Assessing farmers' awareness of agro-advisories through Annapurna Krishi Prasar Seva at KVK Palem, Telangana state

Abstract

Agriculture remains a critical sector in developing countries like India, where a significant portion of the population depends on it for their livelihoods. Traditionally, many farmers have relied on conventional agricultural practices over the years. In this context, the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into agricultural extension systems has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing the economic status of rural communities. ICT platforms facilitate the delivery of need-based, location-specific information in a timely and efficient manner, playing a crucial role in improving rural livelihoods. ICT applications now serve a wide range of purposes, including agriculture, business, and social development activities. In agriculture, ICT supports the dissemination of information on crop production technologies, marketing strategies, and the development of both forward and backward linkages for agricultural produce. In the present study, it was found that 47.50% of respondents fell into the medium category, followed by 30.00% in the high category, 13.33% in the low category, and 9.17% in the very low category with respect to their utilization of agro-advisories provided through the Annapurna Krishi Prasar Seva (AKPS). This was Furthermore, most farmers, regardless of the crops they cultivated, demonstrated a high level of knowledge on best management practices. The study also revealed that the knowledge levels of farmers were influenced by the types of seasonal crops they had grown.