An Empirical Assessment of Effectiveness of Agri-Business Entrepreneurs in Enhancing Farmers Income in Maharashtra

The present investigation attempts to assess the functioning of various agri-ventures established by agribusiness entrepreneurs under broad based Agri Clinics and Agribusiness Centres Scheme launched by the Government of India in the early 2000s. The major focus of the study is on evaluating the extent of income generation from crop enterprises for member farmers of agri-ventures as against non-members, aside from identifying benefits accrued to farmers through extension services provided by agri-ventures, examining the factors serving as constraints in providing services to farmers and suggesting measures to strengthen extension services to farmers through agri-ventures. The study showed that the agri-ventures established by agri-entrepreneurs had a positive impact in Maharashtra since the beneficiaries of agri-ventures generated substantially high income from crop enterprises as against their non-beneficiary counterparts. The benefits rendered by agri-ventures to their member farmers in terms of access to farm technology, information on cropping practices, advice on plant protection measures and even on prices prevailing in various markets helped them to derive higher income from crop enterprises as against non-members. The agri-ventures not only extended various inputs, advices and service facilities but also provided various remedial measures to farmers, especially with respect to low germination of seeds, causes for the damage of crops, and created awareness about indiscriminate use of fertilisers. Further, the input supply ventures provided information to farmers on new ideas developed by agricultural research stations, improved crop varieties, improved water management and also information about plant diseases. These extension services helped beneficiaries to increase their productivity as well as income. However, as for the functioning of agribusiness entrepreneurs, one of the suggestions of the study is to enhance their outreach which would consequently provide access to their services to more farmers and benefit them in terms of rise in farm productivity and income.