Farmers’ Use of the Mobile Phone for Accessing Agricultural Information in Haryana: An Analytical Study

Abstract

Abstract A mobile phone is an Internet-connected device used to share and discuss user-generated content, including opinion, audio, video, and multimedia. This has changed the way farmers engage and communicate across the country, even in rural areas. The purpose of this study is to examine Haryana farmers’ use of mobile phones to get agricultural information. This study was conducted in the six districts of North Haryana, i.e., Ambala, Yamuna Nagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, and Panipat. Data were collected from a sample size of 300 respondents, including 50 farmers from two tehsils (subdistrict) of each district, through a structured questionnaire and an interview plan. According to the results of this study, most of the farmers have been using mobile phones for over 3 years, and all of them can read and write Hindi to collect and communicate information about agriculture, such as post-harvest, weeding, thinning, and storage. Farmers most commonly use the agricultural information platform, i.e., private agricultural solutions helplines, government agriculture officers/extension agents making calls/short messaging service (SMS), IFFCO Kisan Sanchar, private agricultural companies/pesticide dealers/staff making calls/SMS, and government agriculture department helplines. Kisan Suvidha Agriculture Mobile App, WhatsApp, and YouTube are commonly used by most farmers who believe these network technologies are most effective to increase their knowledge and understanding of modern agricultural technology, although the majority of farmers do and also had language difficulties and challenges in the mobile network.