Comparative Assessment of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) and Constraints of Public and Private Farm Advisory Services in Meghalaya

The SWOT and constraint analysis was applied to examine the setting of organization of the public and private farm advisory services (FAS) and for determining their effectiveness, capabilities and efficiency in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya. KVK, Ri-Bhoi, Umsning block as public extension organization and RRTC, Umran block as private extension organization were selected randomly for the study. Using ex-post facto research design, data were collected from a random sample of 120 farmers and 20 extension officials through personnel interview and focus group discussion with extension officials of both organisations. All the strengths, weaknesses, possible opportunities as well as threats of the two extension systems are compared, with the response received from the respondents from the prepared schedule. Constraints of the farmers and two organization Krishi Vigyan Kandra (KVK) and Rural Resource Training Centre (RRTC) official perceive constraints about the organization is analysed from the response received from the questionnaire. Further the constraints as perceived by farmers and officials in adoption of technologies were enlisted. Then respondents were asked to rank them on the basis of their perception towards the constraints. The major strengths of KVK were the quality of personnel and for RRTC was its brand name. Finance for extension activities and multiple responsibilities were the most frequently experienced constraints expressed by officials of KVK and RRTC. Both public and private organisations have their own strengths and there is need to converge their strengths for overall development of farming community.