Application of ICTs in agricultural extensión to adopt the imroved crop production technology in rice crop by the farmers in Vindhynan region of Uttar Pradesh

A study was conducted in Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, where the eSagu ("Sagu" means cultivation in Telugu language) projected was implemented with the Gram Gyan Kendra (GGK), running by Instute of techonology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. The Gramin Gyan Kendra is the repository of scientific knowledge for agriculture and allied activities and it is being transmitted through effective use of ICTs (Information and Communication Technology) mediated agricultural extension services to the farmers who, in turn can use this knowledge to improve the production and productivity in their farm operations. In this study, extent of knowledge and adoption of 10 selected improved crop production practices for Rice crop were measured. To measured the extent of knowledge and adoption, and to compare the impact of ICTs mediated agricultural extension services, 150 numbers of respondents were selected from the project area. Study was conducted in three different ways, firstly all respondent were interviewed and categorized in to three groups of High, Medium and Low category of farmers, on the basis of knowledge gained and adoption level regarding improved crop production techonology for Rice crop. Secondary overall knowledge gain and level of adoption was measured in terms of frequency percentage and mean with standard deviation and lastly the Paired t-test were used to acces the difference in knowledge gain and adoption level over the time before and after the use of ICTs mediated agricultural extensión services. After the use of ICTs, In the farmers of high level category, the knowledge gain was seen to increase from 13.33% to 20% and adoption level was seen to increase from 16.66% to 26.66%. The majority of the farmers were found in medium category regarding Extension contact, social participation and innovativeness. However the impact of ICTs Mediated Agricultural Extension Services on knowledge and adoption level of the respondents regarding selected “package of crop production practices” for Rice crops was found significant.