Constraints and suggestions of agro input dealers in providing agro advisory services in Gaya district of Bihar: Garret ranking approach

Abstract

Agri input dealers have played a key stakeholder role in agricultural development due to the resource intensive nature and demand of agricultural production. The present study was conducted in Gaya district of Bihar, India which aimed to identify key constraints faced by agri input dealers and their suggestions in providing agro advisory services. The blocks selected purposively for the study were Gaya, Manpur and Tekari due to large number of dealers present in area due to agricultural land. Data were collected from 320 respondents using pre-tested schedule and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests followed by Garrett ranking. The study inferred that major constraints notified among personal problems were inadequate technical qualification of input dealers in agro-advisory services (GMS-52.07), among socio economic problems lack of belief in agro-advisory services given by input dealers among farmers was ranked highest (GMS-55.26), among technical constraints lack of feasibility and simple recommended technologies was observed highest (GMS-52.10),among Supply, Communication and marketing problems lack of market intelligence at various levels in providing market information to the farmers was noted (GMS-53.54), among situational constraints lack of information on climate change /variability before advising farmers was observed (GMS-54.58), considering infrastructural constraints transportation problem (cost and vehicle availability) while giving field visit to the farmers field was highest (GMS-51.59). Identifying major constraints directs focus areas for training need assessment. The prime suggestion by the respondents was incorporation of need based training.