Determining the Knowledge of Privatization of Agricultural Extension Services and Influencing Factors

The present study was carried out in five districts of Haryana with objective to find out knowledge of farmers regarding various privatization of agricultural extension services (PAES)and relationship between knowledge of PAES and socio economic variables of farmers. All the 200 farmers selected for the study had heard about privatization of agricultural extension services (PAES), gathered information regarding PAES, knew name and location of PAES and utilized PAES for agricultural purposes. They also knew that PAES provided different kinds of inputs like HYV, seedlings, fertilizers, crop protection, spray pumps, infrastructure facilities and value addition to crop produce. More than three-fourth (82.50%) of farmers had high level of knowledge towards PAES. Extension contact (0.198) and education (0.179) were highly significant and positively associated with the knowledge of farmers towards privatization of agricultural extension services. While other important variables like age, family type, occupation, land holding, cropping intensity, irrigation facilities, social participation, socio-economic status, mass media participation, economic motivation, risk preference and scientific orientation were positively associated but found non significant.