Accessible places and purposes of uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among KVKs scientists of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

Abstract

Now-a-days agricultural extension is facing a large quantity of innovations, discoveries and information in different fields of science, skills and agricultural technology and has got the latest findings from the resources of producing information and make it accessible for the users and for being successful in this important matters, it is necessary to have a powerful and effective informing system (Bassak Harouni et al., 2012). ICT in agriculture offers a wide range of solutions to some agricultural challenges. It is seen as an emerging field focusing on the improvement of agricultural and rural development through improved information and communication processes. The mission is to make cost effective ICT based systems. These technologies besides improving the accessibility of the information for the farmers makes it possible for the providers of the extensional services to compete in a better and healthier environment. ICTs can be used to increase effectiveness and efficiency of extension system. Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s (KVK) scientists are playing a proactive role in transferring new technology at field level with beneficial impacts. So, in this era of information revolution, the KVKs Scientists should be encouraged to use ICTs for different extension activities and field works. Hence, an attempt was made through a research study was undertaken for 304 scientists working in different KVKs in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, to find out the accessible places and purposes of uses of ICTs among KVKs Scientists. The findings of the study revealed that vast majority (80.20%) of the respondents have the accessibility of mobile phone at office and home followed by computer system (61.88%), Internet Services (51.98%) and other ICT tools, Similarly in case of purpose of use of ICT tools by KVK scientists, majority of the respondents (100%) were using ICT tools for Social media followed by, Report writing (100%), Hooked up web based information (99.51%), Data storage (99.01%), Presentations (98.52%), Information retrieval/ data updating, Typing (98.02%) and so on respectively.