Differential Use Pattern of ICT Tools by Farmers in Bihar

The present study attempts to emphasise the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by the farmers to bring improvement in their farming practices. The main difficulties faced by the farmers are related to timely communication of relevant information like improved technologies, land use planning, soil fertility management, crop planning, and pests & disease management. Efficient and effective farming is the function of timely access to precise information and its right use. Present study was conducted during the year 2019 to assess differential use of ICTs by farmers and its determinants covering a random sample of 100 farmers in Katihar and Samastipur districts of Bihar. Majority of the farmers used to get information through mobile phone followed by television, internet, radio and WhatsApp, respectively, for major crops grown by them like maize, paddy, wheat, vegetables and pulse crops. The use of ICTs was mainly for information related to plant protection, marketing of produce, climate and weather, and seeds of high yielding varieties of crops. Farmers’ diversified occupation, education, annual income, mass media exposure, and extension contact were positively and significantly correlated with the use of ICT tools. Regression model revealed that selected farmers’ attributes explained about 85 per cent variation in use of ICT tools by the farmers. These findings will be helpful for future extension efforts to promoting ICTs tools use more efficiently and effectively by the farmers.