Vol. 10, Special Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
SK Mayekar, PA Sawant, PM Zagade, VP Gavali and SS Aher

Abstract:
This paper examined the actual Role performance of the Farm input dealers in agro-advisory. The study was conducted at Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district in South Konkan region of Maharashtra. The sample was constituted 120 farm input dealers drawn from three tahsils each from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. The respondents were interviewed with the help of a specially designed schedule. The ex-post facto research design was used for the present study. In study locations the farm input dealers have perceived medium role in providing agro-advisory and transfer of technology. It was revealed that slightly more than three-fifth (61.66 per cent) of the farm input dealers had ‘medium’ role performance. The most performed roles were ‘providing credit based agro- advisory services to the farmers’ followed by the roles ‘delivering and checking relevant and timely agro-advisory services to the farmers in the study area’, ‘conducting demonstrations/ campaign/ shows/ seminars on productive technologies related to different crops to farmers’, ‘visiting the farmers field on fixed day’ and ‘ensuring quality, low cost agro- advisory services to the farmers’. Findings of the study led to conclude that more than three-fifth of the farm input dealers have perceived medium role in transfer of technology. As farm input dealers are linked with supply and service of agricultural inputs, there is more reliance on farm input dealers by the farmers.