Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ATTITUDE OF EXTENSION PERSONNEL TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY DISSEMINATION SYSTEM OF STATE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE IN SOUTHERN INDIA

M. Ravikishore, K. Raghavendra Chowdary, N. Sri Vidya Rani, B. Krathi Kumari, Ujwala Rani Seedari, P. Sumathi, P. Supriya and B. Seema

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to ascertain the attitude of extension personnel towards technology dissemination system of State Departments of Agriculture (SDA) in Southern India. The study was conducted in two highly diversified south Indian states, namely Kerala and Andhra Pradesh with a total of 200 respondents, comprising 100 respondents from each of the states Kerala and Andhra Pradesh to rate the statements on attitude towards technology dissemination systems of SDA. The data collected through a pre- tested interview schedule wherein an attitude scale was developed and administered the scale to the respondents. The study also depicted the comparative analysis of attitude towards technology dissemination system of SDA among Kerala and Andhra Pradesh extension personnel using parametric standard normal deviate test. It was found that more than half of the respondents (55%) belonged to moderately favourable category followed by unfavourable category (25%) and highly favourable category (20%) respectively with respect to Kerala. With respect to ‘Andhra Pradesh extension personnel’ distribution, exactly half of the respondents (50%) belonged to moderately favourable category followed by highly favourable category (27%) and un favourable category (23%) respectively and comparative analysis of attitude among the states showed that, there was significant difference between Kerala and Andhra Pradesh states with respect to their attitude towards technology dissemination systems of SDA. Therefore, understanding extension workers’ attitudes towards the use of technology dissemination methods of SDA is important. The moderately favourable attitude would convert highly favourable attitude towards technology dissemination system of SDA in both the states with regular capacity building programmes to the extension personnel on technology dissemination methodologies.