Farmers’ perception of the effectiveness of advisory services provided by input dealers in Andhra Pradesh

Agriculture is the cornerstone of the economies of many developing countries with a large proportion of the population relying on farming as their primary livelihood. Many farmers struggle to access timely and accurate agricultural information, especially regarding inputs like seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. Public extension services often fall short, making input dealers a crucial source of advice. This study examines the effectiveness of advisory services provided by input dealers in the Kurnool and Anantapur districts of Andhra Pradesh, India, focusing on farmers’ perceptions and the factors influencing those perceptions. A sample of 120 farmers was selected using simple random sampling in the study area. Data were collected through a structured interview schedule and responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Most of the farmers perceived that input dealers advisory services were moderately effective (50 %). The results indicate that farmers’ value input dealers advisory services mainly for their practical outcomes like yield maximization, pest control and enhancement in profitability. Key factors affecting farmers’ perception on the effectiveness of input dealers advisory services were economic motivation, innovativeness, information seeking behavior, annual income and farm size. This study underscores the importance of input dealers offering customized, high quality advisory services that align with farmers specific needs and economic objectives, ultimately fostering better agricultural practices and stronger dealer farmer relationships.