Macro Management of Agriculture Scheme in Maharashtra: An Evaluation

The Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA) Scheme was one of the major centrally sponsored schemes formulated by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in 2000-2001. This paper evaluates the impact of three schemes under MMA that are implemented in Maharashtra ‒ Integrated Cereal Development Programme, Sustainable Development of Sugarcane-based Cropping System, and Integrated Pest Management under Balanced Integrated use of Fertilizers. There has been an increase in net income as well as yield of generally all the sample farmers as compared to the earlier years. The study however underlines the need for strengthening the extension machinery of the government to improve the outreach of the extension officers and for proper training of the resource persons. It is important to provide basic infrastructure to the farmers which will help them in reaping the benefits of the schemes.