Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
HA Chaudhari, GR Patel and PB Chaudhary

Abstract:
Generating and applying new knowledge is important for all enterprises, including farming. New knowledge enhances the productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability in farming, but it is not widely adopted. In this situation, one has to search for new ways and means. Limitations of NARS and AKIS have provided the reasons for the Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) in India. AIS help to understand how the process of agricultural innovation takes place and how its relevance and quality can be enhanced. The transfer of technology is an important role played by the stakeholders through informal meetings in their villages with friends or neighbours twice to thrice in a week, where they exchange the information. Media has also played an important role in creating awareness among the stakeholders and the people. It was worked independently with professional interest. Various stakeholders play different roles that may broadly classified as facilitator, communicator, collaborator coordinator, knowledge source, networking policy formulator and implementer in AIS. The present study was conducted in all six districts (Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Mehsana and Aravalli) of North Gujarat region. Form each district, 5 researchers, 5 extensionist, 5 in-charge of NGOs, 5 manager of private agencies, 10 owner of agro-service providers and 10 progressive farmers were selected. In all, 30 researchers, 30 extensionist, 30 in-charge of NGOs, 30 managers of private agencies, 60 owner of agro-service providers and 60 progressive farmers were selected. This way, 240 stakeholders were included in the study. Majority (86.67%) of the researchers executes their excellent role in AIS. In case of extensionist, little more than half (56.67%) of them performed their excellent role in AIS. Further, 53.33% of the In-charge of NGOs performed their excellent role in AIS. With respect to manager of private agencies, two-third (66.67%) of them performed excellent role in AIS.As far as the agro-service providers were concerned, 58.33% of them performed their good role in AIS. While, 06.67% of agro-service providers executed their excellent role in AIS. Moreover, majority (70.00%) of the progressive farmers performed their good role in AIS.