Developing a Scale to Measure the Attitude of the Farmers’ towards Natural Disaster Management
Sandipamu Raahalya *
Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
P. Balasubramaniam
Directorate of Open and Distance Learning, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
M. Nirmala Devi
Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
N. Maragatham
Directorate of Centre for Students’ Welfare, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
R. Gangai Selvi
Department of Physical Sciences and Information Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A scale measuring the attitude of farmers towards disaster management is developed using the equal appearing interval scale method, which comprises of 8 statements finally. (four positive and four negative). The scale is administered to the 240 farmers for the purpose of the study. The study was conducted in Krishna and NTR districts of Andhra Pradesh. Forty farmers from each mandal were selected using proportionate random sampling technique with the help of pretested interview schedule. The results of the study revealed that 76.67 per cent of the respondents were having medium level attitude towards disaster management followed by high (16.67%) and low (6.67%) respectively. From the above findings it is concluded that disaster management team should take necessary steps to change the rate of attitude of farmers towards disaster management.
Keywords: Attitude, disaster management, equal appearing scale, farmer, proportionate random sampling