The present book has evolved from a research study undertaken to investigate farmers' take-up of agriculture extension services in a new approach and illuminate the blind sport in the make-up of private extension services providers, their functioning and perceived mandate in agriculature and allied sector. The book will be useful for Undergraduate student as well as Post- graduate & Doctoral students in extension discipline, as it presents a critical review and analysis of the farmers' needs, priorities and strategies of private extension service providers in India. The conclusions and recommendations borne out of the study will help policy- makers, extension professionals and private extension services providers to understand the dynamics of farmers' acceptance of services and develop a suitable framework for launching of private extension services by the aspiring organisations/ companies.
Dr. Itigi Prabhakar completed his schooling from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Bellari, Karnataka; Bachelors Degree in Agriculture from University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad in 2008 and Masters Degree in Agriculture Extension and Communication from G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar in 2010. He has completed his Ph.D. from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi in 2015. Further, he pursued Diploma in Rural Development and Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication and Journalism from Karnataka State Open University, Mysore and Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development from Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, Post Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Extension Management from National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad, Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Development and Post Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship Development from Annamalai University. Dr. Prabhakar has significantly contributed in the field of Protected Cultivation Technology by undertaking empirical research with various aspect of protected cultivation in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Dr. Prabhakar has received numerous awards and fellowships including ICAR-JRF Fellowship Award, UGC-JRF&SRF Fellowship Award, ICARSRF Fellowship Award, DST-INSPIRE Fellowship Award, Best Research Paper Presentation Award, Best Research Scholar Award, Young Scientist Award to cite a few. His diverse areas of research range from Extension Management, Impact Studies, Social issues in Protected Cultivation Technologies and Farmers training and development. He has published 27 research papers in National and International Journals. He served as Coordinator in organizing Karnataka Science and TechnologyConference-2014. He served as Assistant Professor at Navsari Agricultural University, Gujarat and presently serving as Assistant Professor and Headin University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, and Karnataka till date. He is actively involved in capacity building programmes for the students in the University. He has also been an excellent sportsman, having participated in national level and SGFI Sports and Games Meet and has-been the university team captain throughout his degree period. He is an excellent orator and has participated and presented research papers in various National and International Conferences. He also completed two Social Science research project funded by RKVY and UHS Bagalkot as Principal Investigator.
Dr. Mohammad Aslam Ansari is presently working as Professor in the Department of Agriculture Communication, College of Agriculture, G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand). He holds a doctorate in Extension Education from IVRI, Izatnagar(U.P., India), He has been awarded Commonwealth Fellowship in 1991for Post-doctoral studies at Centre for Mass Communication Research, University of Leicester (UK). Besides, he has also received Senior Research Fellowship during doctoral studies and UNDP/ICAR scholarship during post-graduation at Pantnagar University. He is Life Member of Five professional associations and Reviewer/ Editorial Board Member of four international journals and five national journals besides being Editor of a monthly farm magazine (Indian Farm Digest) published by Pantnagar University, and chairman of Editorial board of one national journal (Indian Journal of Science Communication). He is also the Founder-chairman of Indian Science Communication Society (www.iscos.org).Dr. Ansari has more than 25 years experience of working in different capacities in various sectors, such as Corporate (MICA), Government (ATI, Neonatal), NGO (PPRC, Lucknow) and Academic sectors (Lucknow University; AAI-DU, Allahabad and G. B. Pant University, Pantnagar).He has published more than 65 research papers in reputed national and international journals besides 40 popular articles in farm magazines; published two books, six book chapters, and guided 18 Masters and 5Ph.D. thesis; attended many national and international conferences in India and abroad. The areas of his research interests include Agricultural Communication, ICT applications in agriculture and rural development, Private extension systems, and Development Communication.
Dr. Swetha, B.S. did her graduation in Agriculture, Post Graduation and Ph.D. in Agriculture Extension with distinction from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. She also holds Post Graduate Diploma in Mass communication and Journalism from Karnataka State Open University, Mysore, Post Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Extension Management from National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad, Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Development and Post Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship Development from Annamalai University. She also had undergone eight higher academic trainings from various national institutes. Her diverse areas of research range from Agriculture Journalism, Impact studies, Rural Women capacity building, Terrace gardening, Farmers Producer organizations, etc. She has more than 15 scientific publications About the Authors / vi in reputed journals to her credit followed by training manuals and extension folders. She has been instrumental in teaching and training of farm families by laying out training programs, field days, radio broadcasts, TV telecasts and Print media. Dr. Swetha has been honored with several awards viz. University Merit Scholarships, DBT-PURSE fellowship, World Sustainable Agriculture Development award on the occasion of World Environment Congress, Outstanding women scientist award from International Conference on food, agriculture and Innovation at Thailand. She had served as Agriculture officer at Karnataka State department of Agriculture for one year. Presently she is working as Assistant Professor and Head, Horticulture Extension Education Unit, Bengaluru, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India since 2013.
