Comparative analysis of dairy husbandry knowledge and adoption levels among Andhra Pradesh dairy farmers through YouTube and WhatsApp

Abstract

Increase in production in dairy farming is intricately linked with the augmentation of knowledge. Central to this correlation are the information sources utilized, which play a pivotal role in enhancing knowledge levels and subsequently influencing the adoption levels of dairy husbandry practices. Thus, this study aims to comprehensively elucidate the knowledge and adoption levels of dairy husbandry practices among dairy farmers who relied primarily on information sources such as WhatsApp and YouTube. Six villages in the Andhra Pradesh districts of Visakhapatnam, Prakasam and Chittoor were chosen at random for the study. Twenty dairy farmers were chosen at random from each village, and they were divided into two groups of ten in accordance with how frequently they used WhatsApp and YouTube for information. Farmers who primarily rely on WhatsApp were assigned to one group, while those who primarily rely on YouTube were assigned to another. Thus, 60 farmers who utilize YouTube and 60 farmers who utilize WhatsApp comprised the sample. It was observed that 10.1 percent of YouTube and 8.33 percent of WhatsApp group farmers had high levels of knowledge on dairy husbandry practices whereas 11.67 percent of YouTube and 10 percent of WhatsApp group farmers had high adoption levels of dairy husbandry practices.