Policies Affect the Application of Information and Communication Technologies by Agricultural Extension Service

Seyed Jamal F Hossein,Gholamreza H Hosseini N,Mehrdad Niknami

doi:10.3844/ajassp.2009.1478.1483

Abstract

Problem statement: The majority of rural population in Iran has limited access to agricultural information. However, bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas has been a major challenge for authorities in Iran. Agricultural extension by its nature can have an important role in this regard. Approach: This study aimed at examining the perception of extension specialists in Iran about appropriate policies that can affect the application of ICTs by extension service. A questionnaire was developed and data was collected from 182 extension specialists. Regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The stepwise method was used in the regression analysis. Results: Results showed 80% of the variance in the policies which affect the application of ICTs by extension service could be explained by three variables, advocating the participation of rural population in ICTs project planning, open source system and the integration of conventional information delivery system with new ICTs. Conclusion and Recommendations: Results showed that in order to deploy ICTS as an appropriate technology for extension service in Iran, financial, social, human and organizational sustainability should be achieved over time. Policies that provide affordable access to information need to be carefully identified and examined. Agricultural extension in Iran needs to address the policy and regulatory issues that impact on the use of the ICTs. The issue is not to replace the existing technologies, but the extension service should integrate the conventional information delivery system with new ICTs.

Highlights

The majority of the population in the developing world lives in rural areas and has little or no access to agricultural information
A majority of respondents agreed that establishing the open source be an appropriate policy for extension service in applying Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
Respondents’ view in this study shows that involvement of the rural organization on telecommunication policy had an important role in promoting the ICTs in rural areas

Summary

Introduction

The majority of the population in the developing world lives in rural areas and has little or no access to agricultural information. Iran is no exception as about one-third of its population, which lives in rural areas, has only limited access to information. During the last two decades, the world has witnessed unprecedented growth in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). ICTs help people to communicate effectively, overcome the limitations of time and space, empower people by providing information and knowledge, provide income-generating and learning opportunities, increase transparency and efficiency in governance and enable people to express their concerns and to actively participate in decisionmaking processes[3]. While getting the essential knowledge to those who need it most remains difficult and expensive, much optimism has been generated as a result of the increased growth and sophistication of new electronic information services. Even in remote rural areas, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are offering new options to deliver knowledge and information to farmers directly and indirectly through knowledge intermediaries[1]

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion