Characteristics of Farmers Using the Information and Communication Technology for Seeking Agricultural Information

The present study explored characteristics of farmers using the information and communication technology (ICT) for seeking agricultural information. The study was conducted in Marathwada region of Maharashtra state during the year 2020-21. Two districts namely, Parbhani and Hingoli were selected randomly from Marathwada region. Two talukas from each selected district and four villages from each talukas were selected randomly for the study. From each selected village, ten farmers those having mobile phones with internet facilities and engaged in agricultural operations were selected randomly, in this way total 160 respondents were considered for the study. An Ex-post-facto research design was followed for the study. Data was gathered using a well-structured interview schedule created with the study's objectives in mind. The collected data was analyzed, classified and tabulated. Statistical tools such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of correlation were used to interpret findings and draw conclusions. The detailed analysis of profile characteristics of farmers indicated that majority of the farmers were medium aged (55.63%), educated up to middle school level (44.38%), small land holder (41.87%), medium size family (60%), medium level of annual income i.e. Rs. 41,233 to Rs. 3,19,268 (87.5%), medium farming experience (60.63%), medium level of innovativeness (36.25%), medium level of social participation (51.25%), medium level of mass media exposure (50.63%), medium level of scientific orientation (55.62%), medium level extension contact (54.38%).