Psycho-social Factors as Correlates of Weather Forecast Decision Making Behaviour among Farmers in Andhra Pradesh.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between decision making behaviour of farmers with their different demographic and psychosocial variables taking into cognizance the information regarding weather forecasts. Decision making with respect to agricultural weather forecasting in the present study is the process of choosing the best alternative for the purpose of attaining specific goals involving the resources, environment, economic and personal characteristics of a farmer. Decisions imply the production decisions taken by farmers taking into cognizance the existing weather and information regarding future weather. The study was carried out in Ananthapur, Rangareddy and Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh state with a sample of 180 farmers as respondents. A draft interview schedule with scales, tests etc. for measuring the variables of the study was first developed and pre-tested before data collection. The psychosocial variables (independent variables) numbering 16 were identified as likely predictors of decision making behaviour (dependent variable) of farmers. Correlation and multiple linear regressions were employed to analyze and interpret the data. Regression analysis showed that extension contact, farm size, weather knowledge, innovativeness, achievement orientation and risk orientation contributed positively and significantly towards decision making behaviour. The relative importance of these factors reflects both internal environment and external social relations of farmers that pave way for collective nature of decision making attitude. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for future development of decision-support systems and technology transfer activities to farmers for better adoption of weather forecasts.