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Factors Influencing Farmers’ Knowledge on Information and Communication Technology in Receiving Agricultural Information in Bangladesh

M. Hammadur Rahman
Professor
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

M. Nasir Uddin
Professor
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

M. Suzan Khan
Research Fellow, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Success of popularizing Information Communication Technology (ICT) based media in agriculutural extension works largely depends on farmers’ knowldege on ICT. Thus, The study was undertaken mainly identifies the factors influencing the farmers’ knowledge on Information and Communication Technologies in receiving agricultural information. The study was conducted in five upazilas (sub-districts) of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. One hundred farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect the data while both descriptive and inferential analyses were used to analyze the collected data. Results of the study indicates that majority (55 per cent) of the farmers had low knowledge compared to 27 per cent having medium knowledge, 10 per cent having high knowledge and 8 per cent of the farmers had no knowledge on ICTs in receiving agricultural information. Besides, education, farm size, annual family income, organizational participation, extension media contact, awareness on ICT facilities, access to ICT facilities and training received on ICT were positively correlated with farmers’ knowledge on ICT. On the other hand, only farmers’ age was negatively correlated with their knowledge on ICTs. Results of multiple regressions identified five influential variables, namely education, annual family income, extension contact, awareness on ICT facilities and training received on ICT. These four variables explained 80.2 per cent of the total variation in their knowledge on ICTs. Policymakers should emphasize these aforementioned four factors to shape the policy measures in increasing the knowledge on ICTs.

Keywords: Farmers, knowledge, ICT, Agriculture, Bangladesh, DAE

Location: Five Upazilas (sub-districts) of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-03-2016

End Date: 00-04-2016

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Commodity: Information service, Technology

Objectives:

But no available studies were found on factors affecting the farmers’ knowledge on ICTs in receiving agricultural information in Bangladesh. Thus, this study was taken mainly to identify the factors influencing the farmers’ knowledge on ICTs in receiving agricultural information. In addition, the determination of farmers’ knowledge on ICTs in receiving agricultural information was also considered.

Methodology:

Area, Population and Sampe The study was conducted in five upazilas (subdistricts) under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. The study areas were selected randomly for investigation. The total list of the farmers was obtained from the concerned SubAssistant Agricultural Officers (SAAO), the grassroots level extension agents of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture. Simple random sampling method was used for selecting the respondents from the list of the farmers. A total of 263 farmers constituted the population from where 100 farmers were randomly selected as the sample of the study.

Measurement of Variables Various socio-economic characteristics of the farmers such as age, education, household size, farm size, annual family income, organizational participation, extension contact, awareness on ICT facilities, access to ICT facilities and training received on ICT were considered as the independent variables of the study. Most of the explanatory variables were measured by developing scales based on the field scores. The dependent variable was the farmers’ knowledge on ICT in receiving agricultural information. To measure the variable, (knowledge on ICT of a respondent), a knowledge score was developed. Each respondent was asked 13 questions covering the different aspects of ICTs in receiving agricultural information. Each question had predetermined assigned scores making a total score of 25. For correct responses to all the 13 questions, a respondent could get a total score of 25; otherwise for wrong responses to all the questions he/she could get a total score of zero (0). Partial scores were awarded for a question on the basis of the correctness of answer of a respondent.

Data Collection and Analysis The empirical data were collected using a pretested questionnaire through face to face interview during the period from March to April, 2016. The collected data were managed through SPSS software, while correlation and regression analyses were conducted along with descriptive statistical measures.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education Volume 28, No. 1&2, 2016: 13-19 ISSN 1011-3916

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The majority (55 percent) of the farmers had low knowledge compared to 27 percent having medium knowledge, 10 percent having high knowledge and 8 percent of the farmers had no knowledge. It may conclude that the farmers’ knowledge about ICTs was not satisfactory in the study area. Therefore, farmers’ knowledge on ICTs should increase through training facilities, group discussion, extension contact etc. Age, education, farm size, annual family income, organizational participation, extension contact, awareness on ICT facilities, access to ICT facilities and training received on ICT were significantly related to farmers’ knowledge on ICTs. While only age is negatively correlated with farmers’ knowledge on ICTs. The linear multiple regression model explained that 80.2 per cent of the total variation in their knowledge on ICT was explained by five variables, namely education, annual family income, extension contact, awareness on ICT facilities and training received on ICT Therefore, it can be concluded that these aforementioned four variable were identified as influential factors that affecting the farmers` knowledge on ICTs in receiving agricultural information. So, policy makers should emphasis these aforementioned four factors while generate the policy measures on increasing the knowledge on ICTs.

Knowledge Management: Journal