FARMERS` PERCEPTION ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN RECEIVING AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to determine farmers’ perception on the effectiveness of information and communication technology in receiving agricultural information and to explore the relationship of the selected charecterestis of the farmers with their perception. The study was conducted in six upazillas namely Narsingdi Sadar, Monohordi, Shibpur, Polash, Raipura & Belabo under Narsingdi district. Data were collected from 109 farmers by using a pre-tested interview schedule during the period from 15 February to 15 April, 2018. Appropriate scales were developed to measure the variables of the study. Pearson Product Moment Correlation test was used to explore the relationships among the concerned variables. The study revealed that the highest proportion (57.8%) of the respondents’ had medium level of perception on the effectiveness of information and communication technology in receiving agricultural information compared to 25.7 % and 17.5 % having low and high level of perception respectively. Significant relationship of focal variable was found wit h farmers’ age, education, farming experience, cosmopoliteness, extent of using ICT, innovativeness and problem confronted by the farmers during ICT use. No significant relationship was found with farmers’ farm size, annual family income and organizat ional participat ion. Based on the findings, it may be concluded that different government agencies of Bangladesh like DAE or AICC should review their training programs and make sound provisions so that the farmers understand the benefits of ICT and increase their perception level on the effectiveness of ICT in receiving agricultural information.