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Fish Farmer’s Access to Information Communication Media: a Gender Based Comparative Study in a Selected Village of Bangladesh

Md. Mamun-ur-Rashid
Associate professor
Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Patuakhali Science and Technology University.

Md. Golam Rabbani Akanda
Professor
Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Patuakhali Science and Technology University

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This paper reports gender based comparative study of fish farmers’ access to important Information Communication Media (ICM). The study was conducted in a selected village of a renowned fish producing district named Chandpur in Bangladesh. A structured interview schedule was used to interview 66 randomly selected fish farmers of which 33 were male and the rest 33 female. The findings of the study confirmed that male farmers have comparatively more access to radio, television, news paper and cell phone. Lamentably, farmers- irrespective of gender- had almost no access to computer and internet. Results of t test represented that male and female farmers differ significantly in terms of ownership and access to ICM where male farmers were placed in a better position. Correlation coefficient mirrored that among the eight selected variables family farm size, availability, and ownership of ICM had significant positive relationship with farmer’s access to ICM. Stepwise multiple regressions revealed that family farm size and availability of ICM described 32.2% variation in farmers’ access to ICM.

Keywords: Fish farmers, Access, Information Communication Media (ICM), Bangladesh

Location: Chandpur

Start Date: 25-10-2014

End Date: 30-10-2014

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Commodity: ICT

Objectives:

1. To describe the socio economic and personal characteristics of the sample male and female farmers. 2. To explore the extent of the information need, availability and ownership of functional information and communication media. 3. To ascertain the level of accessibility of fish farmers to information and communication media. 4. To compare male and female farmers in terms of the degree of information need, access, availability, and ownership of communication media.

Methodology:

This study was conducted in a selected village of Chandpur sadar Upazila. The name of the selected village is Gobindia under 13 number Hanarchar union. Chandpur- an east central district of Bangladesh- is renowned for the presence of a large number of ponds, canals, and floodplains. In addition, its presence in the vicinity of the areas of two major river estuary declares the significant in total fish culture and captures in the country. According to Chandpur Sadar Upazila Fishery Office, there are 41 fishing villages in Chandpur Sadar Upazila and the total number fisherman is 13,751. To fulfill the purpose of the study 66 respondents 33 male and 33 female farmers were randomly selected from a total of 330 farmers. Primary data were collected using structured schedule from October 25 to 30, 2014. The independent variables of the study were age, education, gender, total income, income from fish sector, family farm size, degree of information need, availability of ICM, and ownership of selected ICM. All the independent variables of the study were measured using appropriate scales. However, the dependent variable of this study- access to information communication media- was measured based on a four point continuum namely frequent= 3, often=2, rarely=1, and never=0. To compare male and female farmers in terms of the degree of information need, availability of ICM, ownership of ICM and access to ICM, t-test was administered. Correlation analysis was executed to see the association between independent and dependent variables. Finally, stepwise multiple regression was employed to see the contribution of independent variables on farmer’s access to information and communication media. All the analyses were done using SPSS 16.0.

Source of Information: International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2(4): 168-173, 2015

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Impartial access to information communication media is very crucial for both male and female farmers. This study attempts to make a gender biased comparative study on farmers access to information communication media. Based on t test output, this study established the fact that male and female farmers differ significantly in terms of access and ownership of ICM and male farmers laid in better position compared to female farmers. Correlation findings represented that among the eight selected variables farm size, availability of ICM and ownership of ICM had positive significant relationship with farmer’s access to ICM. Stepwise multiple regressions showed that availability of ICM had the strongest contribution (28.6%) on the variance of farmer’s access to ICM followed by gender (5.7%). According to the perception of the clients, more electric connection accompanied by uninterrupted electricity supply, economic assistance for purchasing communication media, and farmer’s skill development in handling modern media like mobile, computer, internet, etc., can facilitate farmer’s access to ICM.

Knowledge Management: Journal