International Journal of Farm Sciences

The present investigations were done in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh to study the constraints faced by the rice farmers in input utilization and suggestions to overcome them. Ex-post facto research design was followed for the study and a sample of 120 respondents was drawn. The results of the study revealed that the majority of the rice farmers felt that the high cost of inputs (106) was one of the major constraints and it was ranked first among all the constraints. Exploitation of input dealers (102) followed by non-availability of need-based inputs (94) and lack of skills in application of inputs (86) were major constraints faced by the rice farmers in input utilization. The other constraints included poor quality of inputs (79), adulteration of inputs (74), lack of timely extension support (69), and illiteracy (54). Issuing of license to input dealers was the major suggestion given by the respondents and it ranked first followed by monitoring of new molecules, awareness programmes to use inputs in accordance with climate, regular training programmes to update the latest developments in research, timely extension support and regular supervision by state department.