Lead Farmer Centered Extension Advisory and Delivery Services (LEADS) is a pilot extension system revolving around Lead farmer -Satellite farmer concept on an Agro Ecological Zone basis within a district. The present study was conducted in the Kollam and Palakkad districts of Kerala state to compare the perception level of the farmers towards LEADS regarding the effectiveness in implementation of LEADS of both districts. From the study conducted, it was clear that the perception of farmers was found to be more in Kollam than in Palakkad district in terms of effectiveness of the extension system.

Kerala is a consumer state as far as vegetables are concerned. Major share of the fresh vegetable supply for the state comes from neighbouring states. Promoting vegetable cultivation in the state coupled with suitable marketing mechanism will not only help to make the state self reliant in vegetable production but also ensure year round availability of quality vegetables. The study was conducted in six panchayats of Kollam district in Kerala which includes the selected women groups of Kudumbashree, Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) and Agricultural Technology management Agency (ATMA). There were two categories of respondents viz, members of farm women groups and the extension facilitators. According to the study, majority of the women farmers showed medium level of involvement in the planning, production and marketing aspects of vegetables. It can be inferred that the variable increase in income showed a positive and significant relationship with planning, production and marketing aspects of vegetables. Achievement motivation also showed a significant positive relationship with production.

A study was carried out to identify the constraints in farming on house terraces and in the distribution of grow bags in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in Kerala. The study was conducted in seven wards of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation namely Poojappura, Pettah, Manacaud, Kumarapuram, Karamana, Industrial Estate and Enchakkal. One hundred and five members of urban households involved in farming on house terrace, fifteen extension officials and thirty office bearers of selected residents' associations of the selected wards were the respondents of the study. Regarding the constraints perceived by the respondents on farming on house terrace, 'crop loss due to pests and diseases attack' was perceived as the major constraint and 'low quality grow bags and potting mixture issued by the private agencies' was the major constraint in the distribution and usage of grow bags as perceived by the respondents and office bearers of residents associations. 'Lack of timely availability of funds' was the major constraint in the scheme on farming on house terrace and growbag distribution as perceived by the extension officials.

ABSTRACT

The present study aims to analyse the performance of the (Self Help Groups)