Effectiveness and perceived significance of the Indian agricultural information sources-a comparative study from Raichur district of Karnataka

Across the globe, studies have been conducted in drought-affected areas and proved the significance of information sources and found to have a positive impact in creating awareness about new alternative and agricultural technology on improving the livelihood of the farmers. Against this backdrop, the present study on the effectiveness of information sources and their perceived significance in diversifying the livelihood was conducted in the Raichur district of Karnataka. Among the total selected samples for the study, 200 were rainfed, and 200 were irrigated farmers. The study revealed that the awareness about the different extension service mechanisms, like agriculture portals, Panchayat level meetings, and SMS sent by the regulated markets found very low in the rainfed respondents compared to irrigated respondents. Further, the perceived importance of the extension officers was found low among the small farmholders. Hence, the strategy suggested in this study is, there is a need of information inclusion. For that there is a need to improve the efficiency of the extension and agricultural information system. To do so a coordinated and holistic approach need to be taken up from the concerned departments. The formulated approch should be implemented effectively at ground level using all the actors and stakeholders in the society keeping the fact farmer is the last resort of the human kind.