Constraints Faced by Farmers in the Adoption of ICT in Kota District of Rajasthan, India
Laxmi Meena
Department of Extension Education, M.P.U.A.T., Udaipur 313001, India.
Sarjeet Yadav *
Department of Extension Education, M.P.U.A.T., Udaipur 313001, India.
Sonam Agarwal
Department of Extension Education, CoA, JNKVV, Jabalpur 482004, India.
Ashish Kumar Nagar
MBDDSMKM Siswali, Baran, Rajasthan, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Information and Communication technology (ICT) has emerged as a key catalyst for the growth and modernization of agriculture through making it more practical, engaging and effective. ICT-based extension system plays an important role in redefining agricultural practices and improving farmers lives by enhancing access to timely information and promoting the exchange of knowledge.
Objective: “To determine the constraints faced by the farmers towards ICT”
Methodology: The present study was conducted during the academic year 2021-2022 in Kota district of Rajasthan. Multistage sampling technique was used in the present study. In first stage, Kota district was selected purposively for the study. Out of total five blocks in Kota district, Ladpura block was chosen, followed by six villages from ladpura block were randomly selected for the study based on their good ICT connectivity and well- established linkages to government and non-government institutions. Lastly, a proportionate random sample of ICT-using cultivator farmers was selected from each village, with a total sample of 399 farmers. Statistical tools such as frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation and correlation are used.
Key findings: The findings of the present study revealed that majority of farmers identified as insufficient regional specific information as most important constraint with a mean score of 4.73 followed by difficulty in understanding the language of ICT gadgets ranked second with a mean score of 4.61, insufficient servicing centres of ICTs in villages ranked third with a mean score of 4.39, high cost of servicing charges of ICT gadget ranked fourth with a mean score of 4.31, inadequate facilitator’s knowledge and insufficient training and practical exposure towards ICTs ranked fifth with a mean score of 4.06 and so on.
Conclusion: The findings of the present study will be highly valuable for researchers, academicians and policy makers with suitable modifications may also be applied beyond the specific field of study.
Keywords: Digital literacy, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), constraints, access to information, digital divide, barriers, adoption