USE OF ICT BY THE FARMERS IN SOME SELECTED AREAS OF RANGPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of use of different information and communication technology (ICT) by the farmers, to determine the selected characteristic of the farmers and extent of use of ICT by the farmers and to ascertain the problems faced by the farmers in receiving farm information and their suggestions to overcome the problems. Data were collected using interview schedule from a sample of 78 farmers out of 160 farmers selected by simple random sampling procedure from three upazila of Gargachara, Badarganj and Taraganj upazila under Rangpur district during 22 April to 22 May, 2017. Beside the usual descriptive statistical parameter, parsons’ product moment correlation coefficient (r) was used for the statistical analysis. In terms of the effective use of different information and communication technology (ICT) by the farmers in receiving farm information by the farmer’s on 11 selected characteristics of farmer of agriculture information. In terms of the use of highest position was found on TV to watch 'Mati-o-manush' information and communication technology use index (ICTUI= 261.5) followed by TV to watch 'Hridye mati-o-Manus' (ICTUI=239.7) and listen to radio Desh Amar Mati Amar technology (ICTUI= 226.9) and krishi call centre 16123 service for agricultural information (ICTUI=71.7) and so on. The highest proportion (61.1 percent) of the farmers had medium (43.6 percent) use of ICT in receiving farm information and (1.3 percent) had low use of ICT. Among the 11 characteristics of the farmers' age, educational qualification, family size, farm size, farming experience, annual income, training exposure, organizational participation, innovativeness cosmopoliteness, and agricultural knowledge showed positive relationship with the use of ICT while age and family size has no significant relationships. The most important problem faced by the farmer was ‘use of English language in modern ICT (25.64 percent) and lowest (11.53 percent) perceived problem mentioned by the farmers was ‘unwillingness to use new technologies’. The most important suggestion to overcome the problems mentioned by the farmers was ‘creating awareness among farmers on modern ICT (25.64 percent) and lowest (12.82 percent) suggestion mentioned by the farmers was ‘arranging different program on using ICT and solution of common problems.