Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

PERFORMANCE EFFECTIVENESS INDEX OF TECHNOLOGYDISSEMINATION SYSTEM OF STATE DEPARTMENTS OFAGRICULTURE IN KERALA AND ANDHRA PRADESH

M. Ravikishore, B. Seema and P. Supriya

Abstract

Technology dissemination to the farming community and evaluation of adopted technologies among thefarming community are the ultimate goals of Agriculture Departments working at the state level. Consideringthe utmost importance of the State Departments of Agriculture (SDA) in terms of technology dissemination,a research was carried out to develop the Performance Effectiveness Index (PEI) of the State Departments ofAgriculture (SDA) with respect to technology dissemination system in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.Withthis objective, a survey was conducted among extension personnel from Kerala and Andhra Pradesh witha total of 200 respondents, comprising 100 respondents from each of the states Kerala and Andhra Pradeshto rate the statements about Performance Effectiveness Index (PEI) of technology dissemination system.The data collected through a structured questionnaire were analysed using the framework devised tomeasure the Performance Effectiveness Index (PEI) of technology dissemination system. The frameworkcomprises the three indices namely: Human Performance Effectiveness Index (HPEI), TechnologyDissemination System Effectiveness Index (TDSEI) and Organisational Effectiveness Index (OEI). The studyalso depicted the comparative analysis of Performance Effectiveness Index (PEI) among Kerala and AndhraPradesh states using parametric standard normal deviate test. Results revealed that, nearly half (45%) ofthe Kerala respondents and more than half (52%) of the Andhra Pradesh respondents perceived that thePerformance Effectiveness Index (PEI) of SDA was medium and comparative analysis of PEI among thestates showed that, there was significant difference between Kerala and Andhra Pradesh states with respectto technology dissemination systems of SDA. In order to improve the PEI of technology disseminationsystems of SDA, the SDA should act on effective management strategies to enhance the individualcompetencies and refine the technology dissemination methods with the best possible organisational supportat the farmer level. The study also suggested that, regular capacity building programmes and timelyperformance assessment with appropriate tools could upgrade the performance of extension personnel indeveloping farming communities through best suitable extension services.