Factors influencing stakeholders to use Rice Knowledge Management Portal (RKMP)

In India lots of efforts are being taken to develop new agricultural technologies for increasing productivity and income of farmers. Despite of efforts taken by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), state departments, ATMA, private sectors and NGOs, farmers are not even aware about new technologies. In this scenario, ICT-led media helps in rapid dissemination of information and wider information accessibility of rural communities. Information and communication technology (ICT) has provided greater transparency in securing information by farmers and sped up the decision making process. It has expanded the horizons of accurate, timely, pertinent information and services thereby facilitating an environment to make agriculture a profitable venture. In this scenario, this study has focussed on an ICT initiative, Rice Knowledge Management Portal (RKMP) by Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad, to accumulate diversified information and to disseminate it properly among the rice farmers of the country. The study was conducted in purposively selected districts of Nalgonda in Telanagan state and West Godavari in Andhra Pradesh state, with an aim to analyze the factors associated with utilization of knowledge repository of Rice Knowledge Management Portal (RKMP) by rice stakeholders. A total 140 respondents were selected for the study. The influential factors for the use of RKMP were studied through logit model. The findings of the study revealed that land size, education, annual income, extension contact and mass media exposure of farmers were the factors influencing the use of RKMP. For the scientists, it was availability of ICT tools and access to internet at office. For the extension personnel, it was availability of ICT tools, access to internet at office and training in handling ICT tools. This study suggests that these factors which facilitates the use of RKMP to be targeted to mobilize and motivate farmers and other stakeholders to use such knowledge management models.