Studies on the effectiveness of kishan gosthi in imparting agricultural information for scaling up of livelihood of hill women

Effectiveness of Kishan Gosthi in imparting Agricultural information among hill women of Uttarakhand

Abstract

Effectiveness of  Kishan Gosthi  in imparting Agricultural information among hill women of Uttarakhand

ARPITA SHARMA* AND ANIL KUMAR SINGH**

^*Assistant Professor, Dept. of Agricultural Communication, College of Agriculture, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar

^**Principal Scientist (Agronomy), Division of Land & Water Management, ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna-800 014 (Bihar) India

Corresponding Author Email: sharmaarpita615@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Women are residing in hill areas are suffering from varieties of problems on daily basis. They are the victims of a whole plethora of violence committed against them including inhuman domestic violence such as forced marriage and followed by dowry death along with molestation and rape. Altogether, leading to pathetic socio-economic conditions hill women in general which is aggravated by poor women empowerment. Ironically, economic and social development of hill areas is solely dependent upon women. In hill areas majority of women were unaware about many issues related to her as well as agriculture and animal husbandry for up scaling of their livelihood. Thus, Present investigation was conducted in four villages viz; Bhaluti, Kausani, Jeoli and Sariyatal of Nainital District of Uttarakhand. Result revealed that majority of respondents belonged to middle age group category (58 per cent) from general caste (62 per cent) and were educated upto primary level (34 per cent). All the respondents have television and mobile phone. Majority of farm women were involved in farming and dairy. Maximum (90 per cent) respondents take farming related information with input dealers. Maximum numbers of respondents were unaware about scientific packages and practices related to crop production (100 per cent), farm implements suitable for hills areas (98 per cent), high yielding varieties of crops/use of improved varieties (94 per cent), processing technique (96 per cent) and storage techniques (82 per cent). Majority of respondents (98 per cent) were unaware about Natural Resource Conservation. Majority of respondents (96 per cent) were unaware about SHGs followed by small enterprise (90 per cent). Majority (96 per cent) were unaware about Nutritious and Low Cost Diet. A participatory Kishan Gosthi was organized to aware, inform and educate hill women about farming, home management and dairy farming. A participatory way was effective in term of gain in knowledge.

Key words:  Hill women, Needs, farm,  Kishan Gosthi, Participatory