Constraints of agricultural extension and advisory service (AEAS) providers of Meghalaya in nutrition-sensitive extension

The study was conducted to identify and evaluate the constraints faced by Agricultural Extension and Advisory Service (AEAS) providers of Meghalaya in nutrition-sensitive extension. 76 respondents were randomly sampled from public, private and civil society AEAS organisations of East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts. 13 constraints that the AEAS providers may face in relation to nutrition-extension were identified. The respondents were asked to rate the constraints according to the intensity. The constraints having highest intensity score were: low priority for the community; lack of avenues and opportunities on nutrition extension; and lack of training materials and information sources. Private sector AEAS providers had expressed higher intensity of constraint in majority of the constraint items. It is recommended that AEAS organisations need to explore nutrition capacity building opportunities as well as facilitate multisectoral linkages among related organisations. Integrating nutrition at the core mandate of organisational policy so that any agricultural extension activity is undertaken in a nutrition-sensitive manner is also recommended.