Constraints experienced by beneficiary cotton growers under the crop pest surveillance and advisory project and suggestions recommended by them

This study was carried out to examine the Constraints experienced by beneficiary cotton growers under the Crop Pest Surveillance and Advisory Project and suggestions recommended by them. The research was conducted in Ardhapur, Kandhar, and Loha tehsils of Nanded district of Maharashtra. The major constraints reported by cotton growers included non-availability of feedback facility to massages provided through CROPSAP (81.33%), non-availability of plant protection measures on time (58.66%), lack of proper categorization of farmers based on their requirements (53.33%), Irregularity in providing weather advisories (49.33%), Complex information conveyed through SMS (48.00%), Unawareness about advantages of SMS advisories (40.00%), and Poor network connectivity (24.00%). Key suggestions of cotton growers included Ensuring availability of feedback facility (81.33%), Ensuring timely dissemination of plant protection measures related text on time (70.66%), Delivering advisories according to specific needs of farmers (68.00%), Ensuring regular visits of extension personnels (65.33%), providing accurate and timely weather advisory services (61.33%), Simplifying SMS content for easy understanding (60.00%), and Improving network connectivity in villages (29.33%).