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Use of Interpersonal Communication Source by the Farmers in Receiving Agricultural Information

M.A.S. Mondol
Department of Agricultural Extension, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The main purpose of this study was to determine the use of interpersonal communication source in receiving agricultural information by the farmers, and to explore the relationships between the selected characteristics of the farmers (age, literacy, farm size, family income, cosmopoliteness, socio-economic status, attitude towards technology, social participation, agricultural knowledge and innovativeness) and their use of interpersonal communication source. Data were collected using interview schedule from a sample of 120 farmers selected multistage random sampling procedure from eight villages of Sujalpur union under Birganj Upazila of Dinajpur district during 10 November to 15 December 2009. The use of interpersonal communication source was determined initially on four dimensions viz. contact, understanding, interaction and application, and finally a use of interpersonal communication source index (UICSI) was computed. The UICSI ranged from 17.47 to 236.77 with a possible range of 0 to 400. Among the seven communication sources included in the study the use of neighbours and friend was the highest and the use of Upazila Fisharies Officer was the lowest. Abut two-fifths (38.34 percent) of the farmers had low use of interpersonal communication source in receiving agricultural information while 33.33 percent had medium and 28.33 percent of them had high use. Literacy, farm size, family income, cosmopoliteness, socio-economic status, attitude towards technology, agricultural knowledge and innovativeness of the farmers had significant positive relationships with their use of interpersonal communication source, while the age of them had significant negative relationship with the use of interpersonal communication source.

Keywords: Use, Interpersonal communication source and agricultural information

Location: Sujalpur union of Birganj upazila under Dinajpur district

Start Date: 10-11-2009

End Date: 15-12-2009

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Non-commodity: Adoption of technology

Objectives:

1. To determine the use of interpersonal communication source in receiving agricultural information by the farmers, and to explore the relationships between the selected characteristics of the farmers (age, literacy, farm size, family income, cosmopoliteness, socio-economic status, attitude towards technology, social participation, agricultural knowledge and innovativeness) and their use of interpersonal communication source.

Methodology:

Sujalpur union of Birganj upazila under Dinajpur district was the locale of the study. Multi-stage random sampling procedure was followed in this study. A total of 120 farmers were selected randomly from a population of 528 farmers constituted the sample of this study. The data were collected during the period from 10 November to 15 December 2009 using interview schedule. For measuring the use of interpersonal communication source, farmers’ contact, understanding, interaction and application were determined. Farmer’ contact with an interpersonal communication source was measured by computing the contact sub-score (CSS). The farmers were requested to indicate their contact with each of the selected interpersonal communication source. A 4-point scale such as ‘high’, ‘moderate’, ‘low’ and ‘none’ were used in this purpose and weights were assigned to each of the scale responses as 3 for ‘high’, 2 for ‘moderate’ 1 for ‘low’ and 0 for ‘none’ contact. The contact of a respondent was therefore determined by adding the score against the seven selected interpersonal communication sources. Thus, the CSS of a respondent in receiving agricultural information could range from 0 to 21. A similar procedure were followed to measure understanding sub-score (USS), interaction sub-score (ISS) and application sub-score (ASS) for each of the farmers. For making comparative analysis of the seven interpersonal communication source with respect to contact, understanding, interaction and application, an index was calculated for each of the dimensions. First of all a contact index (CI) was calculated by using the following formula: CI = (Phx3 + P_m x 2 + P₁ x 1)/3, where, Ph = Percentage of farmers for high contact, Pm = Percentage of farmers for moderate contact, Pl = Percentage of farmers for low contact, CI= Contact index Thus, the value of comparative contact index (CCI) for each of the seven interpersonal communication source could range from 0 to 100, where 0 indicated none contact with interpersonal communication source and 100 indicated high contact with interpersonal communication source. A similar procedure was followed to calculate the understanding index (UI), interaction index (II) and application index (AI). The use of interpersonal communication source index (UICSI) for the selected personal contact media were the summation of CI, UI, II and AI values. Thus the possible value of UICSI could range from 0 to 400, where 0 indicated none use of interpersonal communication source and 400 indicated high use of interpersonal communication source.

Source of Information: J. Agrofor. Environ. 4 (1): 129-134, 2010; ISSN 1995-6983

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The findings reveal that literacy, farm size, family income, cosmopoliteness, socio-economic status, attitude towards technology, agricultural knowledge and innovativeness of the farmers had significant positive relationships with their use of interpersonal communication source, while the age of them had significant negative relationship with the use of interpersonal communication source; social participation had no relationship. From the findings it is clear that if the literacy level of the farmers and their knowledge can be increased through some means of non-formal education, it is expected that their use of interpersonal communication source in receiving agricultural information for interpersonal communication sources as well as other sources. This is of course important for the administrators and concerned others for policy implications. Farmers use those communication sources which are available in their locality.

Knowledge Management: Journal