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Browsing Microbiology by Author "R. Roy Burman"

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    Critical Analysis of Mobile Based Agro - Advisory Services: A Case of mKRISHI
    (Division of Agricultural Extension, IARI, New Delhi, 2014) MADAN SINGH; R. Roy Burman
    Agriculture is the main occupation of farming community of India. Indian agriculture is the home of 80 per cent small and marginal farmers. Small holdings also face new challenges on integration of value chains, liberalization and globalization effects, market volatility and vulnerability to climate change etc. Despite the improved interest and investment in agricultural extension in India, such services fail to meet diverse information need of the stakeholders. Given the challenges, the arrival of information communication technology (ICT) is well timed. ICT in agriculture is an emerging field focusing on the improvement of agricultural and rural development in India. It can provide timely accurate and quality information to the farmers which facilitate increased agricultural output.Many information and communication technology (ICT) projects in Indian agriculture have emerged, either substituting or supporting extension services by providing farmers with access to agricultural information. But the content that the ICTs deliver has more relevance if it is localized and context specific, as this improves the value and action ability of the information, which can have greater impact on farm management.Among modern ICT modes, mobile phone has been most recent and widely accepted mode of delivering information to the farmers in developing country including India.Increasing mobile phone and mobile phone based services enhances the availability to knowledge and information and will further help in improving awareness, education, better adoption of technology, better health and efficiency, reduced transaction costs, better market. The present study was conducted on mKRISHI® in Nasik in Maharashtra and Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. An ex-post facto research design was used for the study. The data was collected from 60 beneficiary farmers and 60 control farmers. Besides, 10 extension personnel, KVK scientist and mKRISHI® staff were also selected from each of the two districts for the study. Thus, there were a total of 140 respondents. A structured interview schedule was developed to collect the data from respondents. Most of the farmers perceived that it was highly effective in terms of timeliness of information, quality of information, utility of information, satisfaction of farmers and ease of understanding of the information. Information provided by mKRISHI® helpedin increase in yield, market price and increasedfarm income. Despite of high level satisfaction, there were some constraints which cause hindrance in the smooth running of mKRISHI®. Technological constraints were the most severe in mKRISHI® information delivering and followed by economical constraints. Hence, mKRISHI® had wider impact on the farmers among the sampled respondents. It can be replicated to remaining part of country for effective dissemination of farm technology information.