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Use of Knowledge System in the Rural Community in Improving Livelihood Status of the Farmers Under Rdrs

M.S. ISLAM
Dept. of Agril. Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

M.E. UDDIN
Dept. of Agril. Extension and Rural Development, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

M.U. RASHID
Dept. of Agril. Extension and Rural Development, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was focused to determine the extent of use of knowledge system in improving livelihood status of the farmers. The relationship between selected characteristics of the farmers and extent of use of knowledge system in improving their livelihood status was also explored. The study was conducted in Raipur Union of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila under Thakurgaon District. The population of the study was 146 and seventy percent of the population was selected at random and as such 101 farmers were selected as sample. Data were collected through interview schedule by the researcher himself during 07 February to 28 March 2004. The majority (69 percent) of the respondents possessed medium extent of knowledge while 17 percent low and 14 percent possessed high extent of knowledge on livelihood. Out of thirteen selected characteristics of the respondents level of literacy, farm size, and annual income, farming and living expenditure, innovativeness, communication exposure, cosmopoliteness, organizational participation, aspiration and fatalism had positive significant relationship with the extent of use of knowledge system in improving livelihood status

Keywords: Information system, Livelihood status, Farmers

Location: Raipur union of Sadar Upazilla under Thakurgoan district

Start Date: 07-02-2004

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Social status

Objectives:

To address the extent of use of knowledge system and its impact on their socioeconomic development in improving livelihood status of farmers.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in Raipur union of Sadar Upazilla under Thakurgoan district where knowledge and information system (KIS) project was being implemented by RDRS; this was implemented in different villages of Raipur Union by organizing ten (10) groups. The present study was conducted in ten (10) groups including five male and five female groups. In order to identify the population for the study a list of KIS group member was collected from the RDRS extension worker known as KIS team member. The entire KIS group members were considered as the population of this study. In this project total 146 farmers were directly involved dividing in 10 groups. The groups were popularly known as KIS groups. Each group has a farmer promoter and a co-promoter within the group members. Seventy percent farmers from the KIS group members were randomly selected by simple random sampling method (Kerlinger, 1973). In this way 50 male farmers and 51 female farmers were selected as sample from five male groups and five female groups. Thus, the sample size of the research was 101. Data were collected during 07 February to 28 March 2004. The dependent variable of the investigation was extent of use of knowledge system in improving livelihood status of the farmers under RDRS. The independent variables of this study were 13 selected characteristics of the farmers of KIS group. These were age, level of literacy, family size, farm size, annual income, farming and living expenditure. Innovativeness, decision making ability, communication exposure, cosmopoliteness, organizational participation, aspiration and fatalism. Extent of use of knowledge system in improving livelihood status of a respondent was measured on the basis of their use of different kind of knowledge sources. Farmer’s knowledge on livelihood of respondents was measured by making the correct responses of 58 different kinds of questions in relation to various aspects of livelihoods. It was measured in score. The assigned score of each question was not equal. It was calculated according to the nature of questions and answers. The total assigned score of all the questions was 120. A respondent answering a question correctly obtained full scores while for wrong answer he/she obtained zero score. There were some answers which were scored in between zero to full score assigned according to the grade of responses obtained. Each of the questions has one, two or three marks and for correct response, a respondent was given full marks (1, 2 or 3) and 1.5 or 2.5 for partially correct answer while 0 for the wrong answer or no answer. The summation of marks obtained by a respondent was the knowledge score of the respondent. The knowledge on livelihood score could range from 0 to 120, where 0 indicating no knowledge and 120 indicating very high knowledge on livelihood. Use of Knowledge System in the Rural Community in Improving Livelihood Status of the Farmers

Source of Information: J Agric Rural Dev 5(1&2), 167-172, June 2007 ISSN 1810-1860

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The findings of the study revealed that majority (83 percent) of the farmers were medium to high user of knowledge system. It may due to the fact that all of the respondents were involved in RDRS activities and received training from RDRS on different aspects of livelihood especially on income generating activities. At the same time they received training from DAE, youth development department and other such organizations arranged by RDRS. These training increased farmers' knowledge and awareness on improved livelihood and status in the rural community. Knowledge on livelihood of the farmers had significant positive relationship with their education, farm size, annual income, farming and living expenditure, innovativeness, communication exposure, cosmopoliteness, organizational participation, aspiration and fatalism while decision making ability of the respondents had negative insignificant relationship with the extent of use of knowledge system on livelihood. Therefore, it may concluded that the factors related to farmers knowledge should be carefully considered and necessary steps should be taken to improve the overall knowledge status.

Knowledge Management: Journal