Voices from the Field: Profile, Challenges, and Insights of Women Agriculture Officers in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

The study was conducted to study the Profile of Women Agriculture Officers and Challenges and Insights elicited by the Women Agriculture Officers in Andhra Pradesh. Ex Post-Facto research design was followed for the study. The study was conducted in all the thirteen districts of Andhra Pradesh during the year 2020-21. From each of the selected district ten Women Agriculture Officers were selected as respondents by following simple random sampling procedure which constituted to a total of 130 respondents. The data was collected with the help of a Questionnaire through google forms, personal interview method and data obtained was analysed. The detailed analysis of profile of Women Agriculture Officers revealed that majority of WAOs were middle age, completed B.Sc. (Ag.), medium experience, rural background, medium distance travelled from the residence, medium number of trainings undergone, medium number of subordinates working, and using own vehicle for office duties. Among various personal constraints faced by Women Agriculture Officers, the major constraints was lack of Govt. transportation facilities (61.46, Rank I) followed by lack of adequate and equitable sanitation facilities at work place (53.31, Rank II), Among various administrative constraints the major constraints were heavy workload and hectic schedule of working untimely instructions with a mean score of 61.46 (Rank I) followed by cumbersome reporting and documentation 54.08 (Rank II), a mean score of 49.23 was observed . Among various technological constraints the major constraint expressed by majority of them were release of inputs in late season 60.88 (Rank I) followed by lack of location specific technologies 54.73 (Rank II). These results may help the government to prepare an action plan for addressing the constraints by providing required facilities at the workplace.