Critical Analysis of Mobile Based Agro - Advisory Services: A Case of mKRISHI
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Date
2014
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Publisher
Division of Agricultural Extension, IARI, New Delhi
Abstract
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.
Description
t-9023
Keywords
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