Horticulture Based Entrepreneurial Development in Uttar Pradesh: Constraints Analysis and Strategic Suggestions

Abstract

The introduction of pesticides for agricultural pest management has become a paradoxical phenomenon, the question is whether it shouldmn, be lauded as a route in achieving food self sufficiency or reproved for ripping the ultimate balance of agro-ecosystem? At the core of this dispute, it is the use of these lethal chemical in cloying manner provoked public outcry. It is imperative to discern the role played by the change agents in ensuring pesticide safety in the fields. The present study made an attempt to measure effectiveness’ of Government organization and input retail shop in promoting pesticide safety as a measure of farmers’ perception using the composite effectiveness index developed for the study. The comparisons were made on individual dimensions (awareness, trust, appropriateness, timeliness and satisfaction) of the index and finally on the overall index score using Mann-Whitney U statistic. Results of critical comparison of government organization and input retail shop based on farmers’ awareness of the pesticide safety services implied that farmers had a higher level of awareness about the services provided by the input retail shops than government institutions. On the trust dimension, government agents were one step ahead than the private service providers. Government agents were considered superior also on timeliness dimension by the farmers. Compared to private institution, highest relevance / appropriateness score was gained by government institutions. Level of satisfaction obtained on pesticide safety services from government institutions was highest than private institutions according to vegetables farmers. The highest score obtained by government agents on all the dimensions except on awareness, was subsequently reflected in overall effectiveness index score, on which the government institutions.