Present situation of agricultural information needs and accessibility of women farmers in Imbulpe DS division in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Agricultural information and accessibility of women farmers are more crucial for enhancing food production. Thus, the main objectives of this research were to study the present situation of the agricultural information needs and accessibility of the women farmers in Imbulpe Divisional Secretariate (DS) Division of the country. Out of the women farmers of the study area, 238 were selected from the simple random sampling method as the sample for the study. A pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire survey was used as the primary data collection method from March to July 2019. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were used as the data analyzing methods. Based on the findings, women farmers showed that, they need more information regarding improved crop varieties, application of agrochemicals, new cropping systems and irrigation systems. Furthermore, most of the respondents showed that the higher level of accessibility to agricultural information on improved crop varieties. However, a lower level of agricultural information accessibility on suitable storage facilities was observed. Extension agents and successful women farmers act as their major sources of agricultural information. Furthermore, ICT equipment act as the least important agricultural information source. Age, marital status, educational level and monthly income were shown as the considerably higher associatiative variables with the agricultural information accessibility than the size of the farmland and farming experience of them. However, farmland size represented a moderate level of statistically significant positive association with the accessibility of agricultural information for the women farmers. Therefore, agricultural information accessibility can be enhanced by organizing awareness programs and extension service for the women farmers. Moreover, enhancement of accessibility for market information through the ICTs and encouragement of women farmers’ participation in the farming societies of Imbulpe area will be very important to develop the agricultural information accessibility furthermore.