Development of Scale to Examine the Attitude Level of Partner Farmers towards Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) in Tumkur District of Karnataka State, India

Abstract

Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs) constitute a cornerstone of India’s agricultural extension system, serving as a primary mechanism for translating research outputs into field-level adoption. Despite their widespread implementation, systematic and empirically validated tools to assess farmers’ attitudes towards FLDs remain limited, constraining evidence-based refinement of extension strategies. Addressing this gap, the present study developed and validated a standardized attitude scale to quantitatively assess partner farmers’ perceptions of FLDs implemented by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in Tumakuru district of Karnataka, India. An ex-post-facto research design was employed, with the study area purposively selected due to the operational presence of two KVKs. Following the Likert–Edwards summated rating approach, an initial pool of 92 attitude statements was generated and progressively refined through expert-based relevancy analysis and rigorous item discrimination testing. The final instrument comprised 21 statistically significant statements demonstrating acceptable internal consistency (reliability coefficient = 0.616, p < 0.01) and strong construct validity (validity coefficient = 0.7623). Application of the scale among 40 groundnut FLD partner farmers revealed predominantly favourable to highly favourable attitudes, particularly regarding the role of FLDs in promoting scientific farming practices, strengthening farmers’ decision-making capacity, and accelerating the adoption of improved technologies. Nevertheless, persistent concerns related to inadequate post-demonstration follow-up, input adequacy, and operational complexity highlight critical implementation bottlenecks. Beyond its empirical findings, the study offers a scalable and policy-relevant measurement framework that can be integrated into routine monitoring and evaluation of FLD programmes at district, state, and national levels. The validated attitude scale provides extension agencies and policymakers with an evidence-based tool to diagnose farmer perceptions, optimize resource allocation, and redesign FLDs for enhanced inclusivity, effectiveness, and impact, thereby contributing to more responsive and outcome-oriented agricultural extension systems.