Determinants of Awareness of Rythu Bharosa Kendra’s (RBK’s) Programmes in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Aim: The present study was taken up to understand the determinants of awareness about government intervention programme (RBK) in Andhra Pradesh Study design: To represent the whole study area, multi-stage random sampling was used. In total, 400 respondents were selected from 4 regions consisting of 100 respondents from each region. Place and duration of study:  The present study was based on primary data collected from the year 2021-22 in Andhra Pradesh Methodology: Binary logistic regression was applied using R software to study the awareness of determinants. Were level of awareness (0 or 1) was regressed against Gender, Age, Literacy Status, Operational Holding, Occupation and Extention Contact. Results: The analysis revealed that the majority of respondents are male (87.75%), of middle age (65.5%), had primary (23%) and secondary education (23%), have marginal (39.5%), small (40.5%) operational holdings, having occupations in agriculture (29.5%) and combined with animal husbandry (35.75%). They had full awareness about agricultural extension, Rythu Bharosa, e-crop booking, and crop insurance. Nearly complete awareness for quality inputs and interest subsidy. Lower awareness is noted for custom hiring centers (78.5 %), agriculture advisory board (64.25%), veterinary services (56%), digital library (48.75%), WhatsApp advisory (49.75%), milk collection (18%), soil testing (15.5%), and seed germination testing (13%). The logistic regression analysis revealed that the explanatory variables like gender, literacy status, operational land holding, occupation and extension contact were the major determinants of awareness among the farmers. A unit increase in these variables favors positively the odds ratio of a farmers regarding RBK services at Andhra Pradesh. Conclusion: The analysis reveals significant insights into the socio-economic profile and awareness of Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) schemes among farmers. A gender disparity highlights the need for targeted support for female farmers. Varied education levels and notable illiteracy indicate the necessity for tailored educational outreach. Enhanced extension services and focused support for small and marginal farmers can improve scheme uptake. Awareness of certain valuable services is low, necessitating targeted campaigns. Effective communication strategies and regular monitoring are crucial for better information dissemination and program refinement, ensuring inclusive and impactful support for the farming community.