To Assess the Knowledge Level of Farmers on ICT Interventions in Agri-Allied Enterprises

Abstract

Agriculture is a major part of our economy and the related industries that support it are essential to giving farmers more advantages. Modern agriculture depends on timely and reliable information regarding market access, weather forecasting, and agricultural inputs, among other things. But farmers do not receive adequate information about the market, weather forecasts, etc. because of a lack of physical infrastructure, awareness, and information. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is an effective way for develop and raise the agriculture standard. The main objective of this study was to access the knowledge level of ICTs among farmers for getting different Agriculture Information. There in regards, extensive use of information technologies must be promoted to farm level for transfer of technologies. The study was conducted during the year 2019 to assess the attitude of farmers towards information and communication technology tools in two blocks i.e., Balianta and Balipatna of Khurda district of Odisha. Pre-structured interview schedule was used for data collection from the farmers and appropriate statistical tools were used to analyse the collected data. Proportionate random sampling was used in the selection of one hundred and twenty (120) farmers as the sample of the study. The outcomes confirmed that majority of the respondents had good knowledge on television with a mean score of 2.83. Majority of the respondents had awareness on advisory services from Kisan Call Centre and ama krushi with mean score of 2.83. It was observed that majority of the respondents had learned new skill from ICT interventions with a mean score of 2.83 and knowledge gap of 5.57%. majority of the respondents had full information on weather i.e. cyclone with mean score of 3. Majority of the respondents had full information on disease management practices of crop with mean score of 3. Majority of the respondents had good information on MSP with mean score of 2.67, followed by regulated market and unregulated market and local market mandis with mean score of 2.17 and lowest on market incentives. Majority of the respondents had good information on calf, milch and pregnant animal with a mean score of 2.53 and lowest with heifer and bull and bullocks with mean score of 2. Majority of the respondents had good information on breeds, proper feed, different diseases of the animals and veterinary clinic located nearby with mean score of 2.21 and lowest with the vaccination schedule of the animals with mean score of 2.17. There is maximum knowledge gap on Community Radio, tablet and laptop that can be minimized through skill-oriented training programmes, various successful case studies may also be cited to the respondents for motivation and adoption.