A Study of Adaptation of Mobile-Based Agri-Advisory Services by Farmers in Yavatmal District

Abstract: Agriculture is one of the key fields in the Indian economy, and mobile technology has brought striking changes in the access to agricultural information by farmers. The present study relates to the impact assessment of mobile-based agri-advisory services, with special reference to Kisan Suvidha App among farmers in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra State. This paper has tried to analyze the level of awareness, adoption, usage pattern, and effectiveness of the Kisan Suvidha App in offering better farming practices, decision-making, and overall productivity enhancement at farm level. A descriptive research design has been adopted for the study. The primary data were related to farmers of Ralegaon Taluka who use the Kisan Suvidha App, through a structured questionnaire. Secondary data were obtained from research papers, journals, reports, and official websites. The data have been analysed with the help of Excel, using different statistical tools like percentage analysis and mean values, along with regression analysis. The finding reveal strong medium –term adoption of the app, with the most farmers using it for 1-4 years and accessing it mainly on a weekly or monthly basis. It documents that the app gained acceptance among farmers, and the majority of them use it for weather-related forecasts, agro-advisory services, and market prices of the commodities. The study points out that the app has a positive influence on decision-making, sowing practice, productivity, and confidence levels among farmers. Services like crop insurance, soil health cards, and storage facilities, however are not utilized by farmers due to a lack of awareness and digital literacy. The study offers useful insights for policymakers, agricultural extension agencies, and agri-tech developers in the quest to strengthen digital advisory services towards sustainable agricultural development.