FARMING PRACTICES IN RURAL AREAS

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1 Indian J. Anim. Res., 46 (4) : , 2012 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE ccjournals.com / indianjournals.com nals.com MOTIVATIONAL TIONAL FACTORS AFFECTING ADOPTION OF IMPROVED DAIRY FARMING PRACTICES IN RURAL AREAS Khajan Singh, Ritu Chakravarty ty,, Y.S..S. Jadoun and Pragya Bhadauria Division of Dairy Extension, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal , India. Received: Accepted: ABSTRACT The simple realization that a situation demanding improvement in dairy farming is based on motivation of dairy farmers towards adoption of improved dairy farming practices. Motivational factors which were found to have non-significant correlation with extent of adoption were scienticism, security,, members of co-op societies and recognition motives of the milk producers. Economic motive has been conceptualized as characteristics of dairying as comprehended by a dairy farmer that it is a source of higher economic gain. It is a desire on his part to perceive to be able to get more than his investment. Affiliation motive reflects the desire for socialization or join professional groups to accept information or just for the fun it has. The practice of getting the cow serviced within days after calving had highest adoption index, followed by treatment of repeat breeders and sterile animals. The adoption of feeding colostrum to new born calves and feeding colostrum continuously up to 5th day of its birth had highest adoption index. The reason for higher adoption of many feeding practices is an indication of positive attitude towards dairying, and to earn more profit through multiplication of healthy offspring. High adoption index for balanced feeding of milking animals was due to practical experience gained by the farmers as a result of exposure to dairy development programmes. Adoption of health care e practices in the study area ea was low,, indicating poor attention of the respondents towards these practices. The level of adoption of dairy management practices like practicing clean milk production was adopted to a greater extent by the farmers in the selected area. Majority of the dairy farmers (47.5 per cent) in the selected area had fallen in medium adoption category.. Slightly less than fifty per cent (48.3%). had medium level of adoption of feeding practices. The lower farm size leads to lower herd size, to lower social participation, to lower extension contacts and to lower family education. Key words: Adoption, Motivation, Conceptualized, Economic aspect of dairying, Colostrum, Improved dairy farming practices. INTRODUCTION Dairying plays an important role for small, marginal, landless and agricultural labourers through providing employment and increasing milk production in the country (Acharya, 1992). Many researchers led the higher net return and employment potential of dairy farming, as compared to both mixed and arable farming. Numerous special programmes were started from time to time by the Governments to transfer the scientific knowledge to the end users but still some gap exists (Alexander, 1985). Researchers are also engaged in identifying the factors responsible for motivating farmers who are traditionally crop oriented to pursue dairy farming on scientific lines. Besides technological inputs, the attention is being focused on human element as an important input. Farmers in India, as elsewhere, form a distinct group of individuals with motives peculiar to their social and economic situations. The present study is one such effort in this direction. So, motivational factors which affect the adoption of improved dairy farming practices were studied. The adoption of improved dairy farming practices by the dairy farmers in the study area gives an indication about the changes which took place as a result of Integrated Rural Development Programme Focused on Dairying started by NDRI, Karnal in village Lalukheri of Distt.

2 Muzzaffarnagar (UP). The extent of adoption for the purpose of the present study was mean adoption score of 20 selected improved dairy farming innovations representing from broad aspects viz; breeding, feeding, health care and management. The results are discussed hereafter. Their actions like other human beings are also goal oriented. It is but natural that their motives influence their response to the developmental programmes. MATERIALS AND METHODS The main objective of study was to know the motivational factors and their contribution in adoption of improved dairy farming practices by different categories of dairy farmers in district Muzzafarnagar (U.P.). Random sampling was used for the study to draw a sample of 120 dairy farmers of the selected village Lalukheri adopted under IRDfocused on dairying project. The relevant and specific findings related to motivational factors affecting adoption of dairy practices by different categories of farmers such as small/ marginal, landless, SC and women of the village are presented as below. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The dictionary meaning of motivation is That within the individual, rather than without, which incite him to action. Any need idea, emotion, or organic state that prompts an action. Motivation is the will to do, and the will to do well. Motivation may be self directed, or, one may be motivated by others and by the environment, and one can motivate others as well. Motivation is the process of initiating a conscious and purposeful action. Goal-directed and need-satisfying behaviour is called motivation. Motivational factors affecting adoption Most of the rural development programmes could not bring the desired results due to lack of motivation. Motivation is necessary in extension programmes for mobilizing the dairy farmers/ villagers and extension workers etc. to achieve the desired results. Adoption of improved dairy farming practices does not usually spring from a single need. The dairy farmers had fairly persistent ideas about the kind of perceived feelings they had towards dairying. It is evident from a fairly symmetrical distribution of respondents around the means of the thirteen motives under investigation. The Table 1 Vol. 46, No. 4, revealed that cooperative credit societies, recognition, security and scientifics were non significant at 0.05 levels. In developing Agriculture economy, land is greatly valued by farmers. The results of the present investigation have shown a positive significant relationship between the land holding and extent of adoption of dairy practices. The less land holding size leads to lower herd size, to lower social participation, to lower extension contacts and to lower family education. It was positively correlated with economic motive, affiliation motive and achievement motive and negatively corelated with pleasure motive. The larger the farm size, more pleasure was sought from crop farming and less pleasure was derived from dairying. It was also observed that higher the farm size, higher would be the interest of the farmer in crop agriculture rather than animal agriculture. The non-significant correlation between pleasure motive and adoption indicated that common sense hedonistic theory does not necessarily lead to higher adoption of new dairy innovations. One out of four had low economic motive among landless milk producers indicating that economic conditions are one of the important considerations with them. Affiliation motive reflects the desire to socialization of join professional groups to accept information or just for the fun it has. Adoption of improved dairy farming practices. Based on the discussion with specialists four broad aspects of dairying interventions were identified viz., breeding, feeding, health care and management. TABLE 1: Correlation between extent of adoption and selected motivational factors. Variables r value Adoption of dairy innovations 0.19 x F.E.S x Land holding 0.43 xx Social participation 0.22 xx Extension contacts 0.21 xx Co-op. Credit 0.04 NS Recognition 0.12 NS Pleasure 0.16 x Economic 0.18 x Security 0.13 NS Scientifics 0.07 NS Affiliation 0.15 x Achievements 0.15 x NS= Non significant x = Significant at 0.05 level xx = Significant at 0.01 level.

3 378 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH TABLE 2: Adoption of improved dairy farming practices by dairy farmers. Innovations Categories of dairy farmers Breeding LL S/M Large SC Overall Practicing A.I in the animals at proper time of heat Service within days after calving Practicing P.D. between days after service / Treatment of repeat breeders and sterile animals Drying the animals 2 months before calving Feeding Feeding colostrum to new born calves Feeding colostrum continuously to new born calves up to 5 th day of its birth Feeding extra ration to new born calves Balanced feeding of milking animals Green fodder production round the year Health care Treatment of sick animals by Vet. Doctors Timely vaccination against the contagious diseases (HS;BQ;RP and FMD Practicing deworming in calves Isolation of diseased animals suffering from contagious disease Proper disposal of dead animals Management Maintaining cleanliness in animal herd/shed Castration of male calves at the age of years Practicing clean milk production Practicing full hand method of milking Practicing dehorning of calves at the age of 7-30 days Breeding The data in Table 2 shows that out of 5 dairy innovations studies under breeding aspects, the practice of getting the cow serviced within days after calving had highest adoption index, followed by treatment of repeat breeders and sterile animals. Adoption of artificial insemination in the animals at appropriate time of heat was at the third position. The other two practices practicing pregnancy diagnosis between days after service, and drying the animals 2 months before calving got low adoption index. The reason for high adoption index of treatment of repeat breeders and sterile animals and service within days after calving may be due to relatively good veterinary facilities in the study area coupled with high awareness of the dairy farmers about dairy practices. Further, with the frozen technique followed in the rural veterinary dispensaries, practicing artificial insemination in the animals at proper time of heat was more feasible. These selected practices were adopted almost by all the categories of dairy farmers in the selected area. Feeding This aspect covered five innovations viz., feeding colostrum to new born calves, feeding colostrum continuously to new born calves up to 5 th day of its birth, feeding extra ration to new born calves, balanced feeding of milking animals and green fodder production round the year. The adoption of feeding colostrum to new born calves and feeding colostrum continuously to new born calves up to 5 th day of its birth had highest adoption index. Balanced feeding of milking animals and green fodder production round the year were also adopted to a great extent in the selected area by the dairy farmers. Feeding extra ration to new born calves was found to be not practiced by majority of the respondents. The reason for higher adoption of many feeding practices is an indication of positive

4 Vol. 46, No. 4, 2012 attitude towards dairying, and to earn more profit through multiplication of healthy offspring. High adoption index for balanced feeding of milking animals was due to practice experience gained by the farmers as a result of exposure to dairy development programmes. Health care It is evident from Table 2 that 77.6 per cent of the farmers properly dispose the dead animals at Adoption of breeding practices the right place, whereas, adoption of health care practices in the study area was low, indicating poor attention of the respondents towards these practices. However, farmers showed their inability of vaccine at proper time and its high cost might have limited the adoption of vaccine against contagious diseases. However, some of the practices which were adopted Adoption of feeding practices by only a low percentage of the farmers were isolation of animals suffering from contagious diseases. Management A cursory look of Table 2 revealed that the level of adoption of dairy management practices like Adoption of health care practices practicing clean milk production was adopted to a greater extent by the farmers in the selected area. The reason for higher adoption of this practice was easy to comprehend. The dairy farmers must follow the hygienic practices to supply clean milk, as if the milk supplies is of poor and inferior quality, not only Adoption of management practices the return was less, but its keeping quality was also poor. So, the farmers needs to be educated about clean milk production, maintaining cleanliness in 379 animal herd/shed which otherwise is a source of contamination. To work out the extent of adoption of improved dairy farming innovations adoption index was calculated. The dairy farmers were classified into low, medium and high adoption categories and the frequencies were also calculated as presented in the Table 3. It could be seen from Table 3 that majority of the dairy farmers (47.5 per cent) in the selected area had fallen in medium adoption category. While there were 31.7 per cent in high and 20.8 per cent had fallen in low category of adoption. Table 3 clearly shows that (48.3%) dairy farmers had medium level of adoption of feeding practices followed by 18.3 per cent low and 33.3 per cent high. So, there is scope to educate the dairy farmers regarding feeding practices in the rural areas. It could be observed from table 3 that majority of the dairy farmers (44.2%) had fallen in medium category of adoption of health care practices followed by 30.8 per cent in low and 25.0 per cent in high respectively. It could be seen from Table 3 that again majority (55.8%) of the farmers had fallen in medium category of adoption of management practices. There TABLE 3: Distribution of dairy farmers according to extent of adoption of improved dairy farming practices. Categories of dairy farmers Dairy practices Categ-ries LL(N=24) S/M(N=24) SC/ST(N=24) Women(N=48) TotalN=120 Breeding Low 4 (16.7) 4(16.7) 5(20.8) 12(25.0) 25(20.8) Medium 11(45.8) 7(29.2) 12(50.0) 27(56.2) 57(47.5) High 9(37.5) 13(54.2) 7(29.2) 9(18.7) 38(31.7) Feeding Low 3(12.5) 5(20.8) 5(20.8) 9(18.7) ) Medium 13(54.2) 10(41.7) 11(45.8) 24(50.0) 58(48.3) High 8(33.3) 9(37.5) 8(33.3) 15(31.2) 40(33.3) HealthCare Low 8(33.3) 6(25.0) 7(29.2) 16(33.3) 37(30.8) Medium 11(45.8) 13(54.2) 10(41.7) 19(39.6) 53(44.2) High 5(20.8) 5(20.8) 7(29.2) 13(27.0) 30(25.0) Management Low 4(16.7) 3(12.5) 2(8.3) 5(10.4) 14(11.7) Medium 13(54.2) 12(50.0) 15(62.5) 27(56.2) 67(55.8) High 7(29.2) 9(37.5) 7(29.2) 16(33.3) 39(32.5) Over-All Low 19(19.8) 18(18.7) 19(19.8) 42(21.9) 98(20.4) Medium 48(50.0) 42(43.7) 48(50.0) 97(50.5) 235(48.9) High 29(30.2) 36(37.5) 29(30.2) 53(27.6) 147(30.6) Figures in parentheses indicate the percentage.

5 380 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH were only 11.7 per cent in low and 32.5 percent in package of improved dairy practices and orienting high category of adoption of management practices. the extension workers to provide inputs and Overall adoption of dairy practices knowledge together especially among the weaker It could be observed from the Table 3 that sections could be a further step in dairy extension 20.4, 48.9 and 30.6 per cent of the dairy farmers in strategy. The simple realization that a situation the study area had fallen in low, medium and high demanding improvement in dairy farming is based categories respectively in the overall adoption of dairy on motivation of dairy farmers may be of service in practices. ensuring an effective dairy extension strategy. This aspect of human input ought to find CONCLUSION increased place in dairy developmental The small and marginal farmers have the programmes. Research workers need to be necessary psychological motivation towards further oriented to develop a package of dairy dairying. There is, however, a need on the part of practices suitable for various sizes of farm extension agency to take steps to increase the holdings. Extension materials should be be participation of the small, marginal and landless produced to stimulate and motivate dairy dairy farmers in milk production movement. A farmers. This would make dairy extension linkage of cooperative credit with the adoption of programme more effective and dynamic. REFERENCES Acharya, R.M. (1992). Heading Towards 21 st Century, Dairy India. Devarsons Stylish Printing Press, Delhi. Alexander, K.C. (1985). Employment and income generation through IRDP, NREP and DRM in Madhya Pradesh. J. Rural Dev., 4(5):