By RAMAN NAIR, R Research Guide Dr. G. DEVARAJAN
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AN INVESTIGATIVE AND EVALUATIVE STUDY OF FACTORS AFFECTING QUALITY OF AGRICULTURAL AND FARM INFORMATION SERVICES IN KERALA THESIS Submitted to the University of Kerala in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Library and Information Science by RAMAN NAIR, R Research Guide Dr. G. DEVARAJAN DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF KERALA 2004 AN INVESTIGATIVE AND EVALUATIVE STUDY OF FACTORS AFFECTING QUALITY OF AGRICULTURAL AND FARM INFORMATION SERVICES IN KERALA THESIS Submitted to the University of Kerala in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Library and Information Science by RAMAN NAIR, R Research Guide Dr. G. DEVARAJAN DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF KERALA 2004 UNIVERSITY OF KERALA DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE Phone: (0471) 2478034 University Library Buildings E-mail: [email protected] Thiruvananthapuram –695 034 CERTIFICATE Certified that the thesis entitled An Investigative and Evaluative Study of Factors Affecting Quality of Agricultural and Farm Information Services in Kerala submitted for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Kerala is a record of bona fide research work done independently by Sri. Raman Nair, R under my guidance and supervision and that it has not previously formed the basis for award of any degree, diploma, fellowship or associateship. Dr. G. Devarajan (Supervising Teacher) Professor and Head Thiruvananthapuram Department of Library 01.06.2004 and Information Science University of Kerala DECLARATIION I hereby declare that the thesis entitled An Investigative and Evaluative Study of Factors Affecting Quality of Agricultural and Farm Information Services in Kerala is a bona fide record of research work done by me during the course of research and that the thesis has not previously formed the basis for the award of any degree, diploma, fellowship or associateship or other similar title or recognition of any university or society Thiruvananthapuram Raman Nair, R 01.06.2004 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my sincere gratitude and deep sense of obligation to my supervising teacher Dr. G. Devarajan, Professor and Head of the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kerala, Trivandrum for his valuable guidance, meticulous supervision, constructive comments, and continuous encouragement. The way in which he helped me to perfect the methods and techniques of work and the patience with which he listened, corrected and improved my views and approaches was a unique experience. I am also grateful to Dr. M.S. Sridhar, Library and Documentation, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore who infused interest in the topic, guided me in the earlier stages and remained as a great inspiration throughout the work. I also express my thanks to Dr. S. Rajan, Scientist, Farm Information Bureau, Government of Kerala for helping me to identify the institutions and individuals active in agricultural sector of Kerala which helped me immensely in the field work.. Thanks are also due to the librarians and scientists in charge of information systems of the institutions covered as well as respondents from user's side for their active cooperation without which the study could not have been completed. In this context I would like to make special mention of Ms B. Leela, College of Agriculture, Thiruvananthapuram; Mr. E.K. Mohanlal, Kerala Agricultural University Library, Ms. K. Lathika, Rajeeve Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, A Syamalakumari, Ms. A. Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Mr. V. Ramakrishnan, Centre for Development Studies; Ms. Jayasree Thankam, Kerala State Planning Board; Mr. K. Sankara Pillai, Kerala Forest Research Institute; and Mr. V.S. Kunju Mohammed College of Fisheries, whose support enabled me to contact a large number of users and have their responses and views. I am also grateful to Sri. K.H. Hussain who provided practical suggestions on issues concerning hardware and software aspects for information system development. I extend my gratitude also to Directors and Librarians of ICAR, New Delhi; National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad; National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad and Centre for Agricultural Informatics, Kannur who allowed reference facilities at their libraries. I also owe immense debt of gratitude to my wife Dr. L. Sulochan Devi for all the support given and my children Sankar and Sambhu who spared me for long periods of work, which was in truth the time I owed to them. The period of my research also ran parallel to the toughest days in my professional life. The courage and strength to endure hardships and also continue the studies came from my belief in the ever gracious, all embracing Divine Mother. Finally on this occasion of fulfillment I remember her Lotus Feet in all humility. -Raman Nair, R CONTENTS Acknowledgements viii List of Tables ix List of Figures xii Abbreviations Used xiv 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Definitions and Scope of Agricultural Science 3 1.2 Nature and Use of Agricultural Information 10 1.3 Title of the Study and Definition of Key Terms 26 1.4 Objectives of the Study 27 1.5 Methodology 28 1.6 Hypothesis 31 1.7 Region and Scope 31 1.8 Significance of the Study 40 1.9 Organization of the Study 42 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 47 2.1 Information for Agricultural Development 48 2.2 Agricultural Libraries and Information Systems 52 2.3 Management Trends 64 2.4 Infrastructure Resources 67 2.5 Documentation Works 78 2.6 Resource Sharing 84 2.7 Extending Services to Villages 86 2.8 Automation and Networks 89 2.9 Vision for the Future 92 v 3 INFRASTRUCTURE IN AGRICULTURAL 110 SECTOR OF INDIA AND KERALA 3.1 Historical Perspective 110 3.2 National Agricultural Research and Development System 119 3.3 Agricultural Science in Kerala 127 3.4 ICAR Institutes in Kerala 132 3.5 Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) 135 3.6 Research Institutions under KAU 148 3.7 Organizations under Government and Non Government 165 3.8 Libraries Outside Agricultural Sector 184 3.9 Need for Inter-institutional Participation 187 4 DATA ANALYSIS - I: RESOURCES AND 191 SERVICES IN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF KERALA 4.1 Status of the Institutions 191 4.2 Mandate 192 4.3 Libraries in the Overall Set-up 194 4.4 Internal Organization 199 4.5 Finance 207 4.6 Staff 214 4.7 Collection 216 4.8 Information and Documentation Services 245 5 DATA ANALYSIS - II: POSSIBILITIES FOR 256 RESOURCE SHARING 5.1 Resources in Sub Sectors of Agriculture 257 5.2 Types of Information Resource 257 5.3 Existing Subject Specialization in Collections 261 5.4 Duplication in Journal Subscriptions 275 5.5 Databases in CD ROM 280 vi 5.6 Reference Sources in Digital Form 281 5.7 Agriculture Related Theses Collections 282 5.8 Other Areas for Resource Sharing 285 5.9 Sharing the Resources 291 6 AGRICULTURAL AND FARM INFORMATION 299 SYSTEM FOR KERALA: A PROPOSAL 6.1 Need for an AGFIS 300 6.2 Definition of Information Constituent of AGFIS 304 6.3 Network Development: Levels and Phasing 309 6.4 Common Standards, Formats and Procedures 316 6.5 People and Technology 321 6.6 Services from AGFIS 323 6.7 Organizations and Management 328 6.8 Network Options, Architecture and Communication Topology 334 7 FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 350 7.1 Extending Use of Information Resources 350 7.2 Library in the Institutional Setup 351 7.3 Financial Allocation 354 7.4 Information Resources 355 7.5 The Library Building and Access 360 7.6 Areas for Resource Sharing 361 7.7 Resource Sharing Network 365 7.8 Quality and Utility of the Systems and Services 370 7.9 The Outcome of the Study 372 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 383 vii APPENDICES 1 Library/Information System Questionnaire (for Major Libraries) 412 2 Library/Information System Questionnaire (for Minor Libraries) 420 3 Library/Information System Questionnaire for Users 422 4 Krishi Vijnana Vinimayam: Chodyavali (Questionnaire in 426 Malayalam for the Farmers and the Public) 5 Interview Schedule 427 6 List of Organizations/ Institutions/ Groups in engaged in Agriculture 429 Related Activities in Kerala 7 List of Foreign Journals in Agriculture and Related Areas 434 Subscribed by Institutions in Kerala 8 List of Abstracting Journals in Electronic/Print Medium Subscribed 442 by KAU 9 List of Reference Sources in on Agriculture and Related Areas in 443 Digital Media Held by Institutions in Kerala 10 List of Doctoral Theses on Agriculture and Biosciences in 447 Collections of Selected Institutions 11 List of Audiovisual Resource on Agriculture and Related Areas 459 Held by Institutions in Kerala 12 Computer Hardware/Software for the AGFISNET Demonstration 465 Sites and Participants viii LIST OF TABLES No Description Page 1.1 Disciplines Under Agricultural Sciences 4 1.2 Country wise Published Documents on Agriculture During 1998- 11 2001 1.3 Cultivated Crops and Reared Animals of Kerala and Related 16 Research 1.4 Items of Information Required for Agricultural Production and 22 Marketing and Source Organizations 1.5 Methods and Instruments Used for the Study 29 1.6 Selected Indicators of Progress in Agricultural Sector of Kerala 35 1.7 Year- wise Production of Important Crops in Kerala 36 1.8 Number and Area of Operational Holdings in Kerala 1995-96 38 3.1 Organizations/ Institutions Working in Agricultural Sector of Kerala 130 3.2 Courses Conducted in Colleges under KAU 144 3.3 Zone wise Classification of Agricultural Research Station in Kerala 149 4.1 Functional Divisions Available at Major Agricultural Libraries 203 4.2 Overall Rating of the Library by the Users 204 4.3 Overall Rating of the Library by the Librarians 205 4.4 Total Present Value of Investments Made for Library and 209 Information System of KAU 4.5 Library Budget During 1998-99 to 2002-03 in Major Institutions 209 4.6 Budget of Institutions and Allotment for Library Development 210 During 2002-03 4.7 Spread of Amount for Collection Development Among Various 212 Media During 2002-03 4.8 Staff Strength and Qualifications 213 ix No Description Page 4.9 Distribution of Staff As per Qualification.