Farmers’ perception and feedback on the Kisan mela for enhancing agricultural and dairy practices at SKNAU, Jobner

Introduction

Agriculture and dairy farming form the backbone of rural livelihoods in India, providing employment, income, and nutritional security to a large population. In this context, extension activities such as Kisan Melas play a crucial role in bridging the gap between scientific research and fieldlevel practices. These events act as effective platforms for interaction among farmers, scientists, and other stakeholders, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, demonstration of innovations, and promotion of improved agricultural and dairy technologies. According to Badhala (2025) [4] , transfer of technology in agricultural extension refers to the systematic process of disseminating agricultural innovations and research-based practices from scientific institutions to the farming community to improve adoption and practical use. In this context, tools such as kisan mela, demonstrations, field trials and extension activities play an important role in linking research and farm practices. Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner organized a two-day "Rangeelo Kisan Mela -Kisano Ke Sang, Grameen Samriddhi Ke Rang" in collaboration with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Anand, Gujarat, and NDDB Dairy Services, Delhi. The mela showcased exhibitions on animal husbandry, horticulture, agricultural machinery, and innovative farming practices, along with vibrant displays of Rajasthani culture. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation of farmers who actively engaged in technical sessions, exhibitions, and competitions. Kisan Melas significantly contribute to the dissemination of modern agricultural technologies, enhancement of farmers' skills, and awareness regarding government schemes. They also provide a platform for direct interaction with experts, encourage adoption of innovative practices, and ultimately help in improving productivity and income. The present study was undertaken to assess the impact of the mela on farmers' knowledge, attitude, and adoption behaviour based on their feedback regarding various components of the event.

Methodology

The study was conducted during the KisanMela at Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner. A total of 100 farmers were selected randomly to ensure a representative sample. A structured interview schedule was used to collect primary data, covering aspects such as scientific sessions, agricultural exhibitions, cultural programmes, infrastructure facilities, livestock competitions, and the online registration process. The collected data were analyzed using simple statistical tools like frequency and percentage distribution. This method helped in understanding farmers' perceptions and satisfaction levels regarding different activities conducted www.extensionjournal.com during the mela.

Results and Discussion

Table-1 presents the distribution of responses of farmers regarding various components of the "Rangeelo Kisan Mela." The findings indicate that the majority of respondents had a highly favorable perception towards the information provided by university scientists during farmerscientist interactions and technical sessions. About 44 per cent of the respondents rated the information as excellent, followed by an equal proportion (44%) who rated it as very good, while 12 per cent perceived it as good, indicating effective dissemination of scientific knowledge. With respect to the agricultural exhibition, 47 per cent of the farmers considered it inspiring, while 45 per cent found it highly inspiring and only 8 per cent rated it as average, reflecting its strong potential in influencing adoption behaviour. Regarding the major attraction of the mela, more than half of the respondents (53%) reported the animal husbandry exhibition as the main highlight, followed by agricultural exhibition (26%), farmer-scientist interaction (11%), and farmer competitions (10%).

In terms of infrastructural facilities, 60 per cent of the respondents expressed that the drinking water facility was fully satisfactory, whereas 26 per cent rated it as satisfactory. However, 13 per cent felt that there was scope for improvement and only 1 per cent reported dissatisfaction. The farmer interaction sessions, particularly those involving success stories of progressive farmers, were rated as excellent by 55 per cent and very good by 41 per cent of the respondents, indicating their motivational impact.

Similarly, the organization of Rajasthani folk culture, handicrafts, and traditional food received excellent ratings from 55 per cent of the respondents and very good from 40 per cent, demonstrating the cultural relevance and attractiveness of the event. The transparency and management of animal fair award competitions were perceived as excellent by 52 per cent and very good by 47 per cent of the respondents, indicating a high level of trust among farmers. www.extensionjournal.com

A large proportion of respondents (76%) expressed willingness to participate in animal competitions in future, while 18% said "No" and 6% replied "I will consider it". The online registration process was found to be very easy by 64 per cent and easy by 35 per cent of the respondents, indicating the effectiveness of digital facilitation.

Regarding transparency in the animal selection process, 55 per cent of farmers perceived it as fully transparent and 44 per cent as partially transparent. Special exhibitions, including camel, sheep, goat, and IVF-ET calves, were considered highly useful by 56 per cent and useful by 42 per cent of the respondents, highlighting their importance in enhancing rural livelihood opportunities.

In terms of duration preference, a majority (72%) preferred a four-day mela, followed by 22 per cent who preferred two days. The grand animal fair and exhibition of high genetic merit indigenous animals were rated as excellent by 59 per cent and very good by 32 per cent, reflecting high appreciation.

Furthermore, 64 per cent of the respondents reported gaining very high practical knowledge from live demonstrations, while 36 per cent reported high knowledge gain. Similarly, knowledge related to animal nutrition and health management was reported as very high and high by the majority of respondents.

Regarding the knowledge gained about animal nutrition and health management techniques, 63% of respondents reported very high knowledge, 34% reported high, and 3% reported moderate knowledge.

Finally, an overwhelming majority (98%) of the respondents acknowledged the role of the National Dairy Development Board in organizing the Kisan Mela. Overall, the findings clearly suggest that the "Rangeelo Kisan Mela" had a significant and positive impact on farmers' knowledge, attitude, and adoption behaviour, thereby fulfilling its objectives as an effective extension intervention. Similar findings were reported by Ansari and Paswan (2018) [1] , Badhala (2012) [2] , Badhala and Bareth (2013) [3] , Kumar et al. (2019) [5] , Pratap et al. (2019) [6] .

References

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2. Badhala BS. Impact of front line demonstrations on adoption of groundnut production technologies by the farmers of Rajasthan. S.K.R.A.U., Bikaner, Jobner; 2012.
3. Badhala BS, Bareth LS. Constraints of moth bean production technology in arid region of Rajasthan. Agriculture Update. 2013;8(1-2):93-97.
4. Badhala BS. Extension education and communication. New Delhi: Elite Publishing House; 2025. ISBN 97893-7108-348-5.
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