Socio-economic and personal profile of farmers and challenges of extension strategies under ATMA and RKVY in Khargone District, Madhya Pradesh

Introduction

Agriculture remains the backbone of India's rural economy, providing employment to nearly half of the country's workforce and supporting the livelihoods of millions of small and marginal farmers. In Madhya Pradesh, agriculture contributes significantly to household income and food security, with crops such as wheat, soybean, gram, and various spices forming the mainstay of rural livelihoods. Despite its importance, the sector faces multiple challenges, including fragmented landholdings, low mechanization, limited access to modern technologies, and climatic vulnerabilities. Strengthening agricultural extension services is therefore crucial to enhance productivity, income, and the adoption of improved practices among farmers (Singh & Meena, 2020) [5] . The participation of farmers in government-led programmes such as the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) plays a vital role in transferring knowledge, skills, and resources. These schemes are designed to provide training, input support, field demonstrations, and exposure visits to enhance technical knowledge and decision-making abilities among farmers. However, the effectiveness of these extension strategies is often influenced by farmers' socioeconomic and personal attributes, such as age, education, landholding size, farming experience, income, and social participation. Understanding these attributes is critical for designing programmes that are both inclusive and impactful (Kumar et al., 2019; Patel & Meena, 2018) [1,2] . Despite the availability of such programmes, challenges remain in terms of outreach, regular participation, and the adaptation of recommended practices. Factors such as irregular extension contacts, logistic constraints, limited awareness, and socio-cultural barriers often hinder the optimal utilization of ATMA and RKVY interventions. Hence, a systematic study of farmers' socio-economic and personal profiles, combined with an assessment of the challenges faced in extension strategies, is essential for improving programme effectiveness. This research aims to analyze the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of farmers in Khargone district and examine the constraints in implementing extension strategies under ATMA and RKVY, with the objective of providing actionable recommendations for strengthening agricultural development (Rathod et al., 2017; Sharma et al., 2019) [3,4] .

Materials and Methods

The present study was conducted in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh, purposively selected for its active involvement in agricultural development schemes, particularly ATMA and RKVY. Khargone, located in the southwestern Nimar region, covers 8,030 sq. km with 9 development blocks and over 1,300 villages, and a predominantly rural population of 1,873,046 (2011 Census) with a literacy rate of 63.98%. The district features fertile alluvial and black soils, suitable for crops like cotton, soybean, pulses, and wheat, and experiences a tropical climate with average annual rainfall of 950 mm. For this study, two blocks-Khargone and Barwah-were purposively selected for their active scheme implementation, and two villages from each block (Nahjhiri, Badgaw, Bamanpuri, and Naya) were randomly chosen. A total of 120 respondents, 30 from each village, engaged in farming or allied activities and exposed to ATMA and RKVY programmes, were selected through random sampling to provide relevant insights into the evolution and effectiveness of extension strategies. Primary data for the study were collected through a wellstructured and pre-tested interview schedule to ensure accuracy, clarity, and relevance, while secondary data were sourced from official reports, research publications, and government documents. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to facilitate open discussion with respondents.

The collected data were analyzed using statistical tools such as frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Likert scale, and correlation coefficient to interpret patterns, relationships, and trends, providing a comprehensive understanding of the variables under study.

Results and Discussion

The study titled "Socio-Economic and Personal Profile of Farmers and Challenges of Extension Strategies under ATMA and RKVY in Khargone District, Madhya Pradesh" aimed to examine the socio-economic and personal characteristics of farmers and identify the challenges faced in the implementation of government agricultural extension schemes. Data were collected from selected respondents through a structured interview schedule to ensure reliability and accuracy. The collected information was systematically classified, tabulated, and analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques. The findings highlight farmers' age, education, landholding, income, farming experience, social participation, and sources of information, along with their attitudes toward ATMA and RKVY programs. The chapter also explores key constraints in extension service delivery and farmer preferences, providing insights for improving the effectiveness and reach of these government schemes in the district. The age-wise distribution showed that most respondents (45.00%) were middle-aged (36-55 years), followed by young (31.67%) and older farmers (23.33%), suggesting that the majority are in their economically active years, which may positively influence adoption of improved agricultural practices (Meena & Singh, 2017; Patel et al., 2019) [9,12] . Regarding education, 31.67% had completed secondary school, 23.33% higher secondary, 21.67% primary, 13.33% were graduates, and 10.00% were illiterate, indicating sufficient literacy to comprehend agricultural technologies promoted under ATMA and RKVY (Sharma et al., 2018; Kumar & Chauhan, 2020) [13,6] . Landholding patterns revealed that 31.67% had semimedium (2.01-4 ha), 28.33% small (1.01-2 ha), and 18.33% marginal holdings, with medium and large farmers comprising 16.67% and 5.00%, respectively (Meena et al., 2017; Sharma & Singh, 2020) [10,14] . Farming experience was mainly moderate, with 35.00% having 10.1-15 years, followed by 26.67% with 5.1-10 years, and 23.33% over 15 years, indicating adequate practical exposure for technology adoption (Kumar et al., 2018; Yadav & Meena, 2017) [7,16] . Most respondents (35.00%) had annual incomes of ₹50,001-₹1,00,000, followed by ₹1,00,001-₹1,50,000 (25.00%), reflecting a predominantly lower-middle-income group (Meena & Singh, 2017) [9] . Social participation was moderate to high, with 33.33% members of one organization and 31.67% in two or more groups, while 13.33% held leadership roles, which enhances information access and adoption of innovations (Meena & Singh, 2013; Yadav & Kumar, 2016) [8,16] . [10,7,11] .

Profile of the Respondents

Conclusion

The study in Khargone district indicates that middle-aged, moderately experienced farmers with small to semi-medium landholdings and basic education generally hold positive attitudes towards ATMA and RKVY, strongly influenced by information access (r = 0.509**), extension contact (r = 0.487**), and education (r = 0.471**). Key challenges include lack of timely information (37.5%), financial constraints (25%), and poor coordination, while farmers valued field demonstrations (56.7%) and ICT tools (45%). Overall, participatory, practical, and technology-driven extension approaches, supported by strengthened resources and trained personnel, are essential to enhance scheme effectiveness and farmer adoption.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgmentThe author expresses sincere gratitude to the Chairman of

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