Year: 2026 | Month: March | Volume 71 | Issue 1

Farmers’ Willingness to Pay for Agricultural Extension Services in Meghalaya: Evidence from a Cost-Sharing Approach

Kamni P. Biam and L. Devarani
DOI:10.46852/0424-2513.1.2026.14

Abstract:

Sustaining agricultural extension services through complete public funding has become increasingly difficult due to financial and manpower constraints. In this context, the present study examined farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for agricultural extension services (AES) under a cost-sharing approach in Meghalaya and identified the factors influencing their payment decisions. The study was conducted in East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi districts using a multistage purposive-cum-random sampling technique, and data were collected from 60 farmers through structured interview schedules. A modified Ingram’s marketing approach, Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), and Binary Probit Regression were employed for analysis. The findings revealed that farmers showed higher willingness to pay for tangible services such as quality planting materials, piglets, chicks, and fertilizers. About 63.33 percent of respondents were willing to pay for AES, while 80 percent preferred receiving services with up to 80 percent subsidy. Most farmers preferred direct cash payment immediately after availing services. Probit results indicated that education, farm size, and satisfaction with existing extension services significantly influenced farmers’ willingness to pay. The study suggests that a cost-sharing model can enhance sustainability and pluralism in agricultural extension services while ensuring timely and accessible support to farmers.

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