Use of E-Tools in Agriculture by Farmers of Northern Karnataka: A Comaparative Study
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Date
2018-07
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University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad
Abstract
The study was conducted during 2017-18 on use of e-tools in agriculture by farmers of northern Karnataka. Eight e-tools were selected for the study namely; Krishi Marata Vahini, Raitamitra, Kisan Call Centre, WhatsApp groups, Information Kiosk, Kisan Mobile Advisory Services, Kisan Suvidha and Agromet Advisory Services. A sample of 120 respondents was selected randomly and was personally interviewed using pretested schedule.
Majority of farmers (60.00 %) were under middle age category, 26.66 per cent farmers had education upto high school level, 44.16 per cent of the farmers were belonged to semi medium farmers, 52.50 per cent of the farmers belonged to medium level of annual income category, low extension contact (51.66 %), high mass media utilization (40.00 %), medium decision making ability (44.16 %), medium economic motivation (36.66 %), medium innovative proneness (55.00 %), medium cosmopoliteness (48.33 %), medium organizational participation (44.16 %) and medium scientific orientation (38.33 %).
The results revealed that 35.83 per cent of the respondents had high level of knowledge about e-tools, followed by low (32.50 %) and medium (31.66 %) level of knowledge. Most of the farmers (40.83 %) belonged to low utilisation category of e-tools, followed by high (34.16 %) and medium (25.00 %) utilisation category.
A positive and significant relationship was observed between knowledge level and utilisation pattern and socio economic characteristics such as education, farm size, annual income, extension contacts, innovative proneness, cosmopoliteness and training on e-tools. Whereas, the variable age was found to be negatively and significantly correlated with knowledge level and utilisation pattern.
Lack of awareness about e-tools, poor internet connection, overload of information on the internet and lack of proper training facility were the major constraints in effective utilisation of e-tools by farmers.