Evaluating the Impact of Digital Technologies on Agricultural Extension Services in Maharashtra, India

Digital technologies have been transforming agricultural extension and advisory services globally. Understanding the field-level experiences and satisfaction of farmer beneficiaries is critical to ensuring these innovations deliver meaningful impact, especially in the context of developing countries where access to agricultural information is a key driver of farmer livelihoods. Digitalization of agricultural extension and advisory services is also regarded as a significant strategy to sustaining agriculture growth driven by expansion in land use and water resources, to improving productivity of small and marginal farmers, and to achieving challenge of food security. Unlike the classical extension system, the innovative approach to agricultural extension and advisory services empowers farmers by giving them immediate access to important information, personalized recommendations and timely advisory services. This study examines the effectiveness of digital agricultural extension and advisory services implemented in Maharashtra, India with a focus on beneficiary farmers' experiences and satisfaction. It is important to develop the understanding of the impact and implications of digitalization for farmers as that would enable policy makers to frame evidence based policy and aligned them with farmers’ requirements. The qualitative research design involving semi-structured interview method was used to collect the data from forty purposively sampled beneficiary farmers spread over two geographical regions of the State. The information collected is subjected to content analysis. The analysis revealed mixed experiences of farmers with digital agricultural extension services, and underlined existence of teething problems of accessibility, the digital divide and different levels of farmers' technological competence. The study concluded that in order to fully exploit the benefits of digitalization of agriculture extension services, it is crucial to tackle effectively the barriers that hinder access to services tailored to the diverse needs of farmers.