Farmers’ extension priorities and service quality of extension agencies: Evidences from Maharashtra state of India

Abstract

The present study was carried out in Akola block of Akola district of Maharashtra to identify the extension priorities of cotton farmers as well as to assess the comparative effectiveness of selected extension agencies, viz. Department of Agriculture, KVK, Input agencies and NGOs against selected service quality indicators.Descriptive statistics were used to analyse extension priorities of the cotton farmers. Major information and training needs were related to pest management and pesticide application while timely access to seeds, fertilizers and pesticides was the major service required. Seventeen indicators under seven dimensions namely ‘access’,’assurance’,’empathy’,’reliability’,’responsiveness’,’tangibility’ and ‘timeliness’ were used for comparison of agencies using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP).The comparison of overall effectiveness of the selected agencies showed that input dealers were most effective followed by department of agriculture and KVK.