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International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2018, Volume : 6, Issue : 3
First page : (534) Last page : (543)
Article doi: : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-6617

Evaluation and Implementation of Village Cluster Adoption Program (VCAP) in Punjab

Dheerj Arora¹* and Khushdeep Dharni²

¹.PG Student, ²Associate Professor,
School of Business Studies, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
*Corresponding Author E-mail: kdharni@pau.edu
Received: 15.05.2018  |  Revised: 22.06.2018   |  Accepted: 28.06.2018  

 

 ABSTRACT

Corporate Social Responsibility is an emerging field which has garnered increased attention in recent years. This study was undertaken to explore implementation and evaluation of a CSR initiative named Village Cluster Adoption Programme (VCAP). For carrying out the research both case study method of research and field survey have been used. For having firsthand knowledge of the initiative five key personnel related to VCAP were interviewed. For studying the implementation and evaluation of VCAP, field survey was conducted in the villages adopted under VCAP. Ninety respondents, selected on the basis of willingness to participate in the study, were included in the sample. Primary data was obtained from respondents with the help of pre structured non disguised questionnaire. For the convenience of the respondents, the questionnaire was administered after translating it in Punjabi language. To fulfil the objectives enquiries were made regarding the main issues like awareness about VCAP, media used for spreading awareness, main achievements and overall benefits of the programme. From the results it was found that the respondents were well aware about Farmers Field School being run under VCAP and various facilities and reading material being made available at these schools. Training under expert guidance and contamination free post harvest handling and storage were the key components of VCAP. Respondents considered training at Farmers’ Field Schools as the most important activity. Introduction of latest scientific techniques and making available enough reading material were also considered important under VCAP. Major benefits available from VCAP were Knowledge about Agricultural Practices, Expert Advice and Improvement in quality and yield of cotton. Comparison of pre-VCAP and post-VCAP data showed that there was an increase in cotton yield by at least 225 kg per hectare and about 30 per cent increase in area under cotton cultivation.

Key words: CSR, Evaluation, Implementation, Farmer, Punjab

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Arora, D. and Dharni, K., Evaluation and Implementation of Village Cluster Adoption Program (VCAP) in Punjab, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.6(3): 534-543 (2018). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6617