An analysis of farmers’ capacity of using the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to acquire agricultural information

Abstract

Agriculture sector contributes about 16.5 percent GDP of Sri Lankan economy and 32.2 percent of employment generation (Central Bank 2006). Agricultural development should also move parallel with service and industrial sectors. Therefore, agriculture sector needs the accurate and timely information for correct decision-making process in the present scenario. On this background, access to information is a crucial requirement for sustainability of agriculture sector. Therefore, modern ICT becomes important powerful tool to fulfill the information requirement of the agriculture sector. Internet, e-mails, teleconferencing, video conferencing, multimedia, Interactive Computer Video Technology (ICVT), Interactive Video Disc (TVD) and CD Rom, Expert System (ES) and mobile phones are the major forms of ICTs tools. In present context, the traditional agricultural extension (TAE) and transfer of technology (TOT) would be either shifted or linked with ICT. In the near future, it would'be the major form of knowledge and technology transfer system not only agricultural sector but also other fields. On this background, this study was focused to identify the farmers1 capacity to use ICT tools for acquiring the knowledge and information related to agriculture. Vegetable farmers in Hungama area were selected as target population and study location, respectively. Both primary and secondary sources were used to collect data. Data were collected using personal interviews method. Further, respondents were selected by using random sample methods. Sample size was 35. The descriptive statistics and correlation test were used to analyze the data. Majority were middle age, full time, middle experience farmers and practicing mono cropping system. Moreover, majority of farmers' family size was medium size and cultivated land size was less than one acre (0.4ha). Majority belong to middle income group. Further majority have participated at least one extension programme. However their ICT capacity is significantly poor. Lack of time, technological barriers such as low ability to use computer and ICT and poor English language ability were the most crucial problem for farmers. Therefore, their background does not facilitate to use the ICT in decision making process related to agriculture sector. On this background, significant initiations are required to increase the farmers' capacity on ICT. In this regard, farmer strengthens determined as most important requirement to popularize ICT among the farmers.