International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Nivetha A

abstract
Paddy cultivation continues to play a central role in Kerala’s agrarian economy, contributing significantly to rural livelihoods and food security. Despite the introduction of several government schemes aimed at supporting farmers, disparities in awareness, access, and utilization remain a persistent challenge. The present study was undertaken in the Kuttanad region of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts, which represents the major paddy belt of Kerala, to assess the level of awareness, adoption, and constraints related to government programmes among paddy farmers. A mixed-method approach combining qualitative and quantitative techniques was employed, using semi-structured interviews and a structured questionnaire administered to 120 farmers selected through stratified random sampling. Analytical tools such as percentage analysis and chi-square tests were used to evaluate awareness levels, adoption behaviour, and socio-economic factors influencing participation in key agricultural schemes. The findings revealed that awareness and utilization were high for procurement support and input subsidy schemes, whereas comparatively lower participation was observed in crop insurance and land development assistance programmes. The major barriers identified included cumbersome documentation, delayed benefit disbursement, inadequate guidance from field-level officers, and poor digital literacy among farmers. Education level, size of landholding, and digital competence were found to be significantly associated with both awareness and adoption, underlining the influence of socio-economic factors on scheme participation. The study recommends simplifying administrative procedures, strengthening the role of extension agencies, promoting targeted digital literacy training, and empowering Farmer Producer Organizations and Krishi Bhavans to facilitate last-mile delivery of benefits. These measures would help bridge the gap between policy intent and implementation, improve farmers’ confidence in institutional mechanisms, and enhance the overall efficiency of government interventions. The research contributes to extension literature by providing empirical evidence on the linkage between socio-economic variables and scheme participation, offering useful insights for policymakers to design inclusive, farmer-friendly strategies for sustainable paddy development in Kerala.