Usefulness of Kisan Mobile Advisory Service (KMAS) by the farmers in Dharwad and Gadag district of Karnataka.

The study was conducted in Dharwad and Gadag districts in 2013–14, where Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) are involved in transfer of technology through KMAS. Gadag and Shirahatti taluk of Gadag District and Dharwad and Hubli taluk of Dharwad District of Karnataka state. Gadag and Dharwad districts were selected purposively because more number of farmers who registered in KMAS is located in these two districts. KVK Gadag (Operated by NGO) and KVK Dharwad are two institutes are disseminating technology to farmers through KMAS network in these two districts. KMAS SMS related to plant protection perceived as ‘most useful’ (70.83%), Majority (69.17%) of farmers perceived as SMS, s were ‘most useful’ for improving the agriculture knowledge, Majority (60.00%) of farmers perceived as SMS, s were most useful for increasing the farm yield. Regarding overall usefulness, 48.33 per cent of farmers indicated as KMAS was moderately useful to them followed by most useful (26.67%) and less useful (25.00).