Assessment of Kisan Sarathi in influencing farmers’ knowledge on rabi croppractices: A difference-in-difference approach

SWEETY MUKHERJEE; RABINDRA NATH  PADARIA; RAJARSHI ROY  BURMAN; VINAYAK R  NIKAM; S AISWARYA; GIRIJESH SINGH  MAHRA; KAUSTAV  ADITYA; AMRENDER KUMAR; SUSHMITA  SAINI; SONALI  MALLICK; SUDIP KUMAR  GORAI

doi:10.56093/ijas.v96i5.173527

Authors

SWEETY MUKHERJEE ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
RABINDRA NATH PADARIA ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
RAJARSHI ROY BURMAN Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan-II, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012, India
VINAYAK R NIKAM ICAR- National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, New Delhi 110 012, India
S AISWARYA ICAR- Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, Haryana 125 011, India
GIRIJESH SINGH MAHRA ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
KAUSTAV ADITYA ICAR- Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
AMRENDER KUMAR ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
SUSHMITA SAINI ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
SONALI MALLICK ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Canning Town, West Bengal 743 329, India
SUDIP KUMAR GORAI ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v96i5.173527

Keywords:

Agro-advisory services, Digital extension platform, ICT, Kisan Sarathi, Knowledge test

Abstract

Digital extension platforms have emerged as an important means of strengthening last-mile information delivery in Indian agriculture. Kisan Sarathi, a multimodal and interactive ICT-based advisory system, provides personalised, location-specific recommendations to farmers through Krishi Vigyan Kendras. However, empirical evidence on its effectiveness in enhancing farmers’ knowledge remains limited. The present study conducted during 2024–25, evaluated the contribution of Kisan Sarathi advisories in improving farmers’ knowledge of winter (rabi) crop practices using a Difference-in-Difference (DID) approach. Uttar Pradesh was selected purposively due to its high registration on Kisan Sarathi and extensive area under major rabi crops. A total of 300 farmers were surveyed from three districts selected through a stratified two-stage sampling method, comprising equal numbers of users and non-users. A standardised knowledge test was developed through item collection, expert validation, and item analysis, yielding 17 items that were used for pre- and post-intervention assessments. The DID regression model with cluster-robust standard errors was applied to isolate the causal effect of the advisories. The results showed a significant rise in knowledge scores among Kisan Sarathi users compared to non-users, with the post-intervention experimental group coefficient confirming a strong positive effect. Model diagnostics indicated robustness and moderate explanatory power. The findings demonstrated that Kisan Sarathi substantially enhanced farmers’ knowledge by delivering timely, and needbased advisories. The study concluded that digital extension platforms like Kisan Sarathi can play a significant role in bridging information gaps and improving informed decision-making in agriculture, reinforcing their importance in future extension strategies.

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