A scale to measure self-confidence of rural youth about orchard farming

Abstract

Orchard farming is the fastest growing sector in India and contributes immensely to poverty eradication and nutritional security. This sector has immense scope in India to increase the income and employment for the population and helps in sustaining a large number of industries. Orchard crops play a unique role in the Indian economy by improving the income of the farmers. For understanding the orchard farming adopting self-confidence of rural youth, the scale to measure the orchard farming adopting self-confidence of rural youth was developed. In initial stage, 36 statements reflecting self-confidence of rural youth about orchard farming were collected from relevant literature and discussion with experts of extension and horticulture disciplines. The collected statements were edited according to the criteria laid down by Edward (1957) and then 27 statements reflecting self-confidence of rural youth about orchard farming were selected as they were found to be unambiguous. Based on the median and Q values, 12 statements reflecting self-confidence of rural youth about orchard farming were finally selected to constitute self-confidence scale. The test was found to be reliable (0.81) and valid.