The development of the government's many agricultural development programs is correlated with our country's progress. Active engagement is required for the implementation of development schemes to be successful. With the aim of increasing water use efficiency in the agricultural sector by promoting appropriate technological interventions like drip and sprinkler irrigation technologies and encouraging farmers to use water-saving and conservation techniques, the Government of India has been implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Micro Irrigation. The primary goals of PMKSY are to coordinate irrigation investments at the field level, increase cultivable land under guaranteed irrigation, increase adoption of precision irrigation and other water-saving technologies (more crop per drop), improve aquifer recharge, and introduce sustainable water conservation practises by investigating the viability of reusing treated municipal waste water. Respondents were selected from two Tehsils of Jalgaon district namely Rawer and Yawal and two Tehsils of Ahemednagar district namely Parner and Shrigonda. Tehsils and villages were selected purposively based on maximum number of beneficiaries under the scheme. Total of 160 beneficiary farmers and 160 non-beneficiary farmers were selected for study. The total sample size was 320.Primarily socio-economic and personal characteristic of each beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries was considered for the study. According to the study, Majority of beneficiaries were young age (38.75%)and 40.63 per cent non-beneficiaries were middle aged, per cent and 62.50 per cent beneficiaries of PMKSY and non-beneficiaries are having secondary education,78.75 per cent and 71.25 per cent beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries had medium level of farming experience 26 to 40 years, Majority of beneficiaries(46.25%) and non-beneficiaries (49.38%) had medium level of annual income, majority of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries are under small farmer category i.e. having land 1.01 to 2.00ha, 23.75 per cent and 28.75 per cent of PMKSY beneficiaries and non- beneficiaries had medium. The results also showed that most respondents have medium extension contact, economic motivation and marketing behaviour. The current research is limited by the various issues such as time and other resources were limited because this was a student's research. Because the study's conclusions are based solely on the replies of 320 respondents, its applicability is restricted. The investigator was compelled to restrict the number of variables used for the study due to time and resource constraints.

PMKSY, beneficiaries, Non-beneficiaries, Agriculture and Micro irrigation

Overall findings of the study stated that majority of beneficiary farmers had up to 35 years age received up to secondary education, were having 25 to 40 years farming experience, medium annual income, small land holders, having medium area under vegetable crop, extension contact, mass media exposure, economic motivation and marketing behaviour is medium level. Majority of Non- Beneficiaries middle aged, secondary level education, 25 to 40 years farming experience, medium annual income, having land from 1.01 to 2.00ha, medium level of extension contact, economic motivation and marketing behaviour. The empirical findings of the study can produce helping hands for the future researchers, reviewers, policymakers to study impact of the similar type of research.

P.S. Latambale, S.B. Bhange, P.B. Kharde and R.G. Ghadge (2023). Profile characteristics of the Beneficiary and Non-beneficiary Farmers of PMKSY. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(11): 543-547.