ATTITUDE OF FARMERS TOWARDS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY.
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Date
2019-08-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra.
Abstract
ICT stands for the information and communication technologies which can be broadly interpreted as technologies that facilitate communication, processing and transmission of information by electronic means it is a parasol term that includes the use of any device from mobile phones computer to ATMs. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can bring new information services to the rural areas where the farmer (end user) will have much control than ever before over the current information channels and access to such information sources is a crucial requirement for the sustainable development of the farming systems.
The present study on Attitude of farmers towards Information and Communication technology in Wardha district of Maharashtra state with a sample size of 120 farmers selected from 10 different villages of two tahsils. Data were collected on personal, socio-economic, communication and psychological characteristics of respondent ICT tool user and their knowledge and attitude on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) with the help of pre-structured and pretested interview schedule.
The result showed that, majority of respondents belonged to old age (43.33%), educated up to High school (41.66%), possessed semi-medium land holding (38.33%), low annual income (40.83%), low social participation (78.33%), medium extension contact (64.16%), medium Source of information (63.33%), medium Innovativeness (58.33), medium Risk preference (64.16) and medium Availability of ICT tools (54.16%).
It is observed in extent of usage of ICT tools that a considerable percentage of the respondents obtained information occasionally from mobile regarding weather (58.50) input availability (44.33%), production technologies (79.50%), marketing (54.17%), weather (61.50%), crop insurance (15.25%), government programmes and schemes (40.00%), post-harvest technology (47.50%) and plant protection (45.50%). Information obtained by the respondents through radio, internet regarding agriculture is less and especially through videoconference is very less.
It is observed that 100 per cent respondents said Yes to the statement do you get agriculture information from television followed by 99.16 per cent of them said Yes to the statement Do you get agriculture information in mobile and majority of them said No the statement Documentaries, CDs/DVDs etc provide you detailed information with clear audio and video. In overall majority of them 52.50 per cent of them were under medium category of knowledge about ICT.
It is observed that majority 33.33 per cent of them strongly agreed the statement I like to use ICT tools, 80.00 per cent of them accepted the statement, ICT tools provide you information according the need, 50.00 per cent of them dis-agreed the statement Use of ICT tools will build social value among farmers and 30.00 of them strongly dis-agreed the statement Only literate people can adopt the ICT tools In overall, majority (80.00%) of them were under favorable attitude category.
In relation analysis, the selected variables like education, extension contact, social participation, source of information, innovativeness, risk preference, availability of ICT tools were positively significant with the Knowledge while and remaining variables such as age, land holding, annual income were found to have non-significant relation with knowledge. Whereas relation analysis of independent variables like social participation, extension contact, source of information, innovativeness, risk preference, availability of ICT tools was found positively significant relation with attitude and age, land holding, and annual income were having non-significant relation with attitude.
In case of constraints, almost all respondents (93.00%) accepted the statement Cost of ICT tools is not economical, Lack of proper knowledge about ICT tools (80.66%), Internet availability and its cost for utilization (76.16%), Availability of information is not in local language (74.00%), Lack of training facility about use of ICT tools (71.16%), Frequency of broadcasting and time of broadcasting is not convenient (69.33%), No proper subsidies available to buy ICT tools (68.00%), Socio and psychological interest (67.50%), Lack of educational competency in farmers for using ICT tools (62.00%), No special policies and schemes for ICT (58.16%).
Description
The information and communication technology (ICT) is one of the important driving forces for modern civilization. Knowing the Attitude and Knowledge level of farmers towards ICT and its extent of utilization may help for easy transfer of informations, while by identifying the constraints faced by users during use of ICT tools can help to develop solutions.
Keywords
Social Science, Agricultural Extension.
Citation
G, SRIKER REDDY DATTU REDDY. (2019). Attitude of Farmers Towards Information and Communication Technology. Department of extension education, Nagpur. Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. M. Sc. 2019. Print. xvii, 110p. (unpublished).