A Development Impact Assessment on the Use of ICT (Mobile Phone) in Rural Areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

In the context of the rapid growth of mobile phone penetration in developing countries, mobile telephony is currently considered to be particularly important for development as it may provide an opportunity to address the informational challenges. The research objective is to develop and examine a framework for assessing the impact of mobile phone towards the development of fsocio-economic stipulation in a remote area of Bangladesh as an innovative and effective way. To conduct this research, the authors have promoted an interpretive qualitative research style within a case study context. This research grounded on Communications for Development (C4D) approach for enquiry, analysis and testing. In this research, one of the mobile phone services named Krishi Jigyasha 7676 (agri-solutions service) has been used as ICT intervention in rural areas of Bangladesh. Furthermore, data was collected through personal interview, participant observation, group discussion and questionnaires from the rural community involving in agricultural activities and received information from Krishi Jigyasha 7676 services about their farming. The field results have been analyzed according to Communications for Development (C4D) approaches. Therefore, the field data reflected that how information diffusion improve and resolve the rural communities' agricultural queries and problems to enhance their livelihood.