opinion and utilization of mobile based agro-advisory services by farmers

93 Pages·2016·1.47 MB·English

OPINION AND UTILIZATION OF MOBILE BASED
AGRO-ADVISORY SERVICES BY FARMERS

Thesis

Submitted to the Punjab Agricultural University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE
in
EXTENSION EDUCATION
(Minor Subject: Agronomy)

By

Harmandeep Kaur Sidhu
(L-2014-A-31-M)

Department of Extension Education
College of Agriculture
©PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
LUDHIANA – 141 004
2016
CERTIFICATE – I
This is to certify that the thesis entitled, “Opinion and utilization of mobile based
agro-advisory services by farmers” submitted for the degree of Master of Science in the
subject of Extension Education (Minor subject: Agronomy) to the Punjab Agricultural
University, Ludhiana, is a bonafide research work carried out by Harmandeep Kaur Sidhu
(L-2014-A-31-M) under my supervision and that no part of this thesis has been submitted for
any other degree.
The assistance and help received during the course of investigation have been fully
acknowledged.

_____________________________
(Dr. Lavleesh Garg)
Major Advisor
Assistant Professor
Deptt. of Extension Education
Punjab Agricultural University
Ludhiana-141004 (India)
CERTIFICATE – II
This is to certify that the thesis entitled, “Opinion and utilization of mobile based
agro-advisory services by farmers” submitted by Harmandeep Kaur Sidhu (L-2014-A-31-
M) to the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of M.Sc. in the subject of Extension Education (Minor subject: Agronomy) has
been approved by the Student‟s Advisory Committee along with External Examiner after an oral
examination on the same.

___________________________ __________________________________
(Dr. Lavleesh Garg) (Dr. Rakesh Nanda)
Major Advisor External Examiner
Professor & Head
Division of Agricultural Extension
Education, Sher-e-Kashmir University of
Agricultural Sciences and Technology,
Main Campus Chatha, Jammu-181001

___________________________
(Dr. Jaswinder Singh Bhalla)
Head of the Department

___________________________
(Dr. (Mrs.) Neelam Grewal)
Dean, Post-Graduate Studies
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, I pay my obeisance to the Almighty God for having bestowed his
grace on me. The idea of this very work makes me amused in thanking to all those who helped
me in achieving this milestone of my academic pursuit. Although thanks convey modicum of
deep sense of gratitude from the core of heart yet there is no better way than to express it.
I would like to extend my profound regards and deep sense of gratitude to my Major
Advisor, Dr. Lavleesh Garg, Assistant Professor, Department of Extension Education for his
prudent guidance, encouragement and constructive suggestions all through the investigation
and preparation of this manuscript. His benign co-operation and perfection have not only left
an indelible impression in my mind but also has enlightened me spiritually. I am indebted to his
timely advice, noble counseling and for providing necessary facilities during my study. His
every cordial behavior has imprinted everlasting impression on my mind. It will not be an
exaggeration to say that without his sincere efforts, the culmination of present research work
was beyond imagination.
With an overwhelming and genuine sense of obligations, I avail this opportunity to
express my deepest indebtedness to Dr. Vipan Kumar Rampal , Deputy Director, KVK,
Fatehgarh Sahib, Dr. Amandeep Singh Brar, Assistant Agronomist, Department of
Agronomy and Dr. (Mrs.) Prabhjot Kaur Professor , Department Extension Education (Dean
PGS nominee) as my Advisory Committee who sustained his incessant and exhilarating
support , their affectionate behavior, sympathetic attitude, sagacious guidance and help during
the investigation. My thanks would be incomplete without Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Associate
Director, KVK, Noormehal, Dr. Balvir Kaur, Assistant Professor Horticulture, KVK,
Noormehal and Dr. A.K Chawla, State Manager , IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited, for
providing me help during my data collection.
I am highly indebted to my respected father Late S. Karnail Singh and mother Smt.
Rupinder Kaur, who persistently showered their silent blessing on me. I owe my affectionate
gratitude for the blessing of my bellowed parents who have also been main source of
inspiration and encouragement for dedicating my efforts at pace and without whose per
severance and affection, it would not have been possible for me to achieve this distant goal. I
wish to express my heartfelt thanks to my brother Jaspreet Singh, whose love always inspired
me to get this endeavourer success. The support provided by my uncle S. Kulwant Singh to
motivate me throughout my degree was also praise worthy so I am thankful to him. I convey
my respect and gratitude to all my other near and dears who could not be queued to find a
mention here.
No formal words could suffice the tender care, deep affection, ever willing help and
moral support given by my dear friends Jagmit, Harsimran, Savtinder, Amanpreet, Amandeep,
Anupam, Faizal, Priyanka, Shachi, and Jashmeen also provided their valuable time and
companionship.
Thanks are also due to my special friends Sukhmani, Dalbir, Navdeep, Parmveer,
Ginny, Navjot and Ph.D. students for their unending help and co-operation.
I sincerely thank all the respondents of the study who spared their precious time and
provided the required information during data collection.

Date:
Place: Ludhiana (Harmandeep Kaur Sidhu)
Title of the thesis : Opinion and utilization of mobile based agro-advisory
services by farmers
Name of the student and : Harmandeep Kaur Sidhu
admission no. (L-2014-A-31-M)
Major Subject : Extension Education
Minor Subject : Agronomy
Name and Designation of : Dr. Lavleesh Garg
Major Advisor Assistant Professor
Degree to be Awarded : M.Sc.
Year of Award of Degree : 2016
Total Pages in Thesis : 69 + Appendices (xii) + VITA
Name of the University : Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141 004,
Punjab, India

ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to determine the opinion and utilization of mobile based
agro-advisory services by farmers. Out of different service providers, two mobile based
agro-advisory service providers were selected i.e. IFFCO and KVK‟s of Punjab Agricultural
University, Ludhiana in Punjab. Sangrur district was selected under IFFCO and KVK
Jalandhar was selected from all the KVK‟s of Punjab purposively. List of the beneficiaries
who were getting these services was obtained from the respective organizations and 100
beneficiaries were selected randomly from each district as the respondents. The data was
collected from these respondents with the help of structured interview schedule. It was
observed that the 45.00 per cent of the farmer of KVK service provider and 52.00 per cent of
the IFFCO service provider belonged to the middle age category, majority were educated and
had small and medium land holdings respectively. The overall satisfaction regarding
agriculture information was medium i.e. 54.00 per cent and 61.00 per cent respondents of
KVK and IFFCO respectively. It was found that the overall satisfaction was high and medium
regarding weather based information in case of KVK service provider and IFFCO service
provider respectively. Most of the respondents of KVK service provider sometimes utilized
the information regarding spacing, sowing time, deficiency symptoms and disease attack.
Most of the respondents of IFFCO service provider regularly utilized the information
regarding irrigation timings and recommended varieties. The overall utilization of KVK
service provider was high i.e. 54.00 per cent and that of IFFCO service provider was medium
i.e. 64.00 per cent. Most of the farmers of KVK and IFFCO service provider suggested to
provide the daily weather information and more information on insect-pest attack, disease
symptoms and their solutions respectively.
Keywords: Mobile based agro-advisory services, opinion, utilization, suggestion.

______________________ _______________________
Signature of Major Advisor Signature of the Student
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER TITLE PAGE NO.
I INTRODUCTION 1 – 5
II REVIEW OF LITERATURE 6 – 17
III MATERIALS AND METHODS 18 – 23
IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 24 – 60
V SUMMARY 61 – 64
REFERENCES 65 – 69
APPENDICES i – xii
VITA
LIST OF TABLES
Table No. Title Page No.
4.1 Distribution of respondents according to their socio-personal 21-22
characteristics
4.2 Distribution of respondents of KVK and IFFCO service 31
providers according to various aspects of agro-advisory based
information
4.3 Distribution of respondents of KVK service providers 32
according to their satisfaction regarding agriculture based
information
4.4 Distribution of respondents of KVK service provider 33
according to overall satisfaction regarding agriculture based
information
4.5 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 34
according to their satisfaction regarding agriculture based
information
4.6 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 34
according to overall satisfaction regarding agriculture based
information
4.7 Distribution of respondents of KVK service provider 35
according to their satisfaction regarding weather based
information
4.8 Distribution of respondents of KVK service provider 35
according to their overall satisfaction regarding weather based
information
4.9 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 36
according to their satisfaction regarding weather based
information
4.10 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 36
according to their overall satisfaction regarding weather based
information
4.11 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 37
according to their satisfaction regarding animal husbandry
based information
4.12 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 37
according to their overall satisfaction regarding animal
husbandry based information
4.13 Distribution of respondents of KVK service provider 38
according to their satisfaction regarding other extension
activities information
4.14 Distribution of respondents of KVK service provider 39
according to their overall satisfaction regarding other
Table No. Title Page No.
extension activities based information
4.15 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 39
according to their satisfaction regarding extension activities
based information
4.16 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 40
according to their overall satisfaction regarding extension
activities based information
4.17 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 40
according to their satisfaction regarding general health based
information
4.18 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 41
according to their overall satisfaction regarding general health
based information
4.19 Distribution of respondents of KVK service providers 42
according to their utilization regarding agriculture based
information
4.20 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 43
according to their utilization regarding agriculture based
information
4.21 Distribution of respondents of KVK service provider 43
according to their utilization regarding weather based
information
4.22 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 44
according to their utilization regarding weather based
information
4.23 Distribution of respondents of KVK service providers 45
according to their utilization regarding trainings
4.24 Distribution of respondents of KVK service provider 46
according to their utilization regarding extension activities
information
4.25 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 46
according to their utilization regarding animal husbandry
based information
4.26 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 47
according to their utilization of extension activities based
information
4.27 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 48
according to their utilization regarding general health based
information
4.28 Distribution of respondents of KVK service provider 48
according to their overall utilization of services
Table No. Title Page No.
4.29 Association of utilization of information on agriculture by 49
KVK service provider with socio personal characteristics of
the respondents
4.30 Association of utilization of information on weather by KVK 50
service provider with socio personal characteristics of the
respondents
4.31 Association of utilization of information on extension 51
activities by KVK service provider with socio personal
characteristics of the respondents
4.32 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 51
according to their overall utilization of information
4.33 Association of utilization of information on agriculture by 52-53
IFFCO service provider with socio personal characteristics of
the respondents
4.34 Association of utilization of information on weather by IFFCO 53
service provider with socio personal characteristics of the
respondents
4.35 Association of utilization of information on animal husbandry 54
by IFFCO service provider with socio personal characteristics
of the respondents
4.36 Association of utilization of information on extension 55
activities by IFFCO service provider with socio personal
characteristics of the respondents
4.37 Association of utilization of information on general health by 56
IFFCO service provider with socio personal characteristics of
the respondents
4.38 Distribution of the respondents according to their reactions 57
towards the content provided by KVK service provider
4.39 Distribution of the respondents according to their reactions 58
towards the content provided by IFFCO service provider
4.40 Distribution of respondents of KVK service provider 59
according to their suggestions for improvement in mobile
based agro-advisory services
4.41 Distribution of respondents of IFFCO service provider 59
according to their suggestions for improvement in mobile
based agro advisory services