Need for Self-efficacy

Agriculture in India is the means of livelihood of almost two thirds of the people. It has always been most important economic sector. India's dramatic success in green revolution during 60's makes clear that rural transformation can not be achieved without development of farmer's capability and resource mobilization for agriculture. M.S. Swaminathan, eminent agricultural scientist, reported “The Green Revolution of the 1960s was the result of synergy among technology, public policy and farmers’ enthusiasm”. (The Hindu, 15th August, 2007)
Self-efficacy enhances farmers’ enthusiasm. Self-efficacious farmers can overcome all challenges in agriculture by being more adaptive, innovative and controlled.

National Policy of Agriculture

The first ever National Agriculture Policy was announced on 28th July, 2000 .The National Policy on Agriculture seeks to actualize the vast untapped growth potential of Indian agriculture, strengthen rural infrastructure to support faster agricultural development, promote value addition, accelerate the growth of agro business, create employment in rural areas, secure a fair standard of living for the farmers and agriculture workers and their families, discourage migration to urban areas and face the challenges arising out of economic liberalization and globalization. Over the next two decades, it aims to attain:
A growth rate in excess of 4 per cent per annum in the agriculture sector;
Growth that is based on efficient use of resources and conserves our soil, water and bio-diversity;
Growth with equity, i.e., growth which is widespread across regions and farmers;
Growth that is demand driven and caters to domestic markets and maximises benefits from exports of agricultural products in the face of the challenges arising from economic liberalization and globalization;
Growth that is sustainable technologically, environmentally and economically.
Source: http://agricoop.nic.in/agpolicy02.htm

Definition

Farmer self-efficacy refers to Farmer’s judgments of his capabilities to organize and execute courses of action required to attain designated types of agricultural performance .
Self-efficacious farmers are more challenging in facing all the obstacles of farming. They are more sensitive to accept new ideas and more adaptive and innovative.
More adaptive, innovative and challenging farmers are important for agricultural growth of the country. High self-efficacy facilitates enhanced cognitive processes and performance. High self-efficacy for a specific situation allows one to deal better with uncertainty, distress, and conflict. As a result, it acts as preventive measure for psychiatric disorders and for heart attack.
Dutta Roy (2008) has noted that farmers with high self-efficacy motivate towards cultivation of multiple crops (Dutta Roy, 2008).
Gyan Mudra (2007) and TISS (2005) noted that low self-efficacious farmers commit suicide.