Assessing the Role of Digital Platforms in Strengthening Agricultural Extension Services: Advisory to Empowerment

Authors

  • Bhartendu Yadav Assistant Professor, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
  • Abhilash Singh Maurya Subject Matter Specialist (Agricultural Extension), Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Raebareli-II (Palti Khera), Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Shubhi Patel Assistant Professor, Narain College, Shikohabad, Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Roop Kumar Assistant Professor, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
  • Atin Kumar School of Agriculture, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2026.62208

Keywords:

Digital platforms, Agriculture, Extension, PCA, Regression, Uttar Pradesh.

Abstract

The study conducted during 2025 explores the contribution of digital platforms in strengthening agricultural extension services and empowering farmers in Uttar Pradesh, India. Using a cross-sectional survey of 400 farmer households selected by stratified random sampling, the study compares digital platform users and non-users in terms of knowledge, empowerment, technology adoption, yield, and income. Validated multi-item scales and indices were used to measure perceived usefulness, digital use, and empowerment, which were supported by reliability and factor analysis. Group differences were tested with t tests and chi-square statistics, while logistic regression assessed the probability of adopting at least three recommended practices, and a multiple regression modelled the determinants of empowerment. The results show that even after controlling for socio-economic and extension variables, digital platform users have significantly higher knowledge, empowerment scores, adoption indices, yield, and net farm income than non-users. Structural analysis shows that digital use influences empowerment both directly and indirectly through knowledge and information self-efficacy, underscoring the role of digital platforms as catalysts to drive the transition from consultation to empowerment.

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References

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Published

2026-03-18

Issue

Vol. 62 No. 2 (2026): Indian Journal of Extension Education (Apr-Jun)

Section

Research Article

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Assessing the Role of Digital Platforms in Strengthening Agricultural Extension Services: Advisory to Empowerment (B. Yadav, A. S. Maurya, S. Patel, R. Kumar, & A. Kumar, Trans.). (2026). Indian Journal of Extension Education, 62(2), 47-53. https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2026.62208