Agricultural Information Need and the Most Popular Sources of Information of the Farmers

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the agricultural information need and the most popular sources of information of the farmers in Mahailluppallama block of the Mahaweli system-H in Anuradhapura District which comes under major irrigation scheme and an important agricultural production area in the dry zone. Investigation was made by interviewing randomly selected fifty three (n=53) farmers using a semi structured interview schedule. Most demanded information by the farmers was on pests and diseases, seeds and planting materials, and marketing in the order of importance. Majority of farmers rely on the Agrarian Service Centre, farmer organization, fellow farmers and agriculture input shops in the order of priority to receive information. Results revealed that although mass media such as, radio and television play a potential role in reaching a wider audience instantly, farmers do not use such information sources significantly. Nevertheless, 42 (79% ) farmers read newspapers and pay special attention to agricultural information whiles the rest 11 (21% ) do not read newspapers as a habit. Only 9% of the farmers had computers at home, however, no one was using computers to get agricultural information and had connectivity to internet providing an example for digital divide in Sri Lanka. On the other hand, 75% of the farmers had telephone facilities. However, only 17 respondents (32% ) were aware about the Toll-Free agriculture advisory service (1920) of the Department of Agriculture and only 5 (9% ) respondents had used the service, highlighting the need for awareness programmes. Agricultural programme formats in radio and television should be designed creatively to capture the interest of a wider audience in rural farming communities.