Roles and Linkages Analysis of Stakeholders of Pulses Research and Extension in Uttar Pradesh, India

Stakeholder linkages are interactions among the potential partners or actors and to ensure the exchange of information, knowledge, resources or power among them in reciprocal manner. Study was conducted to analyze the status of structural and functional linkages among key stakeholders in the predominant pulse growing state of Uttar Pradesh, India. A sample of research personnel (37), extension functionaries (65), KVK specialists (30), agri-input dealers (25) and marketing personnel (10) was drawn from operating research & extension organizations, development departments and private sector in the state. Also, the pulse growers (225) representing rainfed and irrigated situations from the seven districts of Uttar Pradesh state were included in the study. Study revealed that there was considerable gap in the actual role performed and desired role as perceived by various stakeholders. The required structural mechanisms were found either non-existent or poorly executed. As a result, there was very high gap (63–100%) in desired (70–100%) and actual functional (0–27%) linkages strength among the selected partners. The sampled stakeholders’ opinion significantly (P<0.01) converged for multi-institutional interactive linkage as compared to the research-extension-farmer linear linkage approach.