empirical paradigm for technological empowerment of

9 downloads 0 Views 217KB Size Report
Based on the findings technological empowerment of tribal women ... application of these technologies at the field ... The training module was designed and .... 42. IV. Post-harvest handling of potato. Grading and sorting of potato. 15. II.
Potato J. 35 (3 - 4): 147-154, 2008

EMPIRICAL PARADIGM FOR TECHNOLOGICAL EMPOWERMENT OF POTATO GROWING TRIBAL FARM WOMEN IN RURAL MEGHALAYA Uma Sah, Shantanu Kumar1, N.K. Pandey and S.K. Pandey2 ABSTRACT: The present study was carried out in East and West Khasi Hills district where the area and production of potato was the highest in Meghalaya. A total of 200 farm women were randomly sampled from 14 selected villages of the above two districts. In order to see the diffusion effect, if any, due to the training programme, half of the sample i.e. 100 women potato growers were further treated as experimental group and the other half was kept as control. Training need, knowledge level, symbolic adoption and attitude are the research variables in this study which were measured pre- and post-training. Findings revealed that there was considerable change/gain in the behavioural dimensions of tribal women farmers with training. These changes ranged from 13% in case of attitude to 41, 43 and 55% in the symbolic adoption level, retention of knowledge and the knowledge level, respectively. Findings further disclosed that 39% of the untrained women farmers reported gain in knowledge, 35% reported change in symbolic adoption and 15% change in attitude as a result of influence of trained farm women or in other words the diffusion effect of the training programme. Based on the findings technological empowerment of tribal women farmers has been enhanced.

INTRODUCTION Females in the tribal state of Meghalaya constitute about fifty percent of the total population. Moreover, women constitute about 42% of the total workforce of Meghalaya against the national figure of 32% (1). About 72% of the total female workers in the state are engaged in agriculture as cultivators and agricultural labourers, compared to 61% of total male workers. Forty-six percent of the total cultivators in Meghalaya state are women, while the corresponding national figure is only 32% (1). This difference could be attributed to the existing matrilineal and matriarchal social structure existing in the Khasi tribal community in Meghalaya. Empirically also, it has been reported by Kumar et al. (8) that the tribal women farmers of the state had maximum participation in potato production, harvesting and post-harvest handling and marketing of potato. They

further reported that in most of the decisions pertaining to potato production and utilization of production, and in having access and control over the production resources and benefits accrued, women farmers had a better edge over their male counterparts. Technological empowerment of agricultural women in the work force improves the capacity building on the aspects related to agricultural production technologies. Accomplishing this task by creating awareness among them, enhancing their level of knowledge and symbolic adoption about the technologies, inculcating favourable attitude towards the same and improving their operational skills regarding the correct application of these technologies at the field level are important issues. With particular reference to farm women in Meghalaya, similar observation was also reiterated by Desai and Mohiuddin (5).

Central Potato Research Station, Shillong, Meghalaya 793 009, India *Present Address: Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208 024, India 2 Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh, India E-mail: [email protected] 1

Sah et al.

This study was conducted to evolve an empirical paradigm for the technological empowerment of tribal women farmers of Meghalaya.

The training module was designed and implemented as per crop stages: pre-planting and full growth stage namely full branching, tuberization, tuber bulking and harvesting, with theoretical as well as on-hand practical sessions. Further, the training was supported with on-farm demonstrations of the potential technologies in order to reinforce the cognitive domain of the trainees.

MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out in purposively selected East and West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya where the area and production of potato were the highest among all the seven districts of the state. A total of 200 farm women were randomly sampled from 14 selected villages from the above two selected districts by utilizing multistage random sampling technique. Half of the sample i.e., 100 women potato growers were treated as experimental group and the other half was kept as control to analyze the diffusion effect due to the training programme. The research variables, training need, knowledge level, symbolic adoption and attitude were measured preand post-training.

Data pertaining to research variables were collected at pre- and post-training stages through well-structured pre-tested interview schedule, scales and test by personal interview method. A gap of 45 days after the completion of second phase of the training was kept to ascertain the retention of knowledge by the women farmers. Before-After with one control group research design (7) was utilized for data collection in the present study. The collected data were tabulated and subjected for the descriptive statistics as frequency, percentage and mean to draw meaningful conclusions.

Training need was assessed by subjecting the appropriate need statements related to potato production, protection and post-harvest handling and marketing to the three point response continuum of “strongly needed, needed and not needed” and accordingly the score of 2, 1, and 0, respectively. Symbolic adoption was measured as the women farmers’ degree of willingness to adopt the given technology (11). It was measured by devising the interview schedule on five point continuum of “Most likely to adopt to Not likely to adopt” for all the recommended potato production technologies. Knowledge level was measured using “Teachers’ made test”, as standardized by Linquist (10) and Cronback (4) and modified for the present study. Attitude was measured using summated rating technique (9). Diffusion effect was also measured (11) for the selected variables among the randomly selected equal number of untrained women farmers from the contiguous cluster of villages after a gap of 60 days of training.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Existing level of knowledge and symbolic adoption The data presented in (Table 1) reveal that farm women possessed 42 and 51% of overall knowledge and symbolic adoption level, respectively with regard to improved potato production practices and post-harvest handling. Further, pre-training knowledge was found to be the highest in post-harvest handling of potato (43%) followed by potato production (42%) and plant protection (about 40%). Among the seven important aspects related to improved potato practices (Table 2), it was observed that the sampled tribal farm women possessed least pre-training knowledge with regard to management of bacterial wilt/brown

148

Technological empowerment of tribal farm women in Meghalaya

adoption (Table 1). Further, with regard to seven major aspects, the symbolic adoption level was the highest with regard to seed management (55%) followed by management of late blight (54%) and balanced use of chemical fertilizers (52%). In the other areas like management of insect-pest (43%), improved planting method (42%) and management of bacterial wilt/brown rot (42%) farm women had relatively lower levels of symbolic adoption (Table 2).

rot (30%) and scientific potato planting (35%). The mean knowledge score with regard to management of late blight disease was found to be highest at 50% followed by potato seed management (47%) and improved post-harvest handling of potato (43%). Table 1. Existing knowledge and symbolic adoption level of women farmers for potato production and post-harvest handling. Aspects Potato production Potato protection Post-harvest handling Overall

Knowledge level (%)

Symbolic adoption level (%)

42 40 43 42

50 47 55 51

Training need of the women farmers a) Training needs related to potato agronomy: From Table 3 it could be observed that among all the five items relating to potato agronomy, training need was perceived to be the highest in scientific method of planting (57%), followed by balanced use of chemical fertilizer (54%) and land preparation (42%). Training need on items like soil testing for fertility status (22%) and application of FYM (23%) was perceived in a lower intensity.

Table 2. Existing knowledge and symbolic adoption level of women farmers for improved potato production practices. Areas

Seed management Planting method Balanced use of chemical fertilizers Management of late blight Management of brown rot Management of insect pest Post-harvest handling of potato

Knowledge level (%)

Symbolic adoption level (%)

47 35 45

55 42 52

50

54

30

42

39

43

43

55

The high training need with respect to scientific method of planting could be explained on the basis of prevailing method of potato planting in pits that are dug on raised beds, which is slightly labour intensive. Another characteristic feature of potato cultivation is the heavy use of farm yard manure (FYM) along with minimum use of chemical fertilizer, which also explains the high training need with respect to the item like balanced uses of chemical fertilizer along with a low need with respect to application of FYM.

The poor knowledge level of farm women with regard to management of bacterial wilt/ brown rot and also about scientific planting method could be attributed to the prevailing ‘nur-bun’ system of potato planting on raised beds that help to manage the incidence of brown rot.

b) Training needs related to plant protection measures: Among the four items studied, training need was perceived to be the highest in management and control of late blight (72%), followed by management of brown rot (63%). Training need index for item like chemical treatment of seed before planting

Pre-training overall symbolic adoption level of tribal women farmers regarding improved potato production and post-harvest handling practices was 50% of overall symbolic

149

Sah et al.

Training interventions were carried out at pre-planting (Last week of February) as well as full grown stage (first week of May) of crop. At the pre-planting stage, the training module included seed management, fertilizer management, land preparation, raising True Potato Seed (TPS) nursery and scientific method of potato planting. Similarly, at the full grown stage, farmers were exposed to topics including insect-pest management, late blight management, TPS transplanting and also the post-harvest handling of potato. Both theoretical and hands-on field experiences were given to the women farmers. The entire efforts were also supplemented with on-farm demonstrations.

was 44%. The training need was found to be the least in insect pest identification and control (Table 3). Severity of late blight disease in potato crop in the state could be the reason that management and control of late blight acquired the highest priority by respondents for training.

c) Training needs related to post harvest handling: Among the two post-harvest handling items i.e., grading and sorting and the storage of potatoes, training needs of the tribal women farmers was found to be higher for proper storage of potato (46%) than grading and sorting of potatoes (15%) (Table 3). Farmers’ dependency on indigenous storage methods explains the high need index for proper storage.

Impact of training on the behavioural dimensions of women trainees a) Overall impact of the training intervention: It was found that there was considerable change/gain in the behavioural dimensions of tribal women farmers. These changes varied from 13% change in attitude to 41, 43 and 55% in the symbolic adoption level, retention of knowledge and change in the knowledge level, respectively (Fig. 1 and Table 4). It could also be seen from the same table that the gain was more prominent in

Building farm women’s capacity on improved potato production and post-harvest practices through need based training interventions In order to build farm women’s capacity, 100 potato-growing tribal farm women were imparted training on the identified and prioritized training areas related to potato production and post harvest-handling.

Table 3. Training needs perception of sampled potato growing women farmers regarding improved potato production, protection and storage practices (n=200). Training need areas Potato agronomy Land preparation Scientific method of planting Soil testing for fertility Application of FYM Balanced use of chemical fertilizer Plant protection measures Chemical treatment of seed before planting Management and control of late blight Management and control of brown rot Insect pest identification and their management Post-harvest handling of potato Grading and sorting of potato Proper storage of potato

150

Training need index

Overall rank

42 57 22 23 54

III I IV V II

44 72 63 42

III I II IV

15 46

II I

Technological empowerment of tribal farm women in Meghalaya

attitude of participants towards agricultural innovation as a result of training was also reported by Umamahesha and Channegowda (13).

case of knowledge followed by symbolic adoption and attitude. A relatively lesser change in the attitude of the women could be explained on the basis that attitude is a relatively permanent in nature, it requires repeated and strong reinforcements for bringing out significant changes. As it was found that women farmers had the favourable attitude towards potato cultivation even without training, hence, the intervention did not bring more changes. Babu and Singh (3) reported the average gain in knowledge of about 20%, Ananthrama and Ramnathan (2) reported it to be 63%. Similarly, knowledge gained as a result of attending the training programme was found to be 89% as reported by Fulzele (6). Development of favourable

Similarly, a lesser change in symbolic adoption score could be explained on the base that the pre-training average symbolic adoption score of farm women with regard to improved potato production and post-harvest practices was found to be as high as 50%. However, maximum change in knowledge (55%) after training was recorded. Impact of training on changes in the behavioural dimensions of women farmers in the areas of potato production, potato protection and post-harvest handling are depicted as a Roadmap 1 (Fig. 3).

Table 4. Impact of training programme on the overall behavioural dimensions of the women farmers (n=100). Impact Indicators Gain in Knowledge Retention of knowledge Change in symbolic adoption Change in attitude

Stages of training

Mean score

Before After Before After Before After Before After

42 65 42 60 51 71 26 30

Mean difference (%) Change in mean 23

55

18

43

21

41

04

13

Fig. 1. Impact of the training on the various dimension of potato cultivation.

151

Sah et al.

b) Impact of training programme on behavioural aspects of tribal women farmers related to various aspects of scientific potato cultivation: As indicated in Table 5, it is clear that women farmers had maximum impact in the area of scientific method of potato planting in terms of gain in knowledge (80%) and change in symbolic adoption (70%). However, retention of knowledge was found comparable in planting method (45%) and seed management (40%). Similarly, in case of potato protection, maximum impact due to training was found in management of late blight, brown rot and insect-pest in that order on the identified behavioural dimensions. Trends of data in Table 5 further revealed that in the

different aspects of scientific potato cultivation in the broader area of potato production, protection and post-harvest handling, gain in knowledge (Range: 32-80%) and symbolic adoption level (Range: 18-70%) was maximum. However, retention of knowledge (Range: 3052%) and change of attitude (Range: 04-36%) occurred relatively to a lesser extent.

c) Diffusion effect of the training programme: Diffusion effect of training on untrained farm women was measured in terms of gain in knowledge, changes in attitude and symbolic adoption level relating to improved potato production and post-harvest handling practices (Fig. 2). It is evident from the Fig. 2 that 39% of the untrained women farmers

Table 5. Impact of trainings programme on different behavioural aspects of women farmers in each dimension of scientific potato cultivation. Aspects

Potato production Seed management Planting method Balanced use of chemical fertilizers Rounded Average Potato protection Management of late blight Management of brown rot Management of insect pest Rounded Average Post-harvest handling of potato Overall

Gain (%) in av. knowledge level

Retention of knowledge (%)

Change (%) av. symbolic adoption level

Change (%) in av. attitude level

60 80 60 65

40 45 39 41

56 70 54 60

22 36 17 25

67 32 45 48 53 55

50 30 40 40 51 42

40 38 18 30 32 40

09 06 04 06 09 13

Fig. 2. Diffusion effect of training on untrained farm women

152

Technological empowerment of tribal farm women in Meghalaya

reported gain of the knowledge, while change with respect to symbolic adoption and attitude was reported in 35 and 15%, respectively as a result of influence of trained farm women.

adoption score of the non-participating farmers of the same village as that of the trained counterpart. Similar findings were also reported by Sah (12).

Diffusion effect of training on the various behavioural dimensions of untrained tribal farm women was also ascertained. It was found that there was about 9% gain in the knowledge level of untrained women farmers (Fig. 2). Percent change in the level of symbolic adoption and the attitude of the untrained women farmers towards improved potato production and post-harvest handling practices was 20 and 8%, respectively due to the diffusion of the information from the trained women farmers. On similar line, Vashistha (14) also reported that training had some diffusion effect on the knowledge and

The reason for the above results could be the significance of interpersonal communication in the rural system and as a result even the sampled untrained farmers could learn many aspects of the improved potato production and post harvest handling practices from their trained fellow women farmers. Based on the findings, it could be concluded that the scientifically planned and executed need based experiential training programme could yield significant impact on the behavioural dimensions of trained as well

(60%) (30%) (32%)

Fig. 3. Empirical model for the technological empowerment of potato growing tribal farm women in Meghalaya

153

Sah et al.

as untrained women farmers. The empirical model emanated from the study is presented in Fig. 3.

4.

Cronback, L. J. 1960. Essentials of Psychological Testing. Harper & Brothers, New York, USA. 72 P.

5.

Desai, G.P. and A. Mohiuddin. 1992. Involving women in agriculture: Issues and strategies –A study across three states. Journal of Rural Development. 11: 637-51.

6.

Fulzele, R.M. 1986. Multidimensional Analysis of Training Programme of Krishi Vigyan Kendra. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis (NDRI), Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India.

7.

Kerlinger, Fred N. 1983. Foundation of Behavioural Research. Surjeet Publication, New Delhi, India. pp. 326-47.

8.

Kumar, Shantanu, U. Sah, V. K. Gupta, N. K. Pandey, S.K. Pandey and P.H. Singh. 2004. Technological Empowerment of Tribal Women Farmers. Technical Bulletin No. 65. Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India. pp: 3-5.

9.

Likert, R. 1932. A technique for the measurement of attitude. Archives Psychology 140: 42.

CONCLUSIONS The tribal women are the major work force in the potato production as well as post-harvest handling in the state of Meghalaya. Farm women in Meghalaya are the active work force engaged in farming rather than being simply farmer’s wives or housewives. Farm women had maximum need for training in the areas like scientific method of potato planting, management of late blight and proper storage of potato. The training module developed and utilized in this study showed discernible impact on the behavioural dimensions of women farmers. Not only this, the diffusion of knowledge was also encouraging.

10. Linquist, E. F. 1951. Educational Measurements, Part II. American Council of Education, Washington, USA. 61 p.

The empirical model was found to be effective in bringing out maximum changes in the behavioural dimensions of women farmers. Therefore, the devised model on technological empowerment could be further validated and used by the state extension/development functionaries for achieving better results in their similar development endeavours in this hilly and tribal state of Meghalaya.

11. Rogers, E. M. and F. W. Shoemakers. 1971. Communication of Innovation: A Cross-Cultural Approach. The Free Press, London, New York, USA. pp: 21-162. 12. Sah, U. 1996. Impact of scientific dairy farming training programme of KVK, NDRI, Karnal on farm women. M.Sc. Thesis, NDRI, Karnal. 13. Umamahesha, A.B. and M.B. Channegowda. 1988. Impact of peripatetic training on attitude of farmers. Indian J. Extension Education 24 : 43-49.

LITERATUTRE CITED 1.

2.

3.

Anonymous. 2002. Basic Statistics of NER. Evaluation and monitoring cell, Government of India, North-eastern council Secretariat, Shillong, Meghalaya, India. 42 p.

14. Vashistha, S.B. 1987. Farmers’ Training for Agricultural Development in India. Deep and Deep Publications, New Delhi, India.

Anantharam, M. and S. Ramanathan. 1990. Impact of training on tuber crops. Indian J. Extension Education 26 : 103-06.

MS Received: 16-07-2007

Babu, A.R. and R. P. Singh. 1986. Training young farmers towards manpower development in agriculture. Indian J. Extension Education 22: 48-53.

154