Quantitative Insights into Extension Advisory Services: Enhancing Rural Livelihoods through Evidence-based Analysis

Abstract

Aims: Agricultural extension advisory services (EAS) aim to facilitate development of agriculture and rural sector through transfer of agricultural information and technology. However various literature were published in different forums on various challenges faced by the EAS agents in disseminating effective service to farmer. Hence, this study was taken to evaluate various factors of EAS impacting agriculture development to benefit farming community and for effective policy framing. Study Design: Exploratory-diagnostic research design was employed in the study. Place and Duration of Study: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. January 2012 to January 2024. Methodology: A meta-analysis of selected EAS articles from international data base (Scopus) was carried out with an objective to identify the variables explaining EAS and analysing the relationship between the variables for policy making. Results: On analysing the variables of EAS, four major factors of EAS were identified namely, EAS Purpose, EAS Strategies, EAS Process and EAS Product. The study also revealed that studies focusing on Agricultural and Rural credit were very few, which play a vital role in up scaling of farmers and agricultural sector. The study revealed the need for framing EAS policy for        effective facilitation of Agricultural and Rural Credit for the development of agricultural and rural sector. Conclusion: The study found that while the EAS process included agricultural and rural credit support, its focus was primarily on transferring agricultural information. However, the progress of the agricultural sector relies heavily on farmers' financial capacity to address modern challenges. Integrating EAS with improved credit access could help overcome barriers to scaling up agricultural and rural development. This underscores the need for policies that align EAS with credit facilitation to promote long-term sustainability for farmers.