A Study of Farmer’s Awareness Level and Usage of Different ICT Tools

Abstract

ICTs refer to a wide range of technological tools and resources that are specifically developed for the creation, storage, evaluation, and management of information. ICTs have experienced substantial changes in recent years, becoming crucial instruments for expediting agricultural development, especially in developing countries like India. This study examined Haryana farmers' ICT knowledge and use. Agriculture farmers and individual interviews were used in the study. Every farmer underwent thorough interviews to assess their level of knowledge and utilization of ICT resources, such as email, radio, kiosks, computers, and mobile phones. The study analyzed data from 480 farmers, indicating that every participant owned mobile phones that lacked internet connectivity. The findings revealed that all the farmers possess knowledge of fundamental mobile features such as making phone calls and sending SMS messages. However, the majority of respondents reported not utilizing email, radio, kiosks, and computers for agricultural purposes. Surprisingly, 33% of the participants demonstrated proficiency in accessing different online sites, office documents, and presentations. Farmers are increasingly utilizing information and communication technologies (ICTs), like as mobile phones and kiosks, to access precise information regarding crop yield, daily wholesale rates at mandi markets, climatic conditions, crop diseases, and other pertinent agricultural knowledge. It is clear that there is a technology divide in the contemporary era dominated by ICTs, which poses issues for a significant portion of the farming community. The study highlights the importance of implementing focused interventions, such as conducting needs assessments and involving farmers directly, in order to effectively address this disparity. Although cell phones have become essential for farmers, there is still untapped potential for the broad use of various ICT technologies to improve agricultural practices and overall output. Keywords: ICT Awareness, Mobile Usage, internet Usage and Participation of Farmers in ICT.