Application of Information and Communication Technology for Dissemination of Agricultural Information among Farmers: Challenges and Opportunities

الموضوعات :

Riti Thapar Kapoor ¹

1 - Assistant Professor Amity Institute of Biotechnology Amity University, Noida - 201313 Uttar Pradesh, India

تاريخ الإرسال : 13 الخميس , ربيع الأول, 1437 تاريخ التأكيد : 13 الخميس , ربيع الأول, 1437 تاريخ الإصدار : 04 الثلاثاء , رمضان, 1435

الکلمات المفتاحية: agriculture, Information and communication technology (ICT), farmers, Dissemination,

ملخص المقالة :

Agriculture is the backbone of India’s economy as two-third of the population live in rural areas and directly or indirectly depend on agriculture for their livelihood. India’s food production has improved significantly during the last three decades due to all-round efforts but Indian agriculture is still facing a multitude of problems to maximize productivity to feed the continuously increasing population. Access to information and improved communication is a prerequisite for sustainable agricultural development. The use of information and communication technology (ICT) is an important pillar of agriculture extension and different sources and channels of agriculture information can play important role to meet the requirement. The use of modern information technology needs to be promoted for communication among scientists, extension workers and farmers to transfer the information and new technologies in a cost effective manner. An increased access to the scientific knowledge and information through information technology will help people specially the rural communities in making informed decisions and solving their problems by applying scientific methods. The present paper deals with the constraints and work out strategy for making information and communication technology effective for farmers. Information and communication technology is the backbone of modern development in almost all the sectors which can enhance agricultural and rural development by the transformation of the rural communities. Hence efforts should be made for increased and improved investment in ICT infrastructure and capacity development through the proper implementation of ICT policy.

المصادر:

1) Afolabi, M. (2012). The use of information and communication technology in agricultural research in Nigerian universities. PNLA Quarterly, the official publication of the Pacific Northwest Library Association. pp.1-12.

2) Aina, L. O. (2004). Library and information science text for Africa. Ibadan: Third World Information Service.

3) Allahyari, M. S. and Chizari, M. (2010). Potentials of new information and communication technologies (ICTS) in agriculture sector. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 4(4): 115-120.

4) Arreymbi, J. and Agbor, E. A. (2008). Information communication technology effect on sustainable development in Cameroon’s fagile economy. Journal of Sustainable Development, 1(1): 75-85.

5) Ayyappan, S. (2013). Capacity building of farmers through education and training. In: Climate change and sustainable food security (ISBN: 978-81-87663-76-8) (Eds. Shetty, P.K., Ayyappan, S. and Swaminathan, M.S.) published by National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore and Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. pp. 37-40.

6) Brahmanand, P. S., Kumar, A., Ghosh, S., Roy Chowdhury, S., Singandhupe, R. B., Singh, R., Nanda, P., Chakraborthy, H., Srivastava, S. K. and Behera, M. S. (2013). Challenges to food security in India. Current Science, 104 (7): 841-846.

7) Chauhan, N. M. (2010). Expectations of the Farmers from ICT in Agriculture. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education, 10(1): 42-45.

8) Chauhan, N. M. and Thakor, R. F. (2004). Expectations of the farmers towards Community Internet Centers at Village level. Gujarat Journal of Extension Education, 15: 55-59.

9) Dhaka, B. L. and Chayal, K. (2010). Farmers’ Experience with ICTs on Transfer of Technology in Changing Agri-rural Environment. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education, 10 (3): 114-118.

10) Dhaliwal, R.K., Mohapatra, L. and Dhaliwal, H. S. (2011). ICT for agricultural and rural development. Rajasthan Journal of Extension Education. 19: 110-116.

11) Dwivedi, S. K. and Bharti, A. K. (2010). E-Governance in India – problems and acceptability. Journal of theoretical and applied information technology, pp. 37-43.

12) Ferroni, M. and Zhou, Y. (2012). Achievements and challenges in agricultural extension in India. Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies. 4(3): 319-346.

13) Gautam, H. R. and Sharma, H. L. (2012). Environmental degradation, climate change and effect on agriculture. Kurukshetra, 60(8): 3-5.

14) Goswami, S. B., Matin, S., Saxena, A. and Bairagi, G.D. (2012). A Review: The application of remote sensing, GIS and GPS in precision agriculture. International Journal of Advanced Technology & Engineering Research, 2(1): 50-54.

15) Gulati, A.G. (2009). Unleashing rural India’s economic potential-The role of ICT. Kurukshetra, 57 (12): 8-10.

16) Hersberger, J.A. (2002). Are the economically poor information poor? Does the digital divide affect the homeless and access to information? Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science. 27(3): 44-63.

17) Jones, G. E. (1997). The history, development and future of agricultural extension. In: Improving agricultural extension - a reference manual, edited by B. E. Swanson, R .P. Bentz and A.J. Sofranko, Rome: FAO.

18) Krishna Reddy, P. and Ankaiah, R. A. (2005). framework of information technology-based agriculture information dissemination system to improve crop productivity. Current Science, 88(12): 1905-1913.

19) Kumari, N., Choudhary, S. B., Jha, S.K. and Singh, S.R.K. (2014). Radio: an educational media to transfer agricultural information among farmers. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education, 14(2): 130-132.

20) Laxmipathi Gowda, C. L., Srinivasan, S., Gaur, P. M. and Saxena, K. B. (2013). Enhancing the productivity and production of pulses in India. In: Climate change and sustainable food security (ISBN: 978-81-87663-76-8) (Eds. Shetty, P.K., Ayyappan, S. and Swaminathan, M.S.) published by National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore and Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. pp. 145-159.

21) Mahato, A. (2014). Climate change and its impact on agriculture. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 4(4): 1-6.

22) Maningas, R. V. (2006). Mainstreaming Farmers and Intermediaries into Information and Communication Technology (ICT): A Strategy Towards Adopting ICT for Rural Development and Agricultural Extension. Computers in Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4th World Congress Conference, Proceedings of the 24-26 July, Orlando, Florida USA.

23) Mathur, A. and Goyal, M. (2014). Role of information technology in Indian agriculture. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, 9(10): 1193-1198.

24) Mukherjee-Das, M. (2014). Role of new media communication technologies en route information society- challenges and prospects. Global Media Journal-Indian Edition, 5(1):1-10.

25) Mwakaje, A. G. (2010). Information and communication technology for rural farmers market access in Tanzania. Journal of Information Technology Impact, 10(2): 111-128.

26) Narayana Reddy, M. and Rao, N. H. (2009). Integrating geo-spacial information technologies and participatory methods in agricultural development. Current Science, 96(1): 23-25.

27) Narayana Gowda, K. (2013). Capacity building of farmers through education and training. In: Climate change and sustainable food security (ISBN: 978-81-87663-76-8) (Eds. Shetty, P.K., Ayyappan, S. and Swaminathan, M.S.) published by National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore and Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. pp. 255-267.

28) Nerker, K. R., Kale, V. S. and Bhadale, R. (2013). The sustainable growth and development of Indian agriculture. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Management Review, 2(6): 117-119.

29) Ommani, A.R. and Chizari, M. (2008). Information dissemination system (IDS) based E-learning in agricultural of Iran (perception of Iranian extension agents). International Journal of Human and Social Sciences, 2: 129-133.

30) Parganiha,O., Shrivastava, S.K., Chaubey, A.K. and Nag, J.L. (2012). Impact of Kisan Mobile Advisory (KMA) On Agricultural Technology Dissemination. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education, (Special Issue) Volume II. pp. 175-178.

31) Parihar, S. S., Mishra, B. and Rai, D. P. (2010). Sustainable models of information technology for agriculture and rural development. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education, 10(1): 20-23.

32) Pathak, R.K. and Pathak, N. (2013). Information technology: bridging the gap between urban and rural marketing. Scholars World-IRMJCR.1(3): 102-111.

33) Qaisar, T.M., Khan, M.M.A. and Alam, S. (2011). Innovative agricultural information servicesby ICT projects in India. International Journal of Trade, Economics and Finance, 2(4): 276-279.

34) Rahman, Md. A., Mahfuz, M.U., Ahmed, K.M. and Rajatheva, R.M.A.P. (2005). ICT based sustainable rural business opportunities in developing countries: A wireless networked RCP-RAP approach, American Journal of Applied Sciences, 2: 1256-1260.

35) Shinde, K. J. and Dhiman, A.K. (2008). ICTs in agricultural sector: status, uses and some issues, Green Farming Journal, 1: 61-64.

36) Singh, A. K., Singh, L. and Riyajuddeen (2008). Role of Helpline Services in Technology Dissemination. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education, 8(1): 1-4.

37) Singh, R. P. (2012). Emerging models of technology application for agri-rural development. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education, Special Issue (Volume I), pp. 1-5.

38) Sinha, A. K. (2013). Application of remote sensing and geographical information system for natural resource management. International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 4 (12): 209-211.

39) Stueart, R. D. (1999). The economic crisis and other challenges in accessing to science and technological information in Asia. 65th IFLA Council and General Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, August 20-28.

40) Tiwari, M., Chakravarty, R. and Goyal, J. 2014. Availability and accessibility of information communication technology among dairy farmers in Uttarakhand, India. International Journal of Research in Applied, Natural and Social Sciences. 2(7): 47-52. 41) Yang, J., Gong, P., Fu, R., Zhang, M., Chen, J., Liang, S., Xu, B. and Dickinson, R. (2013). The role of satellite remote sensing in climate change studies. Nature Climate Change, 3: 875-883.

42) Zahedi, S.R. and Zahedi, S. M. (2012). Role of information and communication technologies in modern agriculture. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences, 4 (23): 1725-1728.

43) Zijp, W. (1994). Improving the transfer and use of agricultural information – a guide to Information Technology. Washington DC: World Bank.