International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
SA Wankhade, PB Kharde, PA Patil and VR Shedge

abstract
The present research investigation was carried out in Ahmednagar district of Western region of Maharashtra state with aim to identify the constraints faced by the ICAR Farmer FIRST Programme participant farmers and to invite suggestions from them to overcome constraints. The ex-post-facto research design of social research was used. Using purposive sampling method, the data was collected from total 300 respondents through personal interview method with the help of structured interview schedule. The statistical tools like frequency and percentage were used for the analysis of the research data collected in this study. The results of the study revealed that that majority of participant farmers faced major constraints of high labour cost followed by scarcity of labour during peak season, lack of source of irrigation facilities and unavailability of electricity, lack of finance for purchasing farm inputs, high cost of insecticides and pesticides and lack of cooperation among farmers.The major suggestions offered by the participant farmers to overcome these constraints were availability of credit on time followed by regular supply of electricity, procedure should be made simple for availability of subsidy, provision of inputs at subsidized rates, proper cooperation among farmers and provision of technical guidance time to time.