Research studies indicate that a proper agribusiness extension service system is needed to aid farmers in reducing cost, increase productivity, and foster sustainability. Such a system would facilitate farmers, who are constantly distressed due to climate change, globalised domestic markets, advanced agricultural technologies, and a multitude of policies, to take timely and appropriate decisions.
Need for a Comprehensive Extension System Government initiatives such as Krishi Vigyan Kendras (at the district level) and the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) have been put in place. There is also assistance through the use of mass media, helplines, and information and communication technology (ICT), which is easily available nowadays. However, hardly 6 per cent of the farmers make use of information from public extension agencies owing to lack of reliable, timely, and cost-effective information to them. The information gap has resulted in huge imbalances in the application of fertilisers, pesticides, and insecticides by the farmers, causing about 20 per cent of the agricultural land to get degraded. Farmers, therefore, need to be provided with comprehensive information about crop planning, crop production—choice of crop and varieties, planting methods, nutrient management, inter-cultural practices, crop protection, harvesting, post-harvest care, value addition, marketing, and risk management—in a way that can be easily understood by them so that they are able to manage their crops effectively.
Details The primary objective of a ‘comprehensive agribusiness extension system’ is agricultural profit, which is possible only if all aspects of agribusiness, such as crop planning, input procurement, crop production, value addition, and marketing, are integrated to provide regular inputs in a user-friendly way.
By putting ICT to use, extension agents, armed with tablets and smartphones, can effectively provide customised information. Various farming practices can be explained to farmers with the help of photographs, videos, animation, graphs, charts, etc. Information can be collected and quickly processed in a format so that any stakeholder can access it.
Real-time data can be used to generate reports during pest attacks to ascertain the incidence and impact. Suggestions for the event/incidence could be provided to the farmers immediately or scientists could be approached for solutions.
Agricultural universities in the region, KVKs, and local NGOs can help the local farmers or farmer producer organisations (FPOs) as raita mitras, the latter being trained diploma holders.
A pilot study conducted in Siruguppa taluk, Ballari district, Karnataka has concluded that there has been an increase of 18 per cent and 85 per cent yield for paddy and cotton, respectively, resulting in net income increase of 78 per cent and 221 per cent from these crops after two years of such intervention.
Such a system is expected to cost about ` 2,500 per farmer per annum in the initial phase and is likely to reach a self-sustainable level once a functioning FPO can be put in place.