L.V.HirevenkanagoudarSwati Chitalkar2016-10-132016-10-132007http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/80468selected for the study based on the highest population covered by the programme. Two villages were selected from each tuluk according to coverage of the progrmme. Totally eight villages were selected and ten beneficiaries and ten non-beneficiaries were selected randomly from each village. So the total sample of the study comprised 160 farmers covering 80 farmers each from beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries groups. Major findings of the study reveals that in agricultural crops the average yield obtained by beneficiaries was 8.94 q/ha in rice, 9.4 q/ha in ragi and 5.66 q/ha in proso millet. In case of non-beneficiaries the average yields obtained was 8.07 q/ha in rice, 6.85 q/ha in ragi and 4.8 q/ha in proso millet. In horticultural crops the average yield obtained by beneficiaries was 75 q/ha in bitter gourd, 118.32 .q/ha in cucumber and 64.79 q/ha in bhendi. In case of non-beneficiaries the average yield obtained was 80.60 q/ha in bitter gourd, 154.45 q/ha in cucumber and 97.30 q/ha in bhendi. Average knowledge index about soil and water conservation practices was 63.44 incase of beneficiaries and 60.47 incase of nonbeneficiaries. In kharif season, about 71.25 per cent of beneficiaries had cultivated horticultural crops while, only 30 per cent of non- beneficiaries had followed this. Significant difference was also observed in perennial cropping pattern as cent per cent of beneficiaries were having .mango-cashew plantation. According to the opinion of 88.75 per cent of beneficiaries, the programme was 'most useful', while majority (52.50%) of non-beneficiaries had ranked this programme into second category i.e., 'usefu'l. Majority (75%) of the beneficiaries expressed the need for providing more irrigation facilities. Majority (75 %) of the programme officers had suggested for flexibility in programme activities as per the needs of the area and establishment of training unit with modern equipments at block level.Thesis