Indian Journal of Economics and Development

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Information and Communication Technology Tools Used by Agricultural Extension Functionaries


Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), GKVK, Bangalore, India
2 University Examination Centre, UAS, Bangalore, India
 

Objective: To analyse the extent of utilization of Information and Communication Technology tools (ICTs) by agricultural extension functionaries.

Methods and Statistical Analysis: Eighty agricultural officers and assistant agricultural officers from 43 Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSKs) in four Southern districts of Karnataka were interviewed during 2016-2017. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect the information on the extent of utilization of ICT tools by the respondents for seeking and dissemination of agricultural information. The collected data was analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and multiple regression analysis. Ex-post-facto research method was employed in the study.

Findings: Majority of the agricultural extension functionaries (70.00%) were belonging to medium to high category of extent of utilization of ICT tools. All the agricultural extension functionaries were ‘Very frequently ‘using smart phone, while a majority of the agricultural extension functionaries were using ‘Very frequently’ landline phone (88.75%), desktop computer (68.75%) and laptops (57.50%). The software/apps used ‘Very frequently’ by majority of the extension functionaries were SMS (98.75%), WhatsApp (65.00%) and Ms Word (65.00%). A larger number of agricultural extension functionaries were ‘Very frequently’ using Google Chrome (43.75%) and Yahoo (40.00%) search engines for seeking and disseminating agricultural information to the farming community. All the 14 personal, socio-economic, psychological and communication characteristic of agricultural extension functionaries selected for the study have contributed to the tune of 74.50 per cent of variation in the extent of utilization of ICT tools.

Applications/Improvements: Periodic training needs to be conducted by the Karnataka State Department of Agriculture (KSDA) to the agricultural extension functionaries working in RSKs for increasing their knowledge and upgrading skill for effective utilization and maintenance of ICT tools and sufficient budget should also be provided by the KSDA for the purchase and maintenance of ICT tools at RSKs.


Keywords

ICT Tools, Gadgets, Software, Apps, Networking Technologies.
User
Notifications

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  • S. Umar, M. Wamdzu Musa, Y. Toluwase Olayemi, R. Suleiman. Awareness and use of information and communication technologies among extension agents in Kaduna state of Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture Extension. 2015; 19(1), 66-77.

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Abstract Views: 257

PDF Views: 227




  • Information and Communication Technology Tools Used by Agricultural Extension Functionaries

Abstract Views: 257  |  PDF Views: 227

Authors

Dishant Jojit James
Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), GKVK, Bangalore, India
M. T. Lakshminarayan
University Examination Centre, UAS, Bangalore, India
D. K. Suresh
Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), GKVK, Bangalore, India

Abstract


Objective: To analyse the extent of utilization of Information and Communication Technology tools (ICTs) by agricultural extension functionaries.

Methods and Statistical Analysis: Eighty agricultural officers and assistant agricultural officers from 43 Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSKs) in four Southern districts of Karnataka were interviewed during 2016-2017. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect the information on the extent of utilization of ICT tools by the respondents for seeking and dissemination of agricultural information. The collected data was analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and multiple regression analysis. Ex-post-facto research method was employed in the study.

Findings: Majority of the agricultural extension functionaries (70.00%) were belonging to medium to high category of extent of utilization of ICT tools. All the agricultural extension functionaries were ‘Very frequently ‘using smart phone, while a majority of the agricultural extension functionaries were using ‘Very frequently’ landline phone (88.75%), desktop computer (68.75%) and laptops (57.50%). The software/apps used ‘Very frequently’ by majority of the extension functionaries were SMS (98.75%), WhatsApp (65.00%) and Ms Word (65.00%). A larger number of agricultural extension functionaries were ‘Very frequently’ using Google Chrome (43.75%) and Yahoo (40.00%) search engines for seeking and disseminating agricultural information to the farming community. All the 14 personal, socio-economic, psychological and communication characteristic of agricultural extension functionaries selected for the study have contributed to the tune of 74.50 per cent of variation in the extent of utilization of ICT tools.

Applications/Improvements: Periodic training needs to be conducted by the Karnataka State Department of Agriculture (KSDA) to the agricultural extension functionaries working in RSKs for increasing their knowledge and upgrading skill for effective utilization and maintenance of ICT tools and sufficient budget should also be provided by the KSDA for the purchase and maintenance of ICT tools at RSKs.


Keywords


ICT Tools, Gadgets, Software, Apps, Networking Technologies.

References