Constraints and suggestions of farmers to re-orient the agricultural development programmes towards progressiveness

Introduction

Government of Andhra Pradesh along with central schemes has started many agricultural development programmes to improve the status of farmers in the state. The main objective of these development programmes is to make the lives of rural people better or bring them to an advanced stage. Thus, development is a process, whereas progress is what one can get through development. Despite government efforts farmers has been facing some constraints in availing those benefits which restricting the progressiveness. Some of the constraints expressed by previous studies are: Unavailability of planting materials, processed products, livestock species and farm equipment's, poor quality of seeds, inadequacy in ATIC functionaries at the center and distance to the center's unavailability of need-based literature and high cost of publications, Inferior quality of inputs supplied under subsidy, followed by actual cost of subsidized implements was more compared to dealer's price, beneficiaries face unavailability of inputs at the time of peak season, delay in supply of soil sample reports and poor monitoring of the programmes untimely fund allocation, limited quantity as per the programme norms, lack of cooperative marketing system, large number of programmes by large number of development agencies, concern as time and money needed activity, the farmers lack of timely market information, lack of technical advice on method and time of fertilizer application, poor know how of staff on farming practices and schemes, concentration of benefits for more active participants (Pandey and Solanki, 2015; Meena, 2016; Darsana and Suresh, 2018; Vineetha, 2018; Lokesh babu, 2019) [5,4,1,7,3] . Timely supply of quality inputs, easy access to credit, procurement of resources, better marketing practices, training for framers and extension staff and proper implementation of government schemes was the key suggestions highlighted by many studies (Meena, 2016; Tiwari et al., 2016; Lokesh babu, 2019) [4,6,3] . Establishment of cooperative systems, infrastructure development and government support for sustainable farming practices was also mentioned in some studies (Vineetha, 2018; Darsana and Suresh, 2018;) [7,1] . From this we can see that understanding farmers constraints and suggestions helps in knowing difference between policy formulations and field level implementation. The present study was designed to study constraints and suggestions of beneficiary farmers of agricultural development www.extensionjournal.com programmes in Andhra Pradesh. It provide insights for policy makers, extension workers and researchers in framing objectives for the development programmes.

Methodology

The study was conducted in Chittoor and Ananthapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh from 2021. The sample size consists of 180 beneficiary framers. 90 farmers from each of the districts. Beneficiary farmers of the principal crops in the study was considered for the study. Ex-post facto research design was followed in the study. Constraints in the study was operationalized as the factors that restrict the beneficiaries to achieve the objectives of agricultural development programmes at its fullest potential.

Constraints were grouped under financial, input, management, personal, technical and social constraints.

Farmer were asked to mark the constraint in which they are facing difficulty. A score of one was given to each constraint faced by the farmer. Further percentage was calculated to rank the constraints. Suggestions are the ideas put forward by the beneficiaries to overcome the constraints and to improve the agricultural development programmes for higher levels of progressiveness. The suggestions were asked to beneficiaries in open-ended questionnaire. The beneficiaries were asked to give the most important two to three suggestions for each factor of constraints to improve the existing agricultural development programmes. All the suggestions were pooled and discussed based on frequency analysis. Beneficiaries gave for major suggestions to overcome financial constraints (Table 4). Among these informing farmers on how to avail subsidies found to be most important (68.33%). In case of input constraints inputs need to be provided throughout the year was the suggestions given by the respondents (48.33%). Whereas, three major suggestions were recorded under management constraints out of which linking different agricultural development agencies was expressed by majority (63.33%) of beneficiaries. Under personnel constraints suggestions like creating awareness on different programmes (37.22%) and establishing farmer groups (25.56%) was the suggestions recorded. Under social constraints making committees at panchayat level for beneficiary selection was recorded (27.22%) which was novel and need to be taken up.

Results and Discussion

Out of all suggestions timely provision of funds, teaching financial literacy, linking up of different agencies, informing farmers on procedure of getting subsidies were mostly expressed by farmers. The similar research findings were stated by Kumar (2004) [2] and Darsana (2018) [1] .

Conclusion

The study showed that majority of the beneficiaries are facing management constraints, followed by financial and input-related problems, which indicating inefficiency in coordination, fund allocation and unavailability of quality and timely inputs. Among the constraints difficulty in maintain the bill receipts, untimely release of funds, poor and limited supply of inputs and lack of awareness about government schemes secured highest ranks. To address these constraints, beneficiaries suggested timely provision of funds, improving financial literacy among farmers, better coordination between development departments, continuous availability of inputs, establishing local level committees, enhancing awareness about programmes and their benefits and providing training for both farmers and extension staff.

Overall, the findings of the study highlight efficient management and participatory implementation strategies to make the agricultural development programmes more effective for improving the livelihood of the farmers

References

1. Darsana S, Suresha SV. Determinants of farmers' welfare: a special reference to Kerala state. Mysore J Agric Sci. 2018;52(2):219-26.
2. Kumar KS. Adoption of recommended package of practices by the coconut of Mahe region in union territory of Pondicherry. Acharya N.G. Ranga Agric. Univ.; 2004.
3. Lokeshbabu S. Awareness and perception of farmers towards Soil Health Card scheme in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. ANGRAU; 2019.
4. Meena D. Knowledge and Attitude of farmers about agricultural extension programmes in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. ANGRAU; 2016.
5. Pandey M, Solanki D. Constraints faced in utilization of Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) facilities by farm families. J Community Mobil Sustain Dev. 2015;10(1):104-107.
6. Tiwari D, Dinar A. Role and use of economic incentives in irrigated agriculture. Technical paper: World bank. 2002. p. 103-122.
7. Vineetha. Marketing behavior of Groundnut farmers in Ananthapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh. ANGRAU; 2018.