International Journal of Social Science : Vol. 3. No. 4, 471-476, Dec 2014

DOI No. 10.5958/2321-5771.2014.00021.0

Study on access to change agents by the

farm women engaged in paddy cultivation

in West Bengal

Suparna Bose 1 and Sarthak Chowdhury 2

1 Department of Human Resource Development, Jharkhand, India.

2 Department of EES, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, West Bengal, India.

Corresponding author: suparnaghosh2009@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The present study examines farm women’s access to change agents for obtaining

useful information which include market prices, local weather conditions,

pest alerts and medical advice. Farm women’s access to change agents for the

information related to paddy crop was low in the study area. Farm women

distinguished salesman and input dealers as the most credible extension personnel.

The study also noted that the contact between the farm women and the line

department is very weak.

Keywords : Farm women, change agents, socio-personal attributes

Introduction

The exchange of information is vital to the existence of societies, organizations,

and other social groups. Given its importance, it is hardly surprising that this

topic has received considerable research attention. It is of particular importance

in agriculture, given the large numbers of people involved in this activity and its

importance to society and national economics.

A change agent is a person or member of any organisation who develops and

delivers relevant programmes to assist farmers in issues related to agriculture

practices. Over the last several decades considerable effort has been made

throughout the world to provide efficient, effective, and appropriate technology,

training, and information to the women farmers and women on the farm by

the help of change agents. Alene et al. (2008) found that while education and

extension contact had significant effects on overall supply and input demand,

only extension contact had significant effects among women farmers. Premavathi

and Seetharaman (2006) have suggested that extension agents should take