Constraints Faced by the Coffee Planters in Using ICT Technologies in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Aims: ICT is crucial in bringing cutting-edge technologies to farmers and increasing farm income. However, this is not the case in practice, as farmers confront a number of obstacles when it comes to ICT adoption. Recognizing this issue, a study was conducted to learn about the constraints farmers’ confront when utilising ICT.
 Study Design: A descriptive research design was employed to identify particular constrains faced by coffee growers while employing ICT tools and the data was analysed using specific statistical tools.
 Place and Duration of Study: This study was undertaken on purpose in four coffee board liaison zones of Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu between May 2022 and July 2022. 
 Methodology: In each zone, a sample of 40 farmers was chosen at random, for a total of 160 sample farmers for the study. To examine the objectives, a well-structured and pre-tested interview schedule was employed, and data were obtained through survey in the study region. The data obtained through survey was analysed using garrett’s ranking technique.
 Results: The study discovered that Lack of faith in using ICTs, lack of knowledge about ICTs' advantages, inconsistent power source, inadequate network connections, low proficiency with ICT, inadequate ICT handling abilities, negative perception of ICTs, lack of experience with ICTs in the real world and training, non-availability of multilingual ICT services, not affordable to implement ICT, non-availability of ICT service centres, and High cost of servicing ICTs were the major constraints faced by farmers in the effective use of ICTs.
 Conclusion: Farmers in the study area now have greater access to and availability of ICTs, but in order for the farming community to benefit the most from better access to information services through the use of ICTs for agriculture and other developmental purposes, it is important to make sure that the problems of the farmers are addressed.