Identification

of

Agricultural

Problems

Interview Schedule Method

Mandeep Pujara

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Identification of the important

agricultural problems

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Identification of the important agricultural problems as perceived by the farmers,

community leaders and village level extension functionaries using interview schedule

Village: “Janian”

District:AMRITSAR

State:PUNJAB

Hadbast Number 136

Patwar Halka Name, Janian

Kanugoi Halka Name, Janian

Vidhan Sabha Halka Code:14

Data collection method: Interview Schedule Method

This method of data collection is very much like the collection of data through questionnaire,

with little difference which lies in the fact that schedules (proforma containing a set of questions)

are being filled in by the enumerators who are specially appointed for the purpose. These

enumerators along with schedules, go to respondents, put to them the questions from the

proforma in the order the questions are listed and record the replies in the space meant for the

same in the proforma. In certain situations, schedules may be handed over to respondents and

enumerators may help them in recording their answers to various questions in the said schedules.

Enumerators explain the aims and objects of the investigation and also remove the difficulties

which any respondent may feel in understanding the implications of a particular question or the

definition or concept of difficult terms.

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Definition of Interview Schedule

A interview schedule is a interview with pre-coded question to produce quick, cheap and easy

quantitative data which is high in reliability but low in validity. These methods are favoured by

Positivists but shunned by Interactionists.

Construction of interview schedule

Since interview schedule is similar to mailed questionnaire in all respects step to be followed for

construction of the schedule, its structure and content are same to that of the questionnaire.

However, some of the important steps involved in construction of interview schedule are as

follows:

1.Determination of type of data needed

2. Determination of the respondents level

3. Instrument drafting

4.Evaluation of the draft instrument

The study has been conducted in the block Jandiala Guru Amritsar Punjab, in village “Janian”

for the year 2013, where paddy-wheat is the major crop rotation. From the selected village, 25

farmers were interviewed. The data from selected respondents were collected by interview

schedule method using a specially designed schedule..During the process the farmers identified

problems affecting agriculture and animal husbandry.

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Demography of the Village: Janian Village is a small village near the outskirts of the town of

Jandiala Guru. It is located approximately 2 km from the Jandiala. There is a body called the

Panchayat which is the basic unit of administration for the village. The village is a part of the

Jandiala Guru Block of the state of Punjab.

Population details: The current population of the village is 2958 people. This is a significant

increase from the census taken in 2001 .

Population in 1991 , 1682

Population in 2001

Total 2133

Male 1117

female 1016

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No. of Literates, 1118

Information on the population: The primary language spoken in the village is Punajbi.

No. of Families, 392

No. of SC Members, 149

Number of workers in agriculture

1991 172

2011 309

Number of workers in non agriculture

1991 296

2011 381

Area details of Village(in Hect.)

Area acc. to village 344

Area Under forest(hect) 0

Net sown Area 330

Gross area sown 662

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Area under different crop pattern (hect)

Wheat 259

Rice 270

Cotton 0

Sugarcane 2

Maize 0

Other cereals 5

Oil seeds 0

Area (hect) under Midterm Crops

Toria 2

Sunflower 2

Other(specify) 0

Area under Specific Crops

Medicinal Plants 10

other 0

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Irrigation Sources

Number of tube wells & pumping sets

Electric Operated Diesel Operated Additional Bores

44 17 10

Irrigated Area (Hect.)

Net Irrigated Area 330

Gross Irrigated Area 622

Area under Thur & Sem 0

Flood Affected Area 0

Ground Water Details

Level of Water (feet)

For drinking 110

For irrigation 150

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Agriculture implements

Number of agriculture implements

Tractors 10

Thrashers 9

Reaper 0

Combines(Harvester) 1

Combines(Tractor Operated) 0

Combines(Bio Gas Plants) 0

Village Leadership structure: There is a fully functional local panchayat that holds the

leadership position in Janain village. The head of the Panchayat is known as the Sarpanch. The

village is a part of the Jandiala Guru block, district Amritsar of the state of Punjab.

Occupation: The primary occupation of the residents of Janian village is agriculture. The

agricultural production includes paddy (rice), wheat ,sarson and some vegetables. A number of

about 50 people work outside of Janian village as labourer .Around 40 people are living in

foreign countries.

Schooling: There is a primary and middle schoolin the village. Students must go to a nearby

Village ot town to study secondary school. If a student wants to pursue further education and go

to college, he or she has travel to the nearest town or city. The nearest colleges are located in the

towns of Jandiala ,Tarntaran, Khadoor Sahib and Amritsar.

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Healthcare:There is sub centre and dispensary in the village. The minimum distance a person

must travel to receive proper healthcare is 3 – 5 kilometers in the town of Jandiala.

Availability of power: The village of Janian only receives 8 hours of power per day. There are

no forms of backing up this power, by any form of generators and other such equipment.

Community Projects:There are no NGO/Government initiatives that are ongoing in the village.

The villagers, however, take such initiatives positively and are enthusiastic about any such

schemes/projects.

Cooperative Institution

Number

Agriculture 0

other 1

Membership

Agriculture 50

other 36

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Field Visit for identification of agricultural problems

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Identified Agricultural problems :

1.Inadequacy Of Canal Irrigation Water

Canal channel is available in the village, problem of canal water flow is big problem as channel

is narrow and water does not reach in required volume from canal which is approximately 4-5

kilometer away from vlllage.

2.Inferior Seed Quality And Other Agri Inputs

Seed is a critical and basic input for attaining higher crop yields and sustained growth in

agricultural production. Unfortunately, good quality seeds are out of reach of the majority of

farmers, especially small and marginal farmers mainly because of exorbitant prices of better

seeds and lack of awareness about certified seeds especially for vegetable.

3.Lack Of Proper Agricultural Marketing

Agricultural marketing still continues to be in a bad shape. In the absence of sound marketing

facilities, the farmers have to depend upon local traders and middlemen for the disposal of their

farm produce which is sold at throw-away price.

In most cases, these farmers are forced, under socio-economic conditions, to carry on distress

sale of their produce. In most of small villages, the farmers sell their produce to the money

lender from whom they usually borrow money.

4.Lack Of Inadequate Storage Facilities

Storage facilities in the village is either totally absent or grossly inadequate. Under such

conditions the farmers are compelled to sell their produce immediately after the harvest at the

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prevailing market prices which are bound to be low. Such distress sale deprives the farmers of

their legitimate income.

5.Crop Loss Due To Frost (Wheat, Mustard And Pea)

Every year cop loss occurred due to frost as few people practice mulching and hitech agriculture

practices.

6.Termite Attack in Field

Few years ago ATMA Amritsar has organized termite eradication program undr PPP mode in

this area, farmers has requested extension functionaries to organize this type of program again in

this area .

7.Electricity Problem

8.Non Availability Of Labour

9.Foot And Mouth Disease In Cattle

10.Rat Attack

11.Low Availability Of Fodder

12.Pest Attack In Fodder

13.Lack Of Improved Fodder Varieties

References

Research Methods in Agricultural Extension ,MANAGE, Hyderabad

Binns, T., Hill, T. & Nel, E. (1997). Learning from the people: Participatory rural appraisal,

geography and rural development in the „new‟ South Africa. Applied Geography, 17, 1-9.

The World Bank Group (2002). Impact evaluation: Participatory rural appraisal (PRA).

Retrieved May 1, 2002 from http://www.worldbank.org/poverty/impact/methods/pra.htm

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Sample Interview schedule

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