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Cellphone Use by the Farmers in Securing Need-based Information

M.Z.N. Mukta
Lecturer
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

A.S.M.Z. Karim
Professor
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

M.A. Kashem
Professor
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of cellphone used by the farmers and to explore the relationship of farmers’ characteristics with their cellphone use. Data were obtained from a random sample of 113 farm family heads in 3 selected villages of Raipur Union under Pirganj Upazila of Rangpur District. Data were collected during 12th November 2009 to 16th January 2010. Pre-tested interview schedule was used for collection of data. Appropriate scales were developed and used in order to measure the concerned variables. Correlation test was used to ascertain the relationships between each of the concerned variables and extent of use of cellphone by the farmers. Majority (79 percent) of the farmers had very low cellphone use while 18 percent of them had low cellphone use and only 1 percent had medium use. Only two percent of the farmers did not use any cellphone at all. Findings of the study indicated that, as a communication tool, farmers used cellphone nearly three times more in non-agriculture sector than that of agriculture sector. Farmers’ characteristics such as education, family size, effective farm-size, commercialization, annual family income, social participation, extension contact and aspiration had significant positive relationship with the extent of use of cellphone by the farmers, while conservatism had significant negative relationship with their extent of cellphone use. However, considering the main focus of the study, it can be concluded that nearly cent percent (98 percent) of the farmers were using cellphone but their extent of using cellphone was very low to low.

Keywords: Cellphone, Farmers, Agriculture and non-agriculture sectors.

Location: Chandpur, Dhulgari and Kumargari in Raipur union of Pirganj upazila under Rangpur district.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Non-commodity: Adoption of technology

Objectives:

To determine the extent of cellphone use by the farmers in securing need-based information.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in three purposively selected neighbouring villages namely Chandpur, Dhulgari and Kumargari in Raipur union of Pirganj upazila under Rangpur district. Thirty percent (30%) of the farm family heads from each of the three selected villages were randomly selected. Thus, a total of 113 farmers constituted the sample for the present study. A pre-tested structured interview schedule containing direct questions and some scales was prepared for collection of valid and reliable data. Data were collected during November 12, 2009 to January 16, 2010. The dependent variable of the investigation was extent of use of cellphone by the farmers. The independent variables of the study were 10 selected characteristics of the farmers. These were age, education, family size, effective farm-size, commercialization, annual family income, social participation, extension contact, aspiration and conservatism. Use of cellphone by the farmers was measured on the basis of the extent of cellphone use on 16 selected cellphone contact items. Cellphone contact items were selected by consultation with extension experts and considering pre-test experiences. Among these sixteen items, twelve (12) items were selected giving emphasis on agricultural activities and the rest four (4) items were selected considering non-agricultural activities. The extent of use of cellphone was determined by measuring the total extent of use of cellphone involving sixteen (16) cellphone using contact items considering only cellphone call and text messages. A six-point rating scale was used for computing extent of cellphone use by the farmers. The scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were assigned for no cellphone use (not even once per year), very low cellphone use (1-25 times per year), low cellphone use (26-50 times per year), medium cellphone use (51-75 times per year), high cellphone use (76-100 times per year) and very high cellphone use (more than 100 times per year), respectively. The scores obtained by a farmer on each of the sixteen (16) items were added together to determine his score on extent of cellphone use. Thus, the possible scores on extent of cellphone use by the farmers could range from 0 to 80, where 0 indicated no use of cellphone and 80 indicated very high use of cellphone by a respondent.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education, Volume 22, No. 1&2, 2010:7-14: ISSN 1011-3916

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Majority (79 percent) of the farmers had very low cellphone use while 18 percent of them had low cellphone use and only 1 percent had medium use. Only two percent of the farmers did not use any cellphone at all. Findings of the study indicated that, as a communication tool, farmers used cellphone nearly three times more in non-agriculture sector than that of agriculture sector. Farmers’ characteristics such as education, family size, effective farm-size, commercialization, annual family income, social participation, extension contact and aspiration had significant positive relationship with the extent of use of cellphone by the farmers, while conservatism had significant negative relationship with their extent of cellphone use. However, considering the main focus of the study, it can be concluded that nearly cent percent (98 percent) of the farmers were using cellphone but their extent of using cellphone was very low to low.

Knowledge Management: Journal