Role of icts in transforming agriculture as perceived by tribal farmers in southern Rajasthan

The role of ICT in Agriculture is of paramount importance and facilitates transfer of agricultural information. Agriculture helps in empowering the rural people by providing better access to improved agricultural technologies, effective production strategies, markets, banking and financial services etc. This article explores the role of ICT in agricultural sector. The study was conducted on southern Rajasthan covering two districts i.e. Banswara and Dungarpur. The districts were selected on the basis of the availability of maximum facilities and infrastructures to promote ICT use. The empirical data were collected personally from 160 farmers through a pre-tested structured interview schedule and analyzed using standard methodology. The study revealed direct role of ICT in providing latest technological information about agriculture and allied fields. Live shows to get the first hand agricultural information, agricultural news for quick solution of farmers’ problem, scientific package of practices of crops helped in timely decision making on matters related to agriculture and plant protection measures were the major roles of ICT as perceived by the farmers of Banswara and Dungarpur districts. The findings also indicated that there was no significant perceived difference in direct role of ICT tools in transfer of agricultural technology between the farmers of Banswara and Dungarpur districts.