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International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

Volume 7; Issue 1; Jan 2024; Page No. 674-678
Received: 08-10-2023 Indexed Journal
Accepted: 13-12-2023 Peer Reviewed Journal

Social economic profiling and psychological characterizing of the vegetable growers

in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh
1
Vikas Upadhyay, 2Gaurav Kumar, 3Jatin Kumar Singh, 4Pradumn Kumar Mourya, 5Suraj Kumar and 6Alimul Islam
1
M.Sc. Student, Department of Ag. Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, DDU Gorakhpur University,
Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
2
Ph.D. scholar, Department of Extension Education, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology,
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India
3
M.Sc. Student, Department of Ag. Entomology, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, DDU Gorakhpur University,
Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
4
M.Sc. Student, Department of Ag. Entomology, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, DDU Gorakhpur University,
Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
5
Student, Department of Ag. Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur,
Uttar Pradesh, India
6
Assistant Professor, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh,
India
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33545/26180723.2024.v7.i1i.295
Corresponding Author: Vikas Upadhyay

Abstract
Vegetable cultivation in India has second rank in the world. Entrepreneurship contributes to development of a country in several ways like
assembling and harnessing the various inputs, bearing the risks, innovating and imitating the techniques of production to reduce the cost and
increase quality and quantity. Present study was conducted in the district of Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. 120 respondents from 10 different
villages were selected randomly. Most of the respondent’s belonged to middle-aged group (61.66%), having education up to middle illiterate
(36.67%), having high level of annual income (58.34%). Their main occupation (43.33%) is vegetable cultivation having medium size of
family (45.83%). Most of the respondents had utilizing medium level of mass media (49.16%). Majority of the respondents had medium
level of social participation (51.66%) and had low level of contacts with extension (40.88%) agents.

Keywords: Vegetable grower, psychological characteristics, social economic profiling, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Introduction age, size of the family and family type also effect the
Agriculture is the most important occupation in our country. behavior of the vegetable growers. Still less farmers were
Due to the presence of the different agro-climatic opting for vegetable production because the rate of adoption
conditions, a variety of crops are being grow in different of improved vegetable production technology is not fully
parts of the country. Agriculture and allied sectors adopted by the farmers at their own field (Suman, 2008) [6].
accounted for 18.8 percent of the GDP in 2021-2022 and Even if they produce, the problem regarding marketing was
provides employment to over 60 percent of the population faced by them. The research was done in eastern region of
(Bharatkumar et al. 2023) [1]. Vegetables are most important Uttar Pradesh was due to the good conditions for vegetable
part of the human diet for good health as they possess high production and keen interest of farmers in the vegetable
nutrition and vegetables are also the good source of protein, production other important factors such as researcher
vitamins, carbohydrate and minerals (Hanif et al. 2006) [2]. belongs to this state and for convenience to collection of
Vegetable cultivation is the major attraction to farmers as it data and further study and it will be very easy to becoming
is comparatively more economically beneficial than other well known about local language and culture for
field crops (Schreinemachers et al. 2018) [4]. establishing good reliability and non-formal relationships
The social frame work of the people is the important factor with the respondents, which is helpful further in data
in shaping the standard of living. Social structure of people collection and also important for the further study.
in internally linked with the economic institutions. Thus, Therefore, this research program was aimed to find out the
economic and social conditions are interrelated. Apart from adoption behavior of the farmers about the vegetable
social and economic factors, the personal factors such as production technology and considering this the socio-

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economic profile and psychological characteristics are given intermediate, graduate & post graduate). The table 1 reveals
in this paper. that the majority of the respondents (36.67 percent) were
illiterate and (26.67 percent) functionally literate. Further,
Methodology the educational level was worked out and given in ascending
Uttar Pradesh divided into 18 division, 75 districts and 350 order as 18.33 percent, 18.33 percent, 26.67 percent, 36.67
tehsil, 58194 Gram Panchayat, 8135 Nyaya Panchayat, 456 percent, post graduate, can read and write high school &
Nagar Panchayat and district panchayat is 72. The research intermediate, graduate, respectively. Hence, it may be said
was conducted in Sonbhadra District of Uttar Pradesh as that the educational standard of the respondents was
researcher is familiar with the people of this area, both considerably good in comparison to average literacy rate of
official and nonofficial, and the local dialect, allowing the the state and country as such. The similar findings were also
investigator to complete the work more efficiently. The reported by Singh et al. (2012) [5].
research scholar is well known and aware the culture, social
customs, circumstances, and language of area. This district Size of Family
has ten blocks from which blocks Robertsganj and Ghorwal On the basis of size of family respondents were classified
was selected purposely for the study because of the criteria into three categories i.e., small family (below 4 members),
of the nearer to researcher home and its easy accessibility. Medium family (5 to 9 members), Large family (above 10
Five villages were selected randomly from each block members). The table 1 shows that majority of respondent
which makes a total number of 10 villages for the study. (45.83 percent) belonged to medium category of those had
From robertsganj five villages were Kamaldih, Chandaul, 5-9 members in their families followed by (28.34 percent)
Kushi, Mahokhar and Semari whereas from Ghorwal block large and (25.83 percent) small size families, respectively.
Bakauli, Sihawa, Jigina, Devradh, Dulhatha villages were
selected. From each village 12 respondents were selected Occupation
randomly which makes a total of sixty respondents per On the basis of occupation respondents were classified into
block selected for the study. Thus, a total number of 120 4 categories viz., Farming, Farming + Business, Farming +
respondents were selected for the study. Data was collected Service, Farming + Business + Service. Table 1 describe
by personal interview method at the farmers door steps or at that maximum number of respondents engaged in farming
their farms with the help of pretested interview schedule. (43.33 percent) followed by, farming + service (30.00
The collected data was analyzed using various statistical percent), farming + business (20.00 percent) and farming +
tools like Average, Frequency, Percentage, mean and S.D business + service (06.67 percent) respectively.
and correlation coefficient.
Land Holding
Result and Discussion On the basis of land holding respondents were classified
The result of all the selected profile characteristics of into four categories i.e., Marginal farmers, small farmers,
farmers are represented in Table 1 and described as under: medium farmers, large farmers. The table 1 describe that
majority of the respondents (43.33 percent) were having
Age (below 1 hac.) of land who belonged to small farmers (35.00
On the basis of their age respondents were classified into percent) were having (1.01 to 2.00 hac.) of land, large
three categories i.e., below 32, 33 to 56, and above 57. It is farmers (21.64 percent) were having (2.01 to 3.00 acre) of
seen in the table 1 that majority of respondents (61.66 land holding respectively. Therefore, it may be chance that
percent) belonged to middle age group (31 to 55) followed the marginal and small farmers were mostly there in the
by (18.34 percent) of respondents belonged to old age group study area. It might be due to fragmentation of the family.
(above 56) and only (20.00 percent) of respondents The similar findings were also reported by Papnai et al.
belonged to the young age group (below 30), respectively. (2017) [3].
The mean age of respondents ranged from 44.45 year. A
similar finding was also reported that majority of the Annual Income
respondents was observed in the middle age category (Singh On the basis on annual income respondents were classified
et al. 2012) [5]. The probable reason for such distribution into three categories Small (up to 1 lakh), Medium (1.1 to
might be that the majority of middle age group were 2.5 lakh), High (2.5 lakh and above). Table 1 reveals that
enthusiastic and more dynamic in performing various socio- maximum number of the respondents (58.34 percent) were
economic activities in general and vegetable growing in belonged to the annual income of (2.5 lakh and above) large
specific. while, (25.00 percent) and (16.66 percent) respondents
belong to annual income range (1.1 to 2.5 lakh) medium and
Caste small (up to 1 lakh) respectively.
On the basis of caste respondents were classified into three
categories i.e., General caste, Other backward caste, Social Participation
Scheduled caste. The table 1 reveals that the majority of the On the basis of participation respondents were classified
respondents (38.83 percent) belonged to general cast, into three categories i.e., low, medium and high. A cursory
followed by (34.17 percent) scheduled caste, scheduled tribe glance over the data depicted in the table 4.1.9 indicates that
(23.33 percent) and (15.00 percent) other backward cast, out of 120 respondents (51.66 percent) respondents has
respectively. participation in one medium (5 to 8), followed by (30.84
percent) participation in two low (up to 4), (17.50 percent)
Education high participation, respectively.
On the basis of education, respondents were classified into
two categories i.e., illiterate and literate (can read and Mass media
wright only, primary school, middle school, high school, On the basis of participants three categories were classified
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i.e., low, medium and high. It is depicted in the table 1 that maximum 05. Hence, it can be concluded that the most of
maximum respondents were from medium mass medium the respondents have average interest to bear the risk
orientation category (49.16 percent), followed by high mass relating to improved farming. Data also says that most of the
medium orientation category (36.67 percent) and low mass respondents were found possessing medium level of
medium orientation category (14.17 percent). orientation towards scientific knowledge.
Extension Contact Innovativeness
On the basis of participants three categories were classified On the basis of participants three categories were classified
i.e., low, medium and high. It is depicted in the table 1 that i.e., low, medium and high. It is clear from the table 1 that
maximum respondents were from low extension contact maximum number of respondents (60.00 percent) were
(40.84 percent), followed by medium extension contact found in medium level of innovativeness followed by high
(39.16 percent) and high extension contact (20.00 percent). level of innovativeness (24.17 percent) and low level of
innovativeness (15.83 percent).
Risk taking ability
On the basis of participants three categories were classified Leadership
i.e., low, medium and high. It is apparent from the table that On the basis of participants three categories were classified
the maximum number of respondents (56.67 percent) was i.e., low, medium and high. It is clear from the table 1 that
found having medium level of risk orientation while, (24.17 maximum number of respondents (41.67 percent) were
percent) and (19.16 percent) respondents were found in the found in medium level of leadership followed by high level
categories of high and low level of risk orientation, of leadership (34.17 percent) and low level of leadership
respectively. The average mean of scores of risk orientation (24.16 percent).
observed to be 03.34 with range of minimum 0 and
Table 1: Socio-economic profile of the vegetable growers in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh
Variables Categories Respondents Frequency Respondents Percentage
Young age (up to 30) 24 20.00
Age composition Middle age (31 to 55) 74 61.66
Old age (56 and above) 22 18.34
General caste 37 38.83
Caste Other backward caste 18 15.00
Scheduled caste 41 34.17
Scheduled Tribe 24 20.00
Illiterate 44 36.67
Functionally Literate 32 26.67
Education
Highschool and intermediate 22 18.33
Graduation & above 22 18.33
Small family (below 4) 31 25.83
Family Size Medium family (5 to 9) 55 45.83
Large family (10 and above) 34 28.34
Farming only 52 43.33
Farming + Business 36 30.00
Occupation
Farming + Service 24 20.00
Farming + Business + Service 08 06.67
Marginal Farmers (below 1) hac. 52 43.33
Land holding Small farmers (1.01 to 2.00) hac. 42 35.00
Large farmers (above 2.01) hac. 26 21.64
Small (up to 1) 20 16.66
Annual Income Medium (1.1 to 2.00) 30 25.00
High (2.00 and above) 70 58.34
Low (up to 4) 37 30.84
Social Participation Medium (5 to 8) 62 51.66
High (above to 9) 21 17.50
Low 17 14.17
Mass Media Medium 59 49.16
High 44 36.67
Low 49 40.84
Extension contact Medium 47 39.16
High 24 20.00
Low 23 19.16
Risk taking ability Medium 68 56.67
High 29 24.17
Low 19 15.83
Innovativeness
Medium 72 60.00
High 29 24.17
Low 29 24.16
Leadership Medium 50 41.67
High 41 34.17

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Knowledge level and Extent of adoption respectively. For extent of adoption the respondents were
The respondents were grouped into three categories viz., grouped into three categories viz., low (Below 17), medium
lower-level knowledge, medium level of knowledge and (18 to 34) and high (35 and above) Table 2 shows that
higher level of knowledge. It is evident from table 2 that majority of the respondents (50.00percent) had medium
more than half (41.66 percent) of the vegetable growers had level of adoption followed by (27.50 percent) high and
medium level of knowledge followed by (30.00 percent) and (22.50 percent) had low level of adoption, respectively.
(28.34 percent) had high and low level of knowledge,

Table 2: Distribution of vegetable growers according to their knowledge level and extent of adoption
S.No. Categories Respondents f Respondents %
Low level of knowledge (Below 23) 34 28.34
Knowledge level Medium level of knowledge (24 to 25) 50 41.66
High level of knowledge (26 or above) 36 30.00
Low level of adoption (Below 19) 27 22.50
Extent of adoption Medium level of adoption (20 to 21) 60 50.00
High level of adoption (22 and above) 33 27.50

Correlation studies of various variables with knowledge level and extent of adoption

Table 3: Correlation coefficient of various variables with knowledge level and extent of adoption
Correlation coefficient between Correlation coefficient between
S. No. Variables
variables and knowledge level variables and extent of adoption
1 Age 0.031 0.044
2 Education 0.083 0.088
3 Cast -0.016 -0.106
4 Family size -0.063 -0.087
5 Family type 0.134 -0.087
6 Occupation 0.090 -0.78
7 Land holding 0.019 0.129
8 Farming Experience 0.038 -0.080
9 Annual income -0.050 0.123
10 Social participation 0.112 -0.051
11 Mass media 0.141 -0.056
12 Extension contact -0.276 0.087
13 Risk taking ability 0.027 0.094
14 Innovativeness 0.033 0.88

Table 3 shows that out of fourteen variables i.e., cast, family shown negatively non- significant correlation. All other
size, annual income, extension contact correlated with variables shown on-significant correlation with the
knowledge level they shown negatively non- significant knowledge level. In the correlation study of fourteen
correlation. All other variables shown non-significant variables i.e., occupation shown negatively significant
correlation with the knowledge level. In the correlation correlation with the extent of adoption whereas cast, family
study of fourteen variables i.e., occupation shown size, family type, occupation, farming experience, social
negatively significant correlation with the extent of adoption participation, mass media showed negatively non-significant
whereas cast, family size, family type, occupation, farming correlation and age, education, annual income, extension
experience, social participation, mass media showed contact, risk taking ability, innovativeness showed non-
negatively non-significant correlation and age, education, significant correlation.
annual income, extension contact, risk taking ability,
innovativeness showed non-significant correlation. Conflicts of Interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest.
Conclusion
From the present research it is concluded that majority of Acknowledgement
the respondent’s belonged to middle-aged group, having I express my heartful thanks to department of Ag. Extension
education up to middle illiterate, having high level of annual (Institute of Agriculture and Natural Sciences) during my
income. Their main occupation is vegetable cultivation research work for their valuable advice and support.
having medium size of family. Most of the respondents had
utilizing medium level of mass media. Majority of the References
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