Effectiveness of Agro-Meteorological Advisory Services in Terms of Changes in Knowledge, Adoption, Production and Cropping Pattern among Farmers

Agro-Meteorological Advisory Services (AAS) provide weather-based recommendations intended to inform agricultural decisions. This study examined differences in reported changes in farmers' knowledge, adoption of recommended practices, production and cropping patterns between AAS beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, and assessed associations between selected farmer characteristics and overall AAS effectiveness. An ex-post facto research design was used in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. A total of 160 respondents, comprising 80 beneficiaries and 80 non-beneficiaries from eight villages in four tehsils, were interviewed using a structured schedule. Changes in the four dimensions were assessed using five-point Likert-scale statements, and the data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Among beneficiaries, the proportions classified in the high category were 36.25% for change in knowledge, 33.75% for adoption, 61.25% for production and 48.75% for cropping pattern. The corresponding proportions among non-beneficiaries were 17.50%, 13.75%, 13.75% and 28.75%, respectively. Education, social participation, annual income, risk orientation, innovativeness and mass media contact showed positive, statistically significant correlations with overall effectiveness in both groups. Landholding was significantly associated with effectiveness only among beneficiaries, whereas age and farming experience were not significantly correlated in either group. The findings indicate more favourable reported changes among AAS beneficiaries but do not establish that advisory access caused these differences. These results may inform efforts to improve advisory dissemination and use in the study area.