THE ECONOMICAND SOCIAL IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES:A CASESTUDY OF KRISHI BHAVANS IN PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT
Agriculture is very significant for human beings. The purpose of extension is to disseminate advice to farmers. Delivering meaningful extension is not easy as farmers are varied across different communities. Agricultural extension is a factor in promoting productivity and sustainable resource use .In India the weak research-extension-farmer –market linkage should be strengthened. The study is divided into four chapters. The first chapter introduces the topic and the objectives of the study are also stated. The methodology, statement of the problem, review of literature is also stated in the chapter. The second chapter describes about the role of agricultural extension services. The third chapter is primary data analysis which deals with profile of two panchayats in Pathanamthitta district. The fourth chapter mentions about summary, findings, suggestions and conclusions.
The agriculture extension services enhance the productivity of agriculture.Kerala is a consumer state and depends on other states for vegetables. These vegetables contain pesticides which are harmful to human body. So the Krishi Bhavans of both panchayat are indulged in vegetable development programmes. The major crops cultivated include paddy, rubber, nutmeg, dwarf nut etc .In both panchayats vegetable production has increased considerably between 2014 and2016 according to Krishi Bhavan officials.The farmers are members in organizations such as padasekhara samiti ,Haritha Sangam etc. They believe that organistions are helpful in providing information to them. The farmers are members of clusters cultivating vegetables. There are several Self Help Groups such as Kudumbasree which is doing vegetable cultivation. Vegetable cultivation in terrace of houses is also practiced. Krishi Bhavans supply vegetable kits to students, Self Help Groups and other farmers. The vegetable kit includes seeds, ‘grow bags’ and also provides advices for better production. Both the Krishi Bhavans are showing their revenue and expenditure equal in all their records. This clearly shows that they are maintaining their records for accounting purpose..The monitoring and evaluation of the schemes are not done properly.Only a small percentage of farmers are benefitted by the schemes of Krishi Bhavan.
The study reveals that extension services had a positive impact on the society.The role of extension services is significant, but lot of discrepancies had crept into the system.The cost incurred by the government is more than benefit.So a co-ordinated effort from private ,government as well as mass media is required to improve extension. The extension services should be strengthened by turning them into agri-clinics.Krishi Bhavans should be based on ICT and should be given more funds.More people should be benefitted from these extension agencies.The extension agencies should act as capacity builders for youth for sustainable development.