Development of mobile based technology transfer application system to empower the small ruminant farmers
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Date
2021
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Abstract
Mobile app is one of the means to strengthen the bridge
between research system and farming system. Hence, the
present study has focused to identify and prioritize the
information needs of small ruminant farmers to develop
mobile based application software. Data were collected from
40 researchers of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal
Sciences University, 60 extension personnel of the State
Animal Husbandry Department and 100 small ruminant
farmers of Tirunelveli district by questionnaire method. The
responses for each item were measured on a five point
continuum, i.e. most needed, more needed, needed, less
needed and least needed. The mean was calculated and the
item above the mean, i.e 24 items were considered as the
identified needs that include topics on breed and breeding
(three), feeding (five), management (five), disease control
(six) and marketing (five). Based on the identified and
prioritized needs, the contents were framed in Tamil and
English languages which includes, video clipping and photos
collection. Accordingly, a mobile based application software
was developed in android platform in order to impart the
scientific knowledge of small ruminant farming system in
local language to the end users. Perception on the usefulness
of developed android based mobile app was captured among
60 randomly selected small ruminant farmers and 60
extension personnel who had android mobile phone that
constituted a sample size of 120. The overall perception of
the extension personnel (4.1) and farmers (4.0) on the mobile
app ranged from most satisfactory to satisfactory.