Interaction Pattern of Buffalo Farmers with Information Providing Stakeholders in Haryana

The present study was carried out in two agro-climatic zones of Haryana. A total of six blocks were studied from which a total of twelve villages constituted the study area. Ten farmers from each village were selected randomly. A total of 120 buffalo farmers constituted the sample for the present study. An ex-post facto research design was used for the study. The research was planned to study the interaction pattern of the buffalo farmers in Haryana. The study mainly concerns with 'symbolic interaction' i.e., reactions on the basis of behavior and giving meaning to it. It was hypothesized that farmers’ antecedent variables affect their interaction pattern. The existing and desired level of interaction of farmers amongst themselves and with different stakeholders was determined by eliciting their response on a four-point continuum. Modes used by farmers for interaction with various stakeholders were milk cooperative meetings, panchayat meetings, training, buffalo melas, clinical camps, milk recordings, demonstrations, infertility camps, vaccination campaigns and a visit to university. The results thus suggested that there was a significant difference in existing and desired level of interaction of farmers amongst themselves and with different stakeholders. Farmers had the highest existing interaction amongst themselves while they desired maximum interaction with input agencies. Interaction between the farmers and stakeholders needs to be increased through their desired modes to benefit the buffalo farming community, by enhancing their technical knowledge as well as guiding them towards augmenting the animals’ productivity.