Title: A SCALE TO MEASURE THE ATTITUDE OF FARMERS TOWARDS PM-KUSUM YOJANA

Authors: Swadesh Mourya, Abhijeet Sarje and Mahesh R. Patel

Publisher: The President, Society of Extension Education Gujarat

Keywords: PM-KUSUM Yojana, attitude scale, renewable energy in agriculture, scale product method, farmers' perception

Volume: 41

Issue: 1

Year: June 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56572/gjoee.2026.41.1.0027

Abstract: Agriculture in India is highly dependent on energy-intensive irrigation systems, largely powered by diesel and grid electricity, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and increase the financial burden on farmers. To promote sustainable energy use in agriculture, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) Yojana, encouraging the adoption of solar irrigation pumps through subsidies and incentives. The success of such schemes largely depends on farmers' attitudes, making it essential to develop a reliable and valid instrument to measure them. The present study aimed to develop and standardize an attitude scale to measure farmers' attitudes towards the PM-KUSUM Yojana. The scale was constructed using the Scale Product Method, combining Thurstone's Equal Appearing Interval technique for statement selection and Likert's summated rating method for response measurement. Initially, 20 statements were collected from literature, experts, and field experience; after scrutiny, 16 statements were retained and subjected to judgment by 50 experts. Based on median (scale) values and inter-quartile range (Q), 12 statements were finally selected for inclusion in the scale. The reliability of the scale was tested using the split-half method and Rulon's formula, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.85, indicating high reliability. Content validity was established through expert consultation. The developed attitude scale was found reliable and valid. The scale can be effectively used in future studies to assess farmers' attitudes towards PM-KUSUM and similar renewable energy interventions in agriculture.