the involvement of local governments in facilitating communication and support for these initiatives is essential, as they can help bridge the gap between community needs and market opportunities
Effectiveness of Digital Language Laboratory Intervention on Writing Skills of Undergraduate Students from Regional-Medium Schools
No full textAims: To study the effectiveness of the Digital Language laboratory intervention on the expressive skills, particularly writing skills, of undergraduate students from regional medium schools and to examine the learning outcomes
Study Design: Pre-intervention and post-intervention assessment study with a paired diagnostic test.
Place and Duration of the Study: This study involved 65 first-year agriculture and horticulture students from regional-medium schools, primarily from rural backgrounds and first-generation graduates. They were systematically and periodically trained in the language laboratory located at Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tiruchirappalli, after their class hours, utilising relevant software viz. Cambridge English in mind, Business vocabulary in use, Face2face, Learn to speak English – Lessons & workshops etc. Over a period of six months, all participants received the same pedagogical intervention.
Methodology: The pre-evaluation test was designed to measure both micro- and macro-writing skills. Micro skills included spelling, syntax, and word usage, whereas macro skills focused on purpose and audience awareness, cohesion, and coherent writing. For practical and structured assessment, these skills were categorised into five major areas: content knowledge, vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and mechanics of writing. The same methodology as practised for the pre-evaluation was adopted for the post-evaluation, to ensure consistency and accuracy. A Paired t-test was used to determine statistical significance of changes between pre and post-evaluation scores.
Results: Pre-evaluation revealed that 38-89% of students required improvement in all areas. The post-intervention results prove improvement, with an average drop of 68.2% in the "Needs Improvement" category. Complete elimination of deficiencies was achieved in Content Knowledge from 38% to 0%, and 89% to 0% in Mechanics & Convention (89% to 0%). Combined Fair and Good proficiency increased significantly from 31.4% to 97%. Grammar demonstrated extraordinary progress of 87% improvement, while Vocabulary and Sentence Structure showed substantial gains of 60% and 67%, respectively. Paired t-test analysis confirmed highly statistically significant differences between pre and post-evaluation scores (p < 0.001), validating the intervention\u27s effectiveness.
Conclusion: The structured intervention in the Digital Language Laboratory supported students from regional medium schools in developing their writing proficiency from foundational to intermediate levels. The intervention showed a remarkable impact in resolving fundamental writing difficulties, and continued instruction is recommended to achieve advanced mastery over the written competencies
Why Students Opt for Agriculture as a Discipline: Insights from Rajasthan, India
No full textAgriculture plays a vital role in food security, rural livelihoods, and economic development. Understanding why students choose agricultural education is crucial for shaping academic policies and workforce strategies. This study examines the key factors influencing undergraduate students in Rajasthan to pursue agriculture, focusing on career opportunities, financial expectations, self-interest, social influences, and external guidance. Despite the increasing demand for skilled agricultural professionals, research on students\u27 motivations for enrolling in agricultural programs remains limited. Existing studies often overlook specific reasons that attract students to this field. This study addresses this gap by providing empirical insights into students\u27 aspirations and expectations regarding agricultural education. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted in 2025 among 200 final year undergraduate agricultural students across various districts of Rajasthan. A random sampling technique ensured diverse representation. Data were collected on students\u27 backgrounds, motivations, and perceptions of agricultural education. A three-point Likert scale (Agree, Neutral, Disagree) was used to assess responses, and descriptive statistical methods, including percentages, mean scores, and ranking, were applied to analyse the data. Results indicate that better career scope (83.50 per cent), self-interest (79.00 per cent), and the desire to improve farmers\u27 livelihoods (79.00 per cent) are the primary motivators for choosing agriculture. Parental advice (63.50 per cent) and high earnings expectations (59.50 per cent) also play a significant role, while teacher’s guidance (54.00 per cent) and social status (52.00 per cent) have a moderate impact. Coaching’s influence (29.00 per cent) is the least significant factor. To support students, policymakers and educational institutions should enhance career counselling, expand skill development programs, and promote entrepreneurship in agriculture. Strengthening job opportunities, financial support mechanisms, and exposure to modern agricultural practices can encourage more students to pursue agriculture, ensuring a skilled workforce for the sector’s sustainable growth
Exploring the Familiarity, Interest and Attitudes of Senior High School Students towards Non-Ruminant Animals: A Descriptive Study
No full textExploring how the students’ perspective towards non-ruminants gives us valuable clues about the long-term sustainability of our farming communities. Acknowledging the agricultural sector\u27s economic significance and the challenges an aging farming population, the research aims to assess students\u27 perspectives on non-ruminants, like poultry and swine, as a potential area for youth engagement and career development. The subjects of this study were the 201 senior high school students from Sagay National High School and Floro T. Bongco Farm School in Northern Negros, Philippines. Using a descriptive-quantitative design, data were collected through a survey which was conducted on May 7-10, 2024.
When taken as a whole, results showed that students are moderately familiar with non-ruminants. Specifically, among the various species of ruminant animals, students were highly familiar with swine and chicken. On the other hand, when taken as a whole, students have a high interest in hands-on activities and career opportunities within agriculture, and a positive attitude toward animal welfare and the sector\u27s role in food security. Specifically, however, students were fairly interested in adopting and discovering innovations in raising non-ruminant animals, raising non-ruminants for self-sufficiency or consumption, gathering animal wastes, investing time, money, and effort for non-ruminant raising, attending seminars, and marketing. Finally, students generally consider non-ruminants as very important, and they should be provided with proper nutrition and ideal housing, monitored and protected from being subjected to research, and treated with the same level of compassion and respect.
These findings suggest that senior high school students were familiar with and interested in non-ruminant animal production. Their positive attitude towards this sector promises a potential for youth participation in agriculture and highlights the need for educational programs to foster this interest. These findings give inspiration for future enthusiasts of agriculture, specifically non-ruminant animal production. It is recommended to conduct similar studies on different types of schools such as those located in urban areas, in order to get the picture as whole on the scenario of the future workforce of the agriculture sector
Content Analysis of Malayalam Farm Magazine Kerala Karshakan
No full textThis study conducts a content analysis of Kerala Karshakan, a Malayalam agricultural magazine published by the Kerala government’s Farm Information Bureau, to evaluate its effectiveness in disseminating agricultural knowledge. Analyzing 798 articles from 36 issues (2021–2023), the research examines subject coverage, authorship, visual-text balance, and readability. Findings reveal "Success Stories" as the dominant category (14.03%), followed by "Agronomy" and "Dairy" (8.4% each), while "Apiculture" received minimal coverage (0.38%). Primary contributors include research centers/KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) and agricultural field staff (16.54% each), with a notable rise in non-institutional authors ("Other people," 13.15%). The magazine maintained a "very easy" readability level (Readability Index = 0.186), ensuring accessibility for diverse educational backgrounds. Visual-text composition fluctuated annually, with visuals peaking in 2022 (46.8%) and text dominating in 2023 (59.6%), suggesting evolving editorial strategies. The study highlights a shift toward sustainability (7.9%) and policy-oriented content (6.8%), aligning with global trends in agricultural communication, while niche topics like apiculture remained underrepresented. The readability analysis confirmed the magazine’s clarity, with simple sentence structures and minimal compound words enhancing comprehension. These findings underscore the magazine’s role in bridging research and practice but reveal inconsistencies in content balance and visual integration. The study suggests concrete ways to enhance farm publications by advocating for more varied content, thoughtful visual-text balance, and consistently simple writing to better connect with and educate farmers
Problems Faced by the Farmers Using Recommended Farming Technologies in Northern Char Areas of Bangladesh
No full textThe strategy for using machineries in farm land in different regions will be different depending on the conditions and resources of that region. The study was conducted on northern char farmers under Nilphamary and Kurigram District of Bangladesh. This paper was carried out to study the socio-economic profile of the northern char farmers’ and their problems faced during the use of recommended technology. Random sampling procedure was used to determine the sample size of 150. The data were analyzed by correlation analysis and rank order of PFI technique. Findings illustrated that majority of the respondents (75%) had moderate to low problem facing in that area regarding the use of technology. The findings of this study also indicated that among ten major problems against technology using ‘lack of legal support in case of using technology,’ was considered 1st ranked problem. ‘Lack of special support in any sort of adverse situation, ‘was 2nd ranked problem and ‘Lack of legal soil testing support to identify field problem for using machinery was 3rd ranked problem. Government support with proper monitoring team should be necessary for applying machineries in farmers field properly
Assessment of ICT Literacy and Usage among Undergraduates in Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar
No full textThe study investigated the accessibility and use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among undergraduates at Yezin Agricultural University (YAU) in Myanmar, focusing on their ICT literacy competencies. Utilizing a descriptive survey research design, the study employed stratified random sampling to select 239 students for data collection through structured questionnaires during the first semester of the 2024-2025 academic year, complemented by face-to-face interviews. Findings revealed that students owned an average of two ICT devices and spent over seven hours daily using them, with mobile devices being particularly prominent. Senior students demonstrated more frequent computer use compared to juniors, and over 90% had taken ICT-related courses. Websites were the primary source for information retrieval, while group discussions were preferred for communication. However, the study noted minimal use of multimedia resources and artificial intelligence (AI). Students exhibited competent basic skills in computers and smartphones, but their proficiency in software like Microsoft Office and audio/video editing was only medium, with significant gaps in Learning Management Systems (LMS) and AI technologies. Upper-semester students showed slightly better ICT skills than their lower-semester counterparts. The undergraduates in the YAU were found to have moderate ICT literacy skills (mean = 2.99). The study highlighted the need for enhanced training in multimedia and AI applications to equip students for contemporary digital challenges. It also found a significant correlation between the number of ICT tools used and skill level (r = 0.242, P < 0.01). The insights gained from the study can be applied to refine educational practices, including those related to learning, teaching, and administration, thus supporting the pursuit of quality education in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4)
Evaluation of Secondary Traits as Indicators of Drought Tolerance in Rice
No full textRice is susceptible to various abiotic stressors, including drought, heavy metals, salt, cold, and submergence. This research was conducted to evaluate the secondary traits of six rice varieties as indicators of drought tolerance. It was conducted from February 19 to July 6, 2024, in Paddaoan, Conner, Apayao, utilizing a factorial setup within a Randomized Complete Block Design composed of two water conditions (well-irrigated and water-stressed) applied to six varieties: PSB Rc10, NSIC Rc160, NSIC Rc506, NSIC Rc508, Mestizo 20, and Mestizo 73. This study focused on the identification of rice genotypes that are relatively higher yielding under drought condition as well as determination of the relationship between yield attributes and yield. Results showed that well-irrigated conditions significantly affected all parameters, with unstressed plants surpassing their stressed counterparts. Among the varieties, NSIC Rc160, NSIC Rc508, and Mestizo 73 shown exceptional performance in growth, fertility, and yield, especially under non-stress settings, with NSIC Rc160 achieving the highest metrics. In contrast, PSB Rc10 consistently exhibited the least favorable performance in both treatments, signifying inadequate drought adaption. Notable genotype-by-treatment interactions were recorded, underscoring varied varietal responses to drought. The research underscores the necessity of advancing drought-resistant cultivars for sustainable rice cultivation and advocates for the utilization of high-yielding genotypes in both irrigated and rainfed regions. Further study across many places and seasons is advised to validate these findings
Influence of Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) on Agricultural Career Choice among Students in Southwestern Nigerian Polytechnics
No full textThe transition from education to career is a critical phase for students, and practical training programs can play a significant role in shaping career choices. This study examines influence of Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) on agricultural career choice among students in Southwestern Nigerian polytechnics. Data were collected from respondents using structured questionnaires and the study explored students\u27 socioeconomic characteristics, areas of SIWES engagement, and influencing factors during SIWES towards students choosing agriculture as a career. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 325 respondents, and data were analyzed with descriptive (frequency count, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and inferential (factor analysis and analysis of variance) statistics at a 5% significance level. The mean age of respondents was 20.67 years, with females made up 53.8 percent of participants. Majority of the respondents were Christians (52.0%) and enrolled in Agricultural Technology (65.5%). Parental sponsorship was high (90.2%), but 69.8 percent received no incentives. Most (89.5%) of the respondents were willing to pursue a career in agriculture, with 56.0% interested in animal husbandry. The factors influencing students’ agricultural career choices during the SIWES programme showed that enterprise professionalism had the strongest impact, while employability status had the least. Principal Component Analysis revealed two major components accounting for over 78% of the variance, highlighting key influencers such as organizational ethics, entrepreneurial culture, and preference for outdoor work. The one-way ANOVA result (F = 4.297, p = 0.005) indicates a significant difference in factors influencing agricultural career choice among students across Southwestern Nigeria polytechnics. The study concluded that SIWES plays a critical role in shaping students\u27 agricultural career choices, especially when well-structured and relevant to students’ academic disciplines. The study recommends institutions should collaborate with professional agricultural organizations to enhance the quality of SIWES placements