Constraints in Utilization of Market Led Extension Practices by the Farmers

Market led extension is the market orientation of agriculture through extension, with a blend of economics, which aids in reaching the doorsteps of the farming community with the help of appropriate technologies. The present study was conducted with the objective of analyzing the constraints faced by the farmers in utilization of market led extension practices in grape, arecanut and maize crops. Ex-post-facto research design was used for carrying out the study. The study was conducted considering Uttara Kannada district for arecanut, Bagalkot and Vijayapura districts for grapes and Belagavi and Haveri districts for maize. The sample for the study was 240. The Garrett ranking technique was used to rank and analyze the constraints in utilization of market led extension practices as expressed by the farmers. The primary production constraint in all three crops was the higher cost of labour. Existence of numerous middlemen in the value chain was major marketing constraint in grapes, unstable market prices was major marketing constraint in arecanut and inadequate storage facilities which lead to distress sale was major marketing constraint in maize. The significant extension constraint was found to be lack of follow up activities by extension personnel in grapes and maize where as lack of credibility of online channels was significant extension constraint faced by arecanut growers.