Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology
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Socio-Economic, Socio-Personal and Demographic Profiling of KVK-Based Vermicompost Training Participants: Evidence from Bihar, India
No full textVermicompost is essentially a varied blend of decomposed farm waste, food waste, and worm castings, organically produced using different species of earthworms. This nutrient-dense organic fertilizer is gaining significant attention amid climate change concerns and the push for organic farming. Agricultural experts are increasingly advising farmers to transition from synthetic fertilizers to organic manures, prompting the need for training programs on vermicomposting to educate farmers about this valuable practice. This research aimed to examine the socioeconomic, demographic, and socio-personal characteristics of farmers who participated in three recent vermicomposting training sessions organized by three Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in Bihar, India. This study adopted cross sectional survey design. The rationale behind this part of the project is to understand the various attributes of the training participants which could contribute in different ways to the adoption of vermicomposting. It also sought to reveal the status of those variables in relation to the adoption scenario amongst the current farming communities in those three districts. The study was carried out in three districts of Bihar—Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, and Madhubani—with a sample size of 150 farmers. Surveys were conducted in two blocks from each of these districts, selected purposefully. Data analysis was performed using statistical tools in SPSS to calculate the index for each individual farmer. A varied socio-demographic profile of the respondents was revealed who participated in the KVK-based vermicomposting training and it also provided a snapshot of the farming communities of the specific regions. This analysis concludes that the training sessions at three different KVKs attracted a diverse group of farm participants, characterized by varying demographic, socioeconomic, and socio-personal attributes. It is noteworthy that the majority of farmers who attended the vermicomposting training programs were small-scale and marginal farmers, with only a small percentage having high income levels. It is recommended to encourage stakeholder farmers to adopt this technology by providing training and support tailored to their socio-demographic profiles, as this could potentially increase the adoption rate among farmers
Social and Economic Consequences of Agriculture Crises: A Study of Farm Labour in Punjab, India
No full textThis study aims to comprehensively analyze the multifaceted socioeconomic challenges faced by agricultural laborers in Punjab, India, stemming from the capitalist agrarian practices introduced during the era of the Green Revolution. It delves into employment patterns, debt burdens, and household conditions to uncover the complex realities these laborers endure. Additionally, the study seeks to fill a significant research gap, as most economists emphasize the problems faced by land-owning farmers, often overlooking the substantial issues confronting agricultural laborers who constitute a large share of the total working population. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, this research combines primary data from a comprehensive multidimensional survey with a critical review of secondary literature. The findings from this approach reveal the profound socioeconomic vulnerabilities faced by these laborers. The majority is ensnared in severe debt, grapple with unemployment, and endure substandard living conditions, with many lacking access to basic necessities such as decent housing and sanitation facilities. Due to their limited access to institutional credit facilities, agricultural laborers are forced to seek credit from non-institutional sources at exorbitant interest rates. Shifting cropping patterns in favor of wheat-paddy crop rotation, seasonality of labor, and labor-saving techniques such as extensive mechanization of agriculture and the use of herbicides have resulted in shrinking employment opportunities, further aggravating their economic plight. In response, the study proposes policy recommendations including radical land reforms, strengthening the public distribution system, providing affordable loans, ensuring employment opportunities, and enhancing social welfare measures. Implementing these recommendations is crucial to addressing systemic issues and improving the socioeconomic conditions of agricultural laborers in Punjab
Profile Characteristics of Fertilizer Dealers in Kerala, India
No full textIn India, about 75 percent of the population is dependent directly or indirectly on the agricultural and allied sectors. Around 70 percent of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture development not only involves crop production but also, the development of its stakeholders viz., farmers, fertilizer dealers, extension workers, NGOs, etc. Effective transfer of technology from research to farmers through appropriate stakeholders is crucial for achieving desired results. Fertilizer dealers, as key stakeholders, play an essential role in ensuring farmers have access to essential agricultural inputs needed to enhance productivity on their farms. Several programs have been launched to enhance the capabilities of these agricultural advisors. One such initiative is the \u27Certificate Course on Integrated Nutrient Management for Fertilizer Dealers’. Consequently, this study was focused to study the profile characteristics of fertilizer dealers. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study with a sample of 300 respondents covering 7 districts of Kerala. From the analysis, it was found that majority of respondents were under medium profile characteristics. In light of these findings, it is advisable to implement refresher training during the off-peak season. This training will enhance dealers\u27 knowledge and skills, enabling them to provide more effective guidance and support to farmers
Analyzing Price Dynamics and Instability in the Soybean Market of Gautampura: A Decadal Analysis
No full textSoybean stands as a cornerstone of global agriculture, renowned for its versatility, economic value, and pivotal role in both food and feed industries. This study examined the decade-long trends in soybean price dynamics at the Gautampura market in Madhya Pradesh, India, from 2014 to 2023. The research aim to analyze the price trend and instability of soybean in the Gautampura using methods such as Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) and the Cuddy-Della Valle Instability Index (CDVI), the research reveals a gradual 0.672 per cent CAGR in soybean prices over the study period, punctuated by seasonal variations. Quarterly analyses further highlight varying growth rates, with Q4 consistently demonstrating the highest growth, likely driven by harvest cycles and market demand fluctuations. Despite this growth trend, the market exhibits significant price instability, underscored by a CDVI of 21.65, influenced by climatic factors, market dynamics, and policy changes. The forecasted prices indicate a steady upward trajectory from 2024 to 2025, aligning with historical data and suggesting potential opportunities amidst challenges in managing price volatility. This research provides valuable insights for stakeholders aiming to navigate the evolving soybean market dynamics effectively.
Highlights:
The CAGR for soybean prices was found to be 0.672 per cent over the study period. Quarterly analyses reveal varying growth rates across the year 2014 to 2023.
Its mainly focuses the instability and forecast pattern of Soybean in Gautampura, Madhya Pradesh
Perception of Educated Unemployed Rural Youth towards Entrepreneurial Activities for Self-employment
No full textFor establishing any enterprise, the perception of respondents towards various aspects regarding the entrepreneurial activities plays an important role to establish positive thoughts and approaches to be an entrepreneur. Therefore, perception study pays a significant role in this regard. In this study an attempt has been made to understand the perception of respondents regarding socio cultural environment, family support, fear to engage in entrepreneurship. The current study was carried in Khordha district of Odisha covering 2 blocks namely Banpur and Tangi, 16 villages were selected and a total of 120 respondent’s response were recorded based on a pre-tested interview schedule. The respondents were selected by proportionate random sampling method
Trend and Instability Analysis of Milk Prices in Major Markets of India
No full textThe growth rate of production and per capita availability of milk and growth rate, variability and convergence/divergence of retail prices of milk in the major consuming markets of India has been examined in this article using annual production and per capita availability of milk data for the period from 1980-81 to 2022-23 and deseasonalised monthly milk retail prices from 1975-76 to 2022-23 was utilized to study the growth rate, variability and convergence/divergence of retail prices of milk. The entire period was further divided into two sub-periods and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), Coefficient of Variation around the trend and Bandyopadhyay (1989) methodology were applied to examine the growth rate, variability, instability and convergence/divergence of milk retail prices. The study concluded that the production and per capita availability of milk was increasing continuously. The highest average milk retail price was recorded in Delhi market during TE2022. The growth rate of milk retail prices were increased in Delhi and Kolkata markets while in Mumbai and Chennai markets, it was reduced from sub-period I to sub-period II. The variability of milk retail prices were reduced from sub-period I to sub-period II in all the selected markets. The Mumbai market exhibited highest reduction in variability in milk retail prices while the Chennai market showed lowest reduction in retail price of milk from sub-period I to sub-period II. The positive and negative deviation trend lines were diverging during sub-period I while they were converging during sub-period II. This indicated that instability of milk retail price was reducing during sub-period II. The reduction of variability and instability in milk retail prices was caused by the increased production and per capita availability of milk, increased milk processing capacity and improvement in marketing infrastructure in the recent time
Constraint Analysis and Suggestion of Respondents Regarding Dairy Management Practices in Semi-Urban and Rural Areas
No full textIndia needs to increase milk production which can be possible by narrowing down the gap between the existing technology and their adoption. Ensuring domestic demand and enduring top most position in the world, India needs to produce 300-400 million tones of milk by 2050 (Vision 2050, 2015). The dairy is a business which provides the continuous source of income to the occupants and in case of landless person who are economically week, livestock farming is a better option. The research was based on a survey done in 2022-23 to analyzing constraint and suggestion of respondents regarding dairy management practices in semi-urban and rural areas of Fatehpur district in Uttar Pradesh. 15 respondents from each selected semi-urban and rural villages were randomly selected to constitute 120 samples (60 semi-urban + 60 rural). The perceived constraints have been studies under different aspects like: personal constraints, economical constraints, technological constraints and marketing constraints. The semi-urban respondents has perceived most serious type constraints viz., lack of poor economic condition of farmers, dysfunctional of animal insurance schemes, A.I. and BAIF centers are away from the village, lack of remunerative milk prices. Whereas rural respondents has perceived most serious type constraints viz., lack of interest of other family members, veterinary medicines are very costly for treatment of sick animals, A.I. and BAIF centers are away from the village, poor transportation also affects adversity in proper disposal of milk products. Suggestions as perceived by semi-urban respondents viz., ‘educational programmes regarding cattle breeds improvement for higher milk production should be initiated’ was ranked first whether in case of rural dairy farmers ‘government must provide marketing facilities at village level for selling the milk and milk products’ was ranked first
Determinants of Green Purchase Behaviour of Consumers in Ernakulam District, Kerala
No full textAims: The study aimed to identify the determinants of green purchase behaviour of consumers.
Methodology: Primary data were collected from the consumers (200) who use at least one green product with an eco-label in Ernakulam District. A purposive sampling was employed to select 100 consumers both from Kochi Corporation area and Mulanthuruthy panchayath of Ernakulam district of Kerala, during the month of august and september 2023. Secondary data were collected from websites, government reports, and publications.
Results: The factor analysis revealed that respondents in grama panchayat influenced by three factors like eco consumer insight, concern towards nature and green product value perspective. Whereas the factors like concern towards nature, government intervention, green product value perceptive and green promotion were acting as the major determinants of green purchase behaviour in the corporation area. The overall response of green consumers in Ernakulam district highlighted, three main factors that influence their purchase decision such as eco consumer insight, concern towards nature, and green product value perspective.
Conclusion: The marketers and policymakers need to consider the factors like eco consumer insight, concern towards nature, green product value perspective, green promotion for popularising and increasing the sale of green products
Differentiated Analysis of the Occupational Integration of Young Agricultural Bachelor Degree Holders in Agricultural Entrepreneurship: Case Study from the University of Abomey-Calavi in the Republic of Benin
No full textAt a time when agricultural entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as a crucial alternative to unemployment and underemployment, particularly in developing countries, it is becoming imperative to have baseline or reference information on entry into the agricultural entrepreneurship sector. This article gives an overview of the integration of 1,305 agricultural bachelor degree holders into agricultural entrepreneurship in Benin. These bachelors studied and graduated in the bachelor-master-doctorate program (labeled LMD program) of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Abomey-Calavi (FSA/UAC) between 2011 and 2020. Data related to the occupational integration of this target population were collected with the help of online surveys. These data were statistically analyzed using Excel v.2019 and STATA v.15. Results reveal an overall integration rate of 16.17%, with significant variations ranging from 6% to 27% from one year to the next. Gender disparities are also notable, with only 29.52% of target bachelors entering agricultural entrepreneurship as women
Awareness of Rural Customers about Different Green Banking Services in Punjab, India
No full textEnvironmental degradation has become the major concern nowadays being faced by mankind. The role of banks in energy saving and cutting emissions is well established in developed economies. Green banking is a vital step in this direction which enriches economic growth without compromising environmental health. Thus the present study was conducted to investigate the awareness regarding green banking services among rural customers. Two public banks (Punjab National Bank and State Bank of India) were selected randomly from five districts, i.e., Ludhiana, Mansa, Patiala, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur, of Punjab state, India. From each district fifty customers from each bank were selected as respondents. Thus, from each district a sample of 100 respondents was selected. Total sample size for the study was 500. Data was collected through the interview of the respondents. The results of the study revealed that overall awareness was highest for ATM (95%), followed by debit card (90%), mobile banking (76%), net banking (69%) and credit cards (61%). Respondents fully aware about ATM services namely balance inquiry, cash withdrawal, cash deposit, getting cash receipt. The findings indicated that respondents were partially aware about credit cards and services related to credit cards as well as regarding debit cards and related services. Thus, the study suggests that there is a need to create awareness among rural customers about different green banking services