The Indian Journal of Extension Education (ISSN 0537-1996, eISSN 2454- 552X) is the peer-reviewed, official publication of the Indian Society of Extension Education (ISEE), New Delhi, publishing original research papers/ research notes/ research tools in the field of extension education and allied fields since 1965. The Indian Society of Extension Education, Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, is a registered professional society under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 (Punjab Amendment) Act 1957 as extended to the Union Territory of Delhi under registration number S-2504 dated 22.06.1964. The Indian Journal of Extension Education is published quarterly and is UGC CARE Listed since January 2023. Indexed in Elsevier Scopus, CAB International, Index Copernicus International Journal Master list, Google Scholar, Scilit, Semantic Scholar, AGRIS of FAO, BASE, WorldCat, EBSCO, Crossref, PlumX, Mendeley, etc. The Scopus cite score 2024 is 1.2, SJR- 0.234, SNIP2024- 0.305, (https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/21100846015) SJIF 2025 ( Scientific Journal Impact factor) 5.344, (https://sjifactor.com/passport.php?id=24257) NAAS rating (2025): 5.02 NAAS Journal ID: I063 ( Effective from January 2025)
Indian Society of Extension Education, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
The manuscripts once accepted and published in the Indian Journal of Extension Education will automatically become the property of the Indian Society of Extension Education, New Delhi. The Chief Editor on behalf of the Indian Journal of Extension Education holds the copyright.
Agricultural Mechanization and Its Problems in Gauradaha Municipality of Jhapa District, Nepal
Mechanisation can lower labour costs, workloads, and operating times, which eventually boosts agricultural productivity and output. The study aimed to assess the status of mechanisation, problems of adoption of mechanisation, and its impact was conducted during 2024-25. Purposive random sampling of 120 farmers from four wards of the Gauradaha municipality of Jhapa was used and collected data on socio-economic status, problems, and the impact of farm mechanisation. Chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between selected variables. This study suggested that 100% farmers used cultivators and threshers, followed by 79.17% pump sets/ motor, 55% combine harvester, 42.5% Reaper and 11.7% others (Power tiller, Corn sheller, Corn harvester, Driller, Paddy straw cutter). Subsidy to buy farm machinery was obtained by 10% of farmers only. Larger holdings of farmers' land had a positive significance in the use and adoption of farm mechanisation.
Agri-tools; Farm mechanization; Farm power; Machinery and tools, etc.
Copyright (c) 2026 Indian Society of Extension Education, Division of Agricultural ExtensionICAR- IARI, New Delhi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Construction and Validation of Instrument to Assess the Multifaceted Potential of School Vegetable Gardens
The study is focused on developing and standardizing a scale to assess the multifaceted potential of school vegetable gardens as perceived by students. This instrumentation was carried out in the year 2025.The summated rating technique as proposed by Likert (1932) and refined by Edwards (1957) was employed for the construction of the instrument. Initially, a comprehensive literature analysis, conversations with subject matter experts, and field-level observations pertaining to school gardening programs produced a pool of 75 statements. After editing using standard criteria, 66 relevant statements were retained. Of these, 55 items were chosen based on a relevancy score of more than 80%. After item assessment, a total of forty three statements with t- values above 2.306 at the 5% level of threshold were incorporated and subjected to reliability and validity tests. Then, Factor Analysis (Exploratory) was carried out to confirm the dimensional structure and establish convergent validity. The final scale consisted of 43 items grouped under five dimensions: Economic, Environmental, Social, Governance, and Health & Well-being. The confirmed scale proved higher internal consistency with a Cronbach’s value of 0.983 and satisfactory split-half reliability. Convergent validity was established by the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values outstanding the threshold for each dimension.
Multidimensional assessment, Reliability and validity, Scale development, School vegetable gardens, and Student perception.
Constraints in Accessing Services of Cooperative Societies: A Garrett Ranking-Based Study
Cooperative societies play a vital role in promoting agricultural development by providing farmers with access to credit, inputs, and other essential services. However, farmers often face obstacles in effectively using these services. This study was conducted in the Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh during 2025 to identify the primary challenges farmers encounter when accessing cooperative society services and to gather their recommendations for improvement. A total of 120 farmers were randomly selected from 2 blocks and 10 villages, and data were collected through a structured interview schedule. Garrett’s Ranking Technique was used to analyse and prioritize constraints and suggestions based on farmers’ perceptions. The findings indicated that the availability of inputs, slow loan recovery, and the absence of clear laws or regulations were key issues. Moreover, complex procedures, weak management, and poor-quality inputs also hinder effective participation in cooperative activities. Farmers suggested timely delivery of inputs, increased technical and marketing support, and better-quality seeds and fertilizers to improve the functioning of cooperative societies. Strengthening management practices and enhancing service delivery are crucial for increasing farmers’ participation and ensuring the successful operation of cooperative institutions.
Construction and Validation of Knowledge Test on Indigenous Technical Knowledge Practices
Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) is vital to tribal farming systems, supporting local resource use, biodiversity conservation, food security, ethnoveterinary care, indigenous food processing and climate adaptation. However, the absence of standardized instruments restricts assessment of ITK knowledge gaps and planning of need-based extension interventions. This study constructed and validated a knowledge test to assess tribal farmers’ knowledge of ITK practices. The target population comprised tribal farmers possessing or practising ITK in agriculture and allied activities in the study area. Initially, 66 items were developed through literature review, expert consultation and field-level understanding of ITK domains. The item pool was content-validated by 60 experts. Relevancy Weightage (RW), Mean Relevancy Score (MRS) and Overall Mean Relevancy Score (OMRS) were computed using established procedures. Based on relevancy screening, 43 items were retained and administered to 60 non-sample farmers for pilot testing. Difficulty index, discrimination index and point-biserial correlation were calculated. Item statistics showed difficulty values (0.433–0.667) and discrimination values (0.333–0.567), confirming moderate difficulty and discrimination. Finally, 35 items were retained. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.93, indicating excellent internal consistency. The test was valid, reliable and suitable for assessing ITK knowledge, diagnosing gaps, evaluating capacity-building programmes and supporting documentation, preservation and promotion of ITK.
Indigenous Technical Knowledge, knowledge test, tribal farmers, item analysis, reliability, validity.
Department of Extension Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, -221005
Global Knowledge Structure of Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Behaviour Research: A Bibliometric Analysis
The research was undertaken in the period 2024-2025 to discuss the research trends in the world, thematic development, and network of collaboration in agricultural entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial behaviour of farmers through a bibliometric analysis method. The database was gathered by using a large scientific database where a set of 710 research articles published in 2016-25 were located and assessed with the help of Biblioshiny and VOSviewer software. To comprehend the intellectual framework of the research area, the analysis was conducted on annual scientific production, collaboration networks between those who use the same keywords, collaboration between authors, and collaboration between countries. The findings depict that there was a vast increase in publications, and this growth rate is 17.05 per annum, signifying that the world's interest in agricultural entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial behaviour is growing. Network visualisation also evidences that the countries have very strong international connections, such as the United States, China, India, and a number of European countries. The results show that the studies in the field are progressively becoming more interdisciplinary and interconnected worldwide, with a focus on innovative, sustainable, and farmer-focused entrepreneurial growth.
Analysis and Prioritization of Constraints Affecting ICT Tools Adoption among KVK Personnel
Information and communication technology (ICT) emerged as a crucial instrument for enhancing the dissemination of information and bolstering agricultural extension services. The current study was conducted in 2025–2026 with the aim of identifying and ranking the constraints to the adoption of ICT technologies that Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) staff at Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttar Pradesh, faced. Using a multi-stage sample process and an ex post facto study approach, 142 KVK employees were chosen. A structured interview schedule was used to gather data, and the Garrett ranking method was used for analysis. The results showed that the lack of training opportunities was the biggest constraint, followed by psychological constraints and a lack of technical know-how. Other significant constraints included frequent technical changes, expensive maintenance costs for ICT tools, and software-related problems. However, limitations pertaining to data privacy, interoperability, and intellectual property rights were seen as less serious. The study emphasized the necessity of better infrastructure, increased technical assistance, and capacity-building programs to guarantee extension staff members' efficient use of ICT tools.
KVK Personnel, Constraints, Garrett Ranking Technique, Agricultural Extension Services, ICT Adoption, Capacity-Building.
Department of Extension Education , Faculty of Agriculture
Identification and Documentation of Agricultural Indigenous Technical Knowledge among Yimkhiung Tribe, Nagaland, India
Nagaland, inhabited by 17 major tribes, possesses rich agricultural knowledge, with each tribe maintaining distinct customs while sharing a deep connection to nature and biodiversity. All the tribes have been practicing traditional methods of agriculture. Thus, the study was conducted out in the year 2025 with the objective to identify and document the agricultural Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) among the Yimkhiung tribe of Nagaland, India. The research was carried out in the Kiphire district covering Pungro and Khongsa blocks selected purposively, and three villages from each block were chosen randomly, namely Pungro, Old Vongti, Luthur, Longkhimvong, Khong, and Mimi, with a sample size of 120. Multistage random sampling method and descriptive research design were adopted. A total of 35 agricultural ITKs were identified and documented. Assessment of Effectiveness of 18 ITKs were also measured using PEI (Perceived Effectiveness Index). However, the preservation of ITK faces obstacles, including language barriers, ethical considerations, and resource limitations. Despite these challenges, documenting ITK is essential to safeguard this invaluable knowledge and facilitate its integration into contemporary practices. Through respectful collaboration, ITK can contribute to a more resilient, culturally rich, and sustainable future for Northeast India and beyond.
Exploring Entrepreneurial Behaviour among Rural Women in Dairy Cooperatives
The study was conducted in 2025 in the Begusarai and Samastipur districts of Bihar to examine the socio-economic profile and entrepreneurial traits of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of women's dairy cooperatives. A descriptive research design was adopted, and a total of 260 respondents, comprising 200 beneficiaries and 60 non-beneficiaries, were selected through a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and analysed using frequency, percentage and the chi-square test. The findings revealed that beneficiaries were relatively better placed in terms of socio-economic characteristics and exhibited higher levels of social participation and access to information sources. A majority of beneficiaries (70.50%) were found to possess medium entrepreneurial traits, followed by high level (20.50%), whereas most non-beneficiaries (61.67%) fell under the low category. The chi-square analysis indicated a significant association between beneficiary status and entrepreneurial traits. The study concludes that participation in women's dairy cooperatives plays a crucial role in enhancing entrepreneurial behaviour, access to information and overall socio-economic development of rural women. Strengthening extension services and promoting wider participation in cooperative activities can further improve entrepreneurial capabilities and livelihood opportunities.
Assessment of Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Groundnut Cultivation Practices in Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh
The study was conducted during 2025–2026 in the semi-arid Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, India, to examine the socioeconomic, institutional, and behavioral determinants of groundnut production technology adoption and to map pathways linking adoption to sustainable production outcomes. A multi-stage stratified random sampling design was employed to select 480 groundnut-growing households from 32 villages across Jhansi and Mahoba districts. Primary data were collected through a pre-tested structured interview schedule administered via face-to-face personal interviews. Adoption was assessed across 11 technology components covering 61 discrete practices using a three-point scale and summarized as an Adoption Index. Results indicated that time and method of sowing recorded the highest Adoption Index (72.84), while crop diversification was the least adopted (Adoption Index: 49.83). A majority (75.63%) of farmers fell in the medium adoption category. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that family size (r = 0.459), information source (r = 0.582), and knowledge level (r = 0.448) were significantly associated with adoption. Path coefficient analysis identified information source and family size as variables with the highest total effects on adoption. These findings highlighted the need for context-specific extension strategies to bridge adoption gaps in resource-constrained semi-arid farming systems.
Technology Adoption, Groundnut, Bundelkhand, Path Analysis, Sustainable Production
Knowledge Level of Kewda Cultivation Farmers in Southern Odisha
T The study was conducted in 2024 in Ganjam district of Odisha to assess the knowledge level of farmers regarding recommended Kewda cultivation practices using an ex post facto research design. Data were collected from 83 Kewda flower growers through a structured interview schedule, employing purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The results revealed that respondents demonstrated relatively higher knowledge of ecological conditions and traditional field-based practices. The findings further indicated that farmers were actively involved in planning, decision-making and adoption of innovative cultivation practices, while facing constraints in value addition and distillation activities. Correlation and regression analysis indicated that variables such as education, innovativeness, planning ability, and decision-making capacity had a positive and significant relationship with the knowledge level of respondents. The study concludes that although Kewda cultivation provides substantial livelihood opportunities in coastal Odisha, there is a need for targeted extension interventions, capacity-building programmes, and skill-oriented training, particularly in post-harvest and value addition practices, to enhance farmers’ knowledge and adoption of improved technologies.
Education, extension services, Kewda growers, knowledge, women empowerment
Understanding Farmers’ Attitudes towards Natural Farming Adoption in Tarai Zone of Uttar Pradesh
Natural farming, as a chemical-free and ecologically integrated approach, is increasingly recognized as a sustainable alternative for smallholder agriculture in India. The present study was conducted during 2025–26 to assess farmers’ attitudes toward natural farming and identify the socioeconomic and psychological determinants of those attitudes in the Tarai zone of Uttar Pradesh, India. An ex-post facto research design was adopted. A total of 450 respondents were selected through multi-stage stratified random sampling from four districts of the Tarai zone. Attitude was measured using a modified scale developed by Zala and Kalsariya (2022), and Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to identify significant predictors. Correlation analysis revealed that landholding (r = 0.405) and annual income (r = 0.439) were significant positive correlates, while age (r = −0.331) and farming experience (r = −0.306) were significant negative correlates. Regression analysis indicated that landholding, social participation, risk orientation, achievement motivation, and economic motivation were significant positive predictors, collectively explaining 69.86 per cent of variance in attitude. The study concludes that targeted extension strategies strengthening land resource utilisation, social participation, risk-taking ability, achievement motivation, and economic motivation are essential to accelerate natural farming adoption in the region.
Attitude, Natural farming, Tarai zone, Adoption behavior, Motivation, Uttar Pradesh
Bibliometric Analysis of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Agricultural Extension Services
Agricultural extension services are still crucial to rural development and global food security; traditional methods frequently have issues with scalability, cost, and farmer-specific customisation. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a new solution to overcome these issues by offering predictive, data-driven, and context-specific advisory systems. 337 papers on AI in agricultural extension that were indexed in Scopus between 2010 and 2025 were examined in this study using bibliometric analysis. Biblioshiny and VOS viewer were used in the analysis to map authorship patterns, country-level contributions, publishing trends, and theme clusters. It is evident that the research activity grew after 2016 and reached a peak in 2022 at an annual growth rate of 2.33%. The area is extremely collaborative and interdisciplinary, with the United States, China, and India providing the most work globally, with an average of 11.5 co-authors per manuscript. Keyword and thematic analysis show that more advanced applications like machine learning, deep learning, IoT, and agricultural robotics have replaced earlier efforts on digital infrastructure. The results indicate that hybrid systems, in which AI supplements human knowledge to provide inclusive, moral, and sustainable advisory services, will be the most successful extension models in the future.
Training Needs Assessment of Oilseed Farmers for Improved Production Technology in Lucknow District, Uttar Pradesh
Agriculture plays an important role in India's economic growth, and oilseed crops contribute significantly to nutritional security and farm income. The study was conducted in the Mall block of Lucknow district to assess the training needs of oilseed growers. A total of 125 farmers from five villages were selected randomly for the study, and data were collected through personal interviews with the help of a structured interview schedule. Training needs were analysed using total weighted mean score (TWMS) and the training need index (TNI). The findings revealed that seed rate and insect–pest management were the most needed training areas, followed by field preparation and use of manures and fertilisers. Farmers showed a strong preference for field-based training, with farmers’ fields emerging as the most suitable venue (TNI: 88.89%). Morning and the May–December period were identified as the most preferred training times, as the majority of oilseed crops were sown in this period, and farmers need training just before sowing. Among training methods, method demonstration was highly favoured. The study highlights the need-based, location-specific training programs to enhance the adoption of improved oilseed production technologies and increase productivity.
Oilseed, Training Need Index (TNI), TWMS, Method demonstration, Oilseed training programs
Economic Contribution of Non-Timber Forest Products to Rural Livelihoods in the Shivalik Range of Jammu and Kashmir
This research was carried out to examine the importance and economic value of identified Non- Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in supporting the livelihoods of forest dwellers East Forest Circle of Jammu and Kashmir. The NTFPs were identified and documented with the help of participatory rural appraisal methods. Multi-stage random sampling method was used to identify the ultimate sampling units. The study revealed that NTFP income contributed 29%, on-farm 16% and off-farm 55% of total household income. It was found that ten NTFPs, were collected by the forest dwellers which significantly contributed to their livelihoods. By applying regression analyses, it was found that NTFP availability, agricultural occupation, NTFP collection experience and on-farm-income had a positive impact on NTFP income. From the research, it was recommended to teach and organize capacity building programs for the forest dwellers in order to improve their level of competence in NTFP collection, storage and grading.
A Study on Aspiration of Farm Youth towards Agriculture in Rayagada District of Odisha
The study examined the aspiration of farm youth towards agriculture in Rayagada district of Odisha during 2023–2024 and identified the variables influencing their involvement in farming. The main objective was to estimate the level of aspiration of farm youth and to analyze the personal, economic, and psychological factors affecting it. In this regard, an ex-post facto type of research design was used in which a sample of 150 farm youths was randomly drawn from ten villages located in two blocks.Primary data were collected through personal interviews using a structured schedule. Correlation analysis found that age and farming experience among personal factors, family income among economic factors, and innovative proneness, risk orientation, farming commitment, and economic motivation among psychological factors were positively and significantly associated with aspiration. Multiple regression analysis revealed that education, innovative proneness, farming commitment and farming experience had significantly contributed towards aspiration. Path analysis indicated that age, farming experience, landholding, family size, and innovative proneness exerted the highest direct effects on aspiration, while economic motivation, extension contact, mass media use, and cosmopoliteness contributed mainly through indirect effects. The residual effect showed that 37.9 per cent of variation in aspiration was explained by the selected variables.
Agriculture, Aspiration, Cosmopoliteness, Farm youth
Agriculture, aspiration, cosmopoliteness, farm youth
Women’s Agency and Family Planning Counselor Roles in Child Nutrition: Semi-Urban Yogyakarta Survey
Child nutrition in semi-urban settings depends not only on food access but also on household decision-making and community counseling. This study examined the effects of women’s household agency and Family Planning Counselor roles on child nutrition practices among stunting-risk households in semi-urban Yogyakarta, Indonesia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2025 with 182 households in Sleman Regency, Bantul Regency, and Yogyakarta City. Data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. Women’s household agency had a strong positive effect on child nutrition practices (β = 0.740, p = 0.008), while counselor roles as educators, communicators, and facilitators had a smaller but significant positive effect (β = 0.189, p = 0.043). The two constructs were positively correlated (r = 0.309, p = 0.005), indicating that stronger household agency was associated with stronger counseling support rather than proving a causal interaction. Together, they explained 67.0% of the variance in child nutrition practices. Animal protein intake and energy adequacy were relatively stronger, whereas plant protein intake, dietary diversity, and micronutrient-related practices were weaker. The study concluded that extension-based nutrition support should combine household agency strengthening with practical counseling and facilitation for stunting-risk families.
Behavior Change; Child Nutrition Practices; Community Counseling; Extension Communication; Household Agency; Home Science Extension; Semi-Urban Families
Child nutrition practices; Women’s household agency; Family Planning Counselors; Community counseling; Extension communication; Semi-urban families; Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Extension Education; Home Science Extension; Community Development; Nutrition Education; Family Studies; Rural and Urban Extension Communication
Knowledge and Adoption Level of Improved Sorghum Practices in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh
Productivity of sorghum in Bundelkhand remained constraints due to lower adoption of recommended practices. The data were collected for this study during February to April 2024 to assess the knowledge and adoption levels of farmers towards improved sorghum production technologies and to identify their determinants. An ex-post facto research design was followed in two purposively selected districts of Uttar Pradesh. A total of 200 sorghum growers were selected through multistage sampling, and data were collected using a semi structured and pre-tested interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and regression analysis were used for data analysis. The results revealed that seed rate and sowing time recorded the highest knowledge and adoption scores, whereas crop protection and seed treatment showed the lowest adoption levels. A majority of respondents possessed medium knowledge, but overall adoption still low, indicating a clear knowledge adoption gap. Education, landholding, annual income, attitude, and knowledge score significantly influenced adoption behavior. The study concluded that socio-economic resources and psychological factors played a decisive role in enhancing adoption of improved sorghum technologies. The study revealed a significant knowledge–adoption gap, with input constraints and climatic factors emerging as the major barriers to the adoption of improved sorghum production practices.
Agricultural Extension, Farmer Motivation, and Maize Food Security in Indonesia-Timor Leste Borderlands
Household food security in semi-arid borderland areas remains vulnerable to drought, limited market access, and weak livelihood assets. Although agricultural extension and farmer motivation have been studied in smallholder contexts, their joint role in explaining maize-based household food security in semi-arid borderland agriculture remains under examined. Drawing on an ERG-based motivation framework, this study tested whether agricultural extension and farmer motivation are positively associated with household food security. A cross-sectional survey of 244 maize-farming households was conducted in the Indonesia–Timor Leste borderlands of East Nusa Tenggara from February to August 2025. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews and analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling. The final model showed acceptable fit (GFI = 0.997; AGFI = 0.927; CFI = 0.999; TLI = 0.992; RMSEA = 0.050) and explained 55.0% of the variance in household food security. The findings show that agricultural extension and farmer motivation were both positively and significantly associated with household food security, indicating their complementary roles in strengthening maize-based household food security.
Agricultural Extension; Farmer Motivation; Food Security; Maize; Borderlands; Semi-Arid; Structural Equation Modeling; East Nusa Tenggara
Agricultural Extension, Rural Development, Food Security, Agricultural Economics, Development Communication, Structural Equation Modeling
Attitude of Paddy Farmers towards KVK Training Programmes: A Study of Trainees and Non-Trainees in Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu
The study was conducted in Ariyalur district to assess, compare and identify the factors influencing the attitude of trainee and non-trainee farmers towards KVK training programme among paddy farmers.Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), a district-level innovation hubs demonstrate practical agricultural research through on-farm trials, front-line demonstrations, and training programs. Farmers’ attitude towards these trainings are key determinants of technology adoption and productivity. Positive attitudes are essential for the effectiveness and success of KVK training initiatives. The study followed an ex-post facto research design, includes 120 respondents (60 trainees and 60 non-trainees). Data were gathered in the year 2025-2026 using structured and pretested interview schedule. Analysed using frequency, percentage, Kendall’s Tau correlation and stepwise regression. 55 percent of trainees had a highly favourable attitude, while 50 % non-trainees exhibited a low attitude towards KVK training. Attitude was positively associated with education, scientific orientation information-seeking behaviour, and economic motivation and negatively with age, in both groups. Regression analysis identified information-seeking behaviour and training methods as key predictors for trainees, and education for non-trainees. The study concludes that training exposure significantly improves farmers’ attitude, emphasizing the need for inclusive, need based strategies to enhance participation and adoption of improved agricultural practices.
Gendered Patterns and Prevalence of Internet Use among Adolescents: Evidence from Varanasi, India
Abstract: The study of gender and internet usage patterns highlighted significant differences in the use of males and females with online platforms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the gender difference in internet usage patterns and frequency. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among nine senior secondary schools in the Varanasi district. The study administered a self-structured interview schedule, containing closed-ended questions. The survey was conducted from March 2024 to August 2024 among 200 students using the random sampling method. Results found that the proportion of smartphone ownership was high among both male (94.1%) and female (88.9%) participants. YouTube and WhatsApp emerged as the most favourite app between both genders. Males were more likely to have public social media accounts compared to females, and they share photos and videos on them. Males were significantly more engaged in online gaming, while females showed higher engagement in social media, online chatting, educational activities, and news consumption. The study highlights notable gender disparities in Internet usage patterns, focusing on the intensity of use. Participants in Varanasi engage in various types of online activities. Keywords: Internet, Pattern, Adolescents, Gender, Social Media
Internet, Adolescents, Gender, YouTube, Social media
Department of Home Science Extension Education
Determinants, Knowledge and Constraints of Electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM) Adoption in Tamil Nadu
The study aimed to analyse the factors influencing stakeholders’ participation in the Electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) using primary data collected from 390 respondents, comprising 150 e-NAM farmers, 150 non-e-NAM farmers, and 90 traders in Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu in 2025. A logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants of participation, while Garrett’s ranking method was used to highlight the major constraints. The results revealed that social participation, education level, digital literacy and distance to markets are significant determinants of participation, whereas landholding, age, experience and income were found to be non-significant. Knowledge levels were higher among e-NAM farmers and traders compared to non-e-NAM farmers. Garrett’s ranking technique revealed that immediate cash requirement, low digital literacy, technical difficulties, and poor market infrastructure were the major constraints of farmers, whereas traders highlighted competition among traders and non-uniform mandi policies as key challenges. The results suggest that awareness programmes, improved market infrastructure, standardised mandi practices and timely payments are essential to enhance e-NAM participation.
Digital literacy, e-NAM, Logistic regression, Market infrastructure, Participation, Competition
Socio- economic Determinants of Environmental Risk and Safe Pesticide Use: A Canonical Correlation Analysis
The study was conducted in 2025-26 at Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh and examines the significant impact on socio-economic factors of chilli growers and their perceptions of environmental risk and safe pesticide use in the study area. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was used to identify the connection between independent variables with dependent variables of chilli growers. A multistage sampling technique was used to choose 160 chilli growers from four mandals in the Guntur district. Perceptions of environmental risk and safe pesticide use were regarded as dependent variables, while eleven socioeconomic factors were classified as independent variables. The first canonical pair of variates showed stronger canonical correlation of 81.72 per cent with high Eigen values. It was mainly influenced by attitude, knowledge, education, age and information source. The second function, showed 37.58 per cent of the shared variance was mostly determined by structural characteristics that influenced perceptions of environmental risk, specifically the area under chilli cultivation. The findings suggest how cognitive, attitudinal and resource-based socioeconomic factors significantly influence growers' perspectives. Promoting ecologically safe pesticide practices requires bolstering extension interventions that emphasize knowledge, attitude and risk communication.
Factors Contributing to Farmers’ Attitude towards Climate Adaptation Practices in Northern Bangladesh
The objective of the study conducted during 2025 was to determine the factors contributing to farmers’ attitudes toward climate adaptation practices. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 98 sampled farmers in the Dinajpur district of northern Bangladesh. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. The results indicated that most farmers (72.4%) had a moderately favorable attitude toward climate adaptation practices. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that education, farm size, household income, organizational participation, and information access had significant positive relationships with farmers’ attitudes toward climate adaptation practices. Multiple regression analysis revealed that education and information access were the most significant determinants of farmers’ attitudes, explaining 36.6% of the variation. In the stepwise regression model, only education and information access emerged as significant predictors, jointly explaining 29.8% of the variation in farmers’ attitudes toward climate change adaptation practices. Education alone explained 25.5% of the variation, while the inclusion of information access contributed an additional 4.3%. The findings suggest that improving non-formal education and strengthening extension services through farm and home visits, mass media campaigns, and ICT-based information dissemination can enhance farmers’ adaptive attitudes and promote climate-resilient agricultural practices in Bangladesh.
Farmers’ attitudes, Climate change adaptation, Extension services, Educational opportunities, Northern Bangladesh.
Climate change adaptation; Farmers’ attitudes; Agricultural extension; Rural livelihoods; Socioeconomic factors; Northern Bangladesh
Role of Savings and Credit Groups in Ethnic Minority Household Livelihoods in Ea Drong commune, Vietnam
The study was conducted in 2025 to examine the role of savings and credit groups (SACGs) in supporting the livelihood of ethnic minority households in Ea Drong commune, Vietnam. The study analysed the contribution of SACGs to household saving practices and access to credit, examined the use of SACG financial resources in livelihood activities and assessed their contribution to strengthening livelihood assets. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining semi-structured interviews with 72 SACG members, two focus group discussions, five in-depth interviews, and secondary data. The findings indicated that SACGs functioned as flexible community-based financial mechanisms that complement formal credit systems in rural areas. Approximately 97.2% of members reported increased annual savings after joining SACGs, while 45.8% accessed loans directly from the groups. Loan amounts ranged from $76.92 to $192.30 and were used for livestock production and essential household expenditures. Although SACGs mainly supported short-term and small-scale financial needs, these groups played an important complementary role in enhancing household resilience and supporting diversified livelihood strategies among ethnic minority households. The study highlighted the importance of integrating SACGs with agricultural extension, financial literacy training, and formal financial services to strengthen rural livelihood development and financial inclusion.
Community-based finance, Ethnic minorities, Livelihood, Savings and credit groups, Vietnam, Women’s financial inclusion
Adoption of Climate Change Adaptation Practices and Farm Income among Crop Farmers in Hue city, Vietnam
Climate change poses significant challenges to crop production and rural livelihoods in developing countries. This study examines the determinants of climate change adaptation and its association with crop income among farming households in Hue City, Vietnam. Primary data were collected from 337 households in 2025. A binary logit model was applied to analyze adaptation decisions, while an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model with robust standard errors was applied to examine income outcomes. The results show that 65.9% of households adopted at least one climate change adaptation practice. Climate knowledge, agricultural land size, and age positively influenced adaptation adoption, whereas distance to economic centers reduced the likelihood of adoption. Adaptation adoption was positively associated with crop income per hectare, with adopters tending to achieve higher income than non-adopters. In addition, skilled labor, community participation, and climate knowledge were positively associated with income outcomes, whereas remoteness showed a negative relationship with income. The findings suggest that climate knowledge, resource endowments, and accessibility conditions are important factors shaping both adaptation behavior and economic outcomes among farming households. The study highlights the importance of strengthening knowledge-based agricultural extension and improving access to information and rural services to support effective climate change adaptation.
Climate change adaptation; Technology adoption; Crop income; Smallholder farmers; Climate knowledge; Logit model; OLS regression; Vietnam
Agricultural Economics; Agricultural Extension; Rural Development; Climate Change Adaptation; Development Studies
Business Intelligence and Decision Making: A Bibliometric Analysis
The rapid advancement of information and communication technologies fuelled the exponential growth of digitized data, creating new opportunities for research in Big Data Analytics (BDA) and Business Intelligence (BI). This study provided a bibliometric analysis of academic research on the intersection of business intelligence and decision making, drawing on data from the Scopus database between 2010 and January 2025. Using bibliometric tools such as Bibliometrix (R) and Excel, the study examined descriptive analysis and thematic developments. Results revealed that the number of publications had grown significantly since 2013, with Decision Support Systems and related journals serving as primary outlets. Key contributors in this arena included Arnott, Rouhani, and Hou, with the University of Tehran emerging as a leading institution. The United States ranked highest in total citations, while Belgium led in average annual citations. Thematic mapping indicated that data mining, decision makers, and commerce were central “motor themes,” while competitive advantage and management systems remained niche topics. Findings confirmed the strategic importance of it in enabling effective decision-making and highlighted emerging research trends in BD, AI, and knowledge management.
Business Intelligence, Decision Making, Big Data Analytics, Data Mining, Artificial Intelligence, Bibliometric Analysis
Digitalization, Data Privacy, Privacy Protection, Cybersecurity, Ethical Issues, Regulatory Frameworks, Information Security
Information and Communication technology
Determinants of Farmers’ Willingness to Participate in Wheat Seed Contract Farming in Punjab, India
The study conducted during 2025 aims to identify the key factors influencing wheat farmers’ willingness to adopt wheat seed contract farming. Four major constructs were identified: social influence and trust, market and income stability, production and marketing efficiency, and institutional support and incentives, comprising sixteen significant factors. Among these, social influence and trust emerged as the most important dimensions, explaining 26.32% of the total variance. This construct is primarily driven by observing other farmers (0.941), participation in meetings (0.909), influence of local farmer groups (0.872), company reputation (0.810), and prior contract farming experience (0.809). The second construct, market and income stability, explains 22.27% of the variance and includes assured markets (0.905), smooth payment systems (0.918), stable income (0.911), comparative advantages (0.796), and reduced market risk (0.785). Production and marketing efficiency accounts for 17.21% of the variance, highlighting productivity gains (0.964) and access to quality seed (0.952). Lastly, institutional support and incentives explain 14.89% of the variance, with training (0.963), technical inspection (0.948), and better pricing (0.815) emphasized. Overall, these findings highlight that farmers’ participation is shaped by social trust, economic stability, production efficiency, and institutional support.
Social trust, Market assurance, Production efficiency, Private firms, Contract farming
Agricultural Economics / Contract Farming / Farmer Behavior
Aspirations of Farm Science Students in Odisha: A Comparative Analysis across Agricultural Disciplines
Designing successful educational initiatives and policy interventions requires an understanding of these goals. 160 undergraduate students from the fields of agriculture, veterinary science, fisheries science and agricultural engineering participated in the current study at Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM), Odisha during 2025. The study had five main aspects of aspirations: economic, socioeconomic, self-employment, job and education. The results showed that most students in all subjects had moderate aspirational levels. Fisheries students had medium levels of educational aspirations, followed by veterinary science (65.00%), agriculture (60.00%) and agricultural engineering (57.50%). Eighty percent of veterinary science students and about sixty-five percent of students from the other disciplines expressed a medium level of enthusiasm for job. Seventy percent of students in agriculture and fisheries, sixty-seven percent in veterinary science and twenty-eight percent in agricultural engineering expressed a moderate desire to work for themselves. Students studying agriculture had the highest socioeconomic aspirations (92.50%), followed by fisheries (75.00%), veterinary science (67.50%) and agricultural engineering (65.00%). The study reveals significant differences in aspiration levels among students in various farm science fields and offers insightful information to help politicians and educational institutions create plans that promote students' professional and entrepreneurial development.
Economic aspiration, Farm science students, job aspirations, self-aspiration, socio-economic aspiration.
Determinants of Farmers’ Knowledge and Safe Pesticide Utilisation Behaviour: Artificial Neural Network Approach
Pesticides are increasingly being used to enhance agricultural productivity, but the risks of unsafe pesticide application to both human health and the environment can be severe. In this study, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis along with traditional statistical techniques were used to analyze factors influencing farmers knowledge and pesticide use behaviour. The study was carried out in 2025-26 in Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh, utilizing ex-post facto research design. A sample of 240 farmers were selected by means of multistage random sampling. Information was collected with the help of a well-structured and pre-tested interview schedule. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the association of socio-economic, communication and behaviour variables with farmers knowledge and use behaviour. ANN model was developed to determine non-linear relationship and variable importance. The results clearly indicated that, education, extension contact, mass media exposure and risk orientation had significant role in farmer knowledge and pesticide use behaviour. From ANN, mass media exposure was most influential independent variable followed by risk orientation and social participation that implies the communication-based extension efforts are the right way to disseminate the safe pesticide application techniques for intensive pesticide use production systems.
Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping in Natural Resource Management: A Global Bibliometric Analysis with India-Specific Insights (1995–2025)
Natural Resource Management (NRM) is a complex, multi-dimensional domain in which effective impact assessment demands tools capable of handling subjectivity, uncertainty and stakeholder diversity. Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) has emerged as such a tool, enabling the integration of qualitative knowledge and stakeholder perspectives into structured causal models. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed documents applying FCM in NRM contexts from 1995 to 2025, examining global trends in publication output, leading countries, institutions, journals, and authors. Bibliometric and network visualisation analyses were performed using Biblioshiny (bibliometrix R package) and VOSviewer. Qualitative thematic analysis of India-specific documents was conducted to complement the quantitative findings. The field has grown at an annual rate of 11.75%, with the United States and Greece leading global output. India, though modest in publication volume, shows a dynamic trajectory, with studies spanning precision agriculture, climate change adaptation, conservation conflicts, and disaster resilience. Collectively, the findings highlight FCM’s expanding role in applied, participatory, and sustainability-oriented NRM projects.
Occupational Determinants of Migration Behaviour among Lanjia Saora Tribal Youth in Odisha, India
Migration has emerged as a major livelihood strategy among tribal communities due to limited local opportunities. In the current study, conducted during 2025-26, a Migration Behaviour Index (MBI) was used to examine the migration behaviour of Lanjia Saora tribal respondents residing in Gajapati and Rayagada districts of Odisha. A multistage sampling and ex post facto research design were used to select 180 sample tribal youth. The analysis of migration was limited to migrant respondents, while the Correlation and Random Forest analyses were performed on the whole sample. Findings indicated that 64.70 per cent of the respondents were involved in temporary rural-urban migration, mainly due to financial needs and unavailability of local opportunities. Occupational variables were more strongly associated with MBI than demographic variables, while employment during the closed season emerged as a major determinant. The Random Forest model performed well in prediction (Test R2 = 0.766). The study indicates that migration is a distress driven livelihood strategy and there is a need to boost rural skills and entrepreneurship development interventions.
Agricultural Information Transfer among Tribal Farmers of Malkangiri Using Machine Learning
The study was carried out in 2026 to examine the extent of agricultural information transfer and the determinants of agricultural information transfer among tribal farmers of Malkangiri district of Odisha. Four blocks were selected purposively, and 30 farmers were randomly selected from each block through a multistage random sampling technique, constituting a total sample of 120 respondents. Primary data were collected using a pre-tested and structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics random forest regression algorithm in Google Colaboratory, with SHapley Additive exPlanations values computed for explainable feature-level attribution. The agricultural information transfer was low to moderate across all five channels, ranging from the highest mean score for personal locality contact (1.96) to the lowest for private sector engagement (1.18; gap = 60.76%). Experience on farms and age were the most significant predictors, together explaining 66.77 per cent of the model's feature importance, with education having little influence. The training performance of the random forest model was good (R² = 0.9159), while it acknowledges the 0.4877 gap and attributes it to sample size and RF's sensitivity.