Farmers’ awareness and involvement in government agricultural schemes: A study in Coimbatore district

The availability of agricultural credit has significantly improved farming practices in India by enabling farmers to invest in quality inputs and adopt modern techniques.This study, conducted in Coimbatore district, examines farmers' awareness and involvement in government agricultural schemes based on insights from loan providers.Using statistical tools like frequency, percentage, and mean scores, the research reveals that while awareness of key schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is high-89% knew it is mandatory for loanee farmers-knowledge of others like the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), e-NAM, and Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium (SFAC) remains low.Farmers displayed greater involvement during the initial stages of scheme implementation, with mean scores highest in surveying (1.65) and planning (1.61), and lower participation in later stages like implementation, maintenance, and evaluation.Overall, 63.33% of respondents showed medium involvement in government schemes, and only 12.5% had high involvement.The findings underscore the need for enhanced awareness campaigns, farmer training programs, and stronger bank-farmer engagement to improve participation and the effective use of agricultural schemes, thereby promoting inclusive growth and reducing rural poverty.