Knowledge level of farm women on use of ict through farm women knowledge groups (fwkgs)

Abstract

Empowering women needs a holistic approach to participate in decision making in the household, community and local domestic sector and prepare women to take up leadership position in agricultural activities. Inadequate information, in terms of relevance and timeliness, has been identified as one of the key hindrances in the decision making of farm women in rural community. A study was conducted to analyze the use and knowledge level of farm women on ICT tool and the effect of change in behavior of farm women on the use of ICT tool after the intervention. About sixty farm women belonging to Farm Women Knowledge Group (FWKG) were selected for the study at Alanganallur block, Madurai district. The results reveal that there is a significant increase in the knowledge and use of ICT tools among farm women after their exposure and training on ICT tool. Mobile phone was the most preferred ICT tool used by the farm women. Development of agriculture depends on farm women due to migration of rural men towards urban for livelihood. Thus, ICT technology in agriculture and for other activities is necessary for women in rural areas, which would enable development in rural India.