Socio-economic and Technological Impact of IARI-Post Office Linkage Extension Model

The need for strengthening frontline extension for wider outreach and effective technology dissemination has been felt widely across the nation. In this context, the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) conceived an innovative approach called IARI-Post office linkage extension model to disseminate improved technologies to remotely located farmers in collaboration with postal department. The present study made an attempt to investigate the socio-economic and technological impact of the technologies disseminated through this model based on ex-post facto research design. Sitapur and Buxar districts were selected purposively from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, respectively as the study locale. Hundred beneficiaries and sixty non beneficiaries along with ten Branch Post Masters and ten KVK scientists of both the districts were taken as respondents. All beneficiary farmers were found to be aware of involvement of Post office in technology dissemination and more than 50 per cent were aware of IARI improved rice and wheat varieties. The small farmers have adopted IARI improved wheat varieties more than the medium and large farmers. Average yield of IARI improved rice and wheat varieties for beneficiaries were also found to be higher than local check varieties. Average profitability of rice was significantly higher for beneficiaries than non-beneficiaries. However, no significant difference was found in case of wheat. It may be concluded that the model intervention had some significant change in socio-economic scenario of farmers which would help in designing appropriate strategy for up-scaling and out-scaling of the model in similar context. It would also help the researchers and policy makers in devising suitable policy framework in future.