Gujarat Journal of Extension Education

Title: GROUP DYNAMICS OF FARMER/COMMUNITY INTEREST GROUPS WORKING UNDER ATMA

Authors: S. D. Kavad, S. R. Kumbhani and M. D. Lad

Publisher: The President, Society of Extension Education Gujarat

Keywords: farmer interest groups, commodity interest groups, agriculture technology management agency, group dynamics, association

Volume: 38

Issue: 2

Year: December 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56572/gjoee.2024.38.2.0009

Abstract: Agriculture is the largest unorganized sector in India. Still the farmers never have any vibrant model to organize themselves. In this situation farmers' organizations have its prime importance. The formation / promotion / mobilization of Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) / Commodity Interest Groups (CIGs) is one of the main activities of Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) project. Study was conducted in the six district of South Gujarat, five FIGs / CIGs working under ATMA from each district were selected randomly from the list of FIGs/CIGs. Ten respondents (group members) from each group were selected randomly. Thus, total 300 respondents were interviewed for this study. In the present study, 'Group Dynamics' of the FIGs / CIGs members were quantified with the help of an index called 'Group Dynamics Index (GDI)'. The majority of the members of FIG/CIG are from middle to old age group, having middle school education, living in nuclear family, farming + animal husbandry as main occupation, land holding up to 1 ha., keeping small size of herd, medium level of farming experience, income between Rs. 50,000 to 1 lakh, participated in 2-3 organizations, received two trainings, medium extension contacts, mass media exposure, economic orientation, risk orientation and low market orientation. The members exhibited moderate to strong group dynamics pattern. Highly significant association of 8 identified independent variables found with group dynamics. Stepwise regression shows that 3 variables viz., Economic orientation, Extension contacts and Market orientation have positive maximum effect on Group Dynamics.

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