Knowledge Level of Self Help Group Members (SHG) of Anantapur District on Various Farm Enterprises

Abstract

Self Help Groups (SHGs) are small voluntary association of people from the same socioeconomic background with a purpose of solving their common problems through self-help and mutual help. Expos facto research design was used with well constructed interview schedule. Annatapur district was purposively selected based on the highest number of SHGs in Andhra Pradesh. Three Mandals namely Bukkapatnam, Kothacheruvu and Puttaparthi were randomly selected for the research study. Two villages from each mandal were randomly selected and from each village 20 SHG members were selected thus making the total number of respondent 120. During the year 2019-20 the number of SHGs increased by 2.29 lakh with a corresponding increase in saving by Rs. 2,827.57 crore as on March 2020.The saving outstanding of SHG with Banks as on March 2020 has reached an all-time high of Rs. 26,152.05 crore. In view of the economic importance of SHGs in women empowerment a study on Knowledge level of women on various enterprises were taken. Study revealed that 31.66 per cent women SHG members had sound knowledge about Vermicompost bed preparation while 67.5% members possessed partial knowledge about different species of earthworms used. Majority (54.16%) of respondents possessed good knowledge about stage of cutting of fodder and 41.66 per cent women SHG members knew about different products of handy craft.