Extension Professionals Preparedness for Demand-Driven Agriculture Extension Services in Nepal

A self-administered survey was conducted among agricultural extension professionals in Nepal in August - September of 2015 to examine their level of competency for demand-driven extension services to estimate the predictors for demand-driven competency, and to identify ways to acquire these competencies. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Data revealed that respondents perceived themselves as having amoderate level of competency. Those with high educational levels perceived themselves as having higher competency. Extension Professionals (ER) viewed preservice, in-service, basic induction, and workshop/seminar/webinar as appropriate ways to acquire competencies. Government professionals leaned much more toward in-service and basic induction training than non-government professionals.

Factors Affecting Agricultural Employee’s Job Satisfaction

For this study, data were gathered from 80 randomly selected agricultural employees. Major planning for their job satisfaction were made for (1) Inducing conducive organizational climate for creative work (x ̅ =4.60), (2) Making necessary decisions during planning(x ̅=4.48), and reducing unnecessary pressure or intimidation (x ̅=4.40). Secondly, recruitment and selection procedure that affects employees job satisfaction includes: Positive step in staffing (x ̅=3.82) and advertisement of vacant positions (x ̅= 3.75). Major challenges affecting employees job satisfaction were inefficient allocation of resources (x ̅=2.04) and absence of special allowances (x ̅= 1.8). Significant relationship (p less than 0.05) existed between employees income (r=0.045), Challenges faced by the employees (r= 0.246,), Planning (r=0.393), Recruitment and Selection (r=0.608) and job satisfaction. For perfect requirement and selection of employees, allocation of appropriate resources and adequate planning must be adopted by the organization.

EDITORIAL-EXTENSION SYSTEMS FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL

The copyrights acquisition of Journal of Extension Systems has now gone to an NGO-Company titled as “Extension Systems Foundation International” registered with the Registrar of Companies under section-8 of Indian Companies act-2013. Henceforth, JES shall be published under the aegis of ESFI. Objects and salient features of its Constitution are enclosed. Authors, submitting their Papers for publication in JES need not to remit a Submission Fee now. Instead, you are required to become a regular Member of ESFI and publish your as many Papers as you want subject to clearance from the Professional Reviewers. JES is peer-review refereed journal. This practice will continue to maintain the quality standard of the journal. Extension Scientists and Development Professionals are invited to address their Manuscripts to the Chief Editor.

HEALTHCARE CONSCIOUSNESS WITH SALT

In recent years, global mobility has significantly changed. So are the strategies to attract international students. In an intense competitive environment of global education market, host countries are targeting students of Asian origin in general and Indian students in particular. Increasing competition has caused complexities in choices and decision making process. Empirical findings of the present study reveal that the decision making process of going abroad for higher education is more rigorous. Distinct ways have been adopted by the students at different levels of education in due course of decision.

HEALTHCARE CONSCIOUSNESS WITH SALT

This is 12th in the series of Articles on Healthcare Consciousness. In this Article, we throw light on “Intake of Salt”, a part of which was published in June-2011 issue of Vol-27(2011). A research that analysed population from 187 countries said that almost 1.65 million people across the world die due to excessive intake of salt. Average consumption of salt across the globe is 3.95 gm per day per person nearly double the 2 gm recommended by World Health Organization. Rate of death from cardiovascular causes associated with Sodium intake is highest in Georgia and lowest in Kenya. In India, India Council of Medical Research found Mean Salt intake at 9 gm per day. This is highly risky level. In order to reduce dietary Sodium, strong policies are need of the hour.

Lessons from Virginia Cooperative Extension A glance at its structure and function

Virginia Cooperative extension is a part of US cooperative extension system operated through Virginia State University and Virginia tech with the support of federal, state and local governments. The structure and function of the Virginia extension has changed to serve the people in changing time, need and space. Unlike other countries, Virginia cooperative extension system is very unique as it provides complete package of extension services to the society guided by the Federal Government of USA. Through its multi-dimensional, multi-structured, and multi-leadership approach, it serves the society in many innovative ways. It provides almost all kinds of advisory services, training, demonstration and support with respect to crop and animal husbandry, industry, weather, safety and human health. In this manuscript, we made an attempt to bring these services before the world. It is based on a review of literature from books, papers, Virginia Cooperative Extension website, and personal discussions and observations. The paper reveals that Virginia tech is an important agent of Virginia extension system with a vast network to educate and train people of the society for sustainability of environment, agriculture and human health that have demonstrative utility for other countries of the world.

CONSTRAINTS PERCEIVED BY TRIBAL WOMEN IN BACKYARD POULTRY FARMING

Backyard poultry farming (BYPF) is an important small enterprise to meet the domestic and socio-cultural needs of the people. Its adoption, however, is limited due to some operational constraints especially among resource-poor tribal women who opted for it. This study was conducted to record these constraints as confronted by tribal women in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. Major constraints identified in this exercise were: high incidence of poultry diseases, lack of suitable germ-plasm, attack of predators, low productivity, lack of knowledge, shortage of space, and complaints raised by neighbours.

Factors Affecting Employees’ Job Performance in Agricultural Development Programme of Northern Nigeria

This study examined Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) employees’ personal characteristics and related factors affecting their job performance in Northern Nigeria. A two-stage sampling procedure was used to select 120 employees. Data were obtained using a structured questionnaire. The results revealed a positive significant relationship between work constraints, farmer, institutional, family and self-related factors affecting ADP employees’ job performance. It is recommended that organisations should put into consideration the related factors in the design of program interventions and their implementation in ensuring a better employee job performance.

Knowledge of Zika Virus (ZIKV) among pregnant women in Ogun state, Nigeria.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by Zika flavivirus. This study assessed the level of knowledge of Zika virus disease among pregnant rural women in Ogun State, Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 150 pregnant women. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that 96 percent of the pregnant women had acquired at least primary school education. Seventy four percent of them had a manageable household size of 1-3 persons. Family and friends (68.90%) were the main sources of information of Zika Virus. Awareness score ranged between 1 and 8 with mean score of 1.50. Majority of the respondents had scores less than the mean score indicating low awareness of Zika Virus. The study further revealed that the knowledge score ranged between 1 and 6 with mean score of 1.74. Majority of the respondents had scores less than the mean indicating low knowledge of Zika Virus. Age (β = 0.02,) Education (β = 2.10), awareness (β = 1.19) and information on Zika virus (β = 1.24) were significantly related to their knowledge of Zika Virus. The study concluded that pregnant women had low awareness and poor knowledge of Zika virus disease. The study recommended that government, health sector professionals/practitioners, rural/community leaders should carry a nationwide campaign about the disease and more effective education programmes among people especially in areas where the epidemic of mosquito-borne diseases prevail.

Editorial-SURROGACY

Worldwide, about 200 million couples are infertile. Almost 15 per cent of them require ART and IVF treatments. Couples who are unable to conceive even after years of trying could use procedure called Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) to get pregnant. These includes Intrauterine Insemination, In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Spern / Egg donation, and Gestational Carriers called “Surrogacy”. People join for Surrogacy when they want to have their genes in the child but can not make it happen in natural course. There are two types of Surrogacy: (1) The man’s sperm and the woman’s ova is injected in the uterus of the surrogate mother who rents out her womb for the child, (2) If the Egg of the mother is not good enough to produce a baby, an Egg is then rented out by donor mother. A tripartite agreement is duly signed according to the terms and conditions prevalent at that time. This Editorial viewed Surrogacy Industry through the lens of intent, efficacy, and its purview.