Utilization of ICT Tools by the Extension Personnel for Effective Delivery of Farm Information

Abstract

In India about 760 millions of farmers are engaged in agriculture. According to an estimate more than 60 per cent of the farmers have no access to any source of modern agriculture information. Reaching to these unreached farmers is a great big challenge before the extension system. Now times 21st century declared to be the age of information and communication technology. This is the time when more people everywhere are involved in acquiring new knowledge and skills. The need of ICT interventions are felt need of the hour in agriculture. Thus, it can be said that the twenty first century, it is necessary to use advanced communication media for rural and agricultural development in its proper perspective of message dissemination and feedback along with people’s participation and contribution so as to meet the felt needs of people living under diverse socio-economic conditions and here an extension agent should act as a catalyst for transfer of farm technologies. Hence, a present study was taken to assess the utilization pattern of ICT tools among extension personnel. The present study was conducted in Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu. The 120 extension personnel working in the state department of agriculture were selected as sample for the study by simple random sampling method. The Data were collected through well structured questionnaire. Careful analysis, tabulation and classification of data were done. Mean, frequency, percentage were employed for the interpretation of results. The results showed that majority (70.83 per cent) of the extension personnel were utilized the internet / web services for gaining knowledge followed by (41.67 per cent) of the extension personnel were utilized agriportals for transfer of technology.