Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Enhancing Awareness among Farmers about Millet Cultivation

Abstract

Millet cultivation plays a crucial role in enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agriculture through its climate-resilient nature and nutrient-rich composition, contributing to both environmental and human well-being. However, the cultivation of millet has witnessed a decline in recent decades due to a lack of awareness among farmers about its benefits and importance, resulting in a knowledge and information gap. To address this issue, intervention programmes have been designed with specific methods like workshops, field demonstrations, and the distribution of educational materials to empower farmers with knowledge about the nutritional, economic, health, and environmental advantages of millets. This study was conducted in ten villages in Kodumudi blocks in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, to assess the reasons for farmers' hesitation in cultivating millets and to evaluate the impact of the intervention programme on their knowledge and attitudes towards millet cultivation and its health benefits. The results indicate significant correlations between age, education, farm size, farm experience and the reasons for not cultivating millets. The study investigated the impact of an intervention programme on farmers' knowledge and attitudes towards millet cultivation. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected from 477 farmers. The findings revealed significant improvements in farmers' knowledge levels after the programme, with a mean score increase from 48.57 to 52.26. Similarly, attitudes towards millet cultivation showed positive changes, with mean scores rising from 93.86 to 100.46. Results revealed the effectiveness of the programme in promoting informed and sustainable agricultural practices. The findings highlight the importance of enhancing awareness among farmers about the benefits and best practices of millet cultivation to foster its adoption and leverage its numerous advantages.