Research Article Presentation

1. ICTs for Sustainable Agricultural
Development: A Case Study of Hassan
District
Presented by
Dr.Nandeesha H.K
Assistant Professor
PG Dept.of Economics
St.Philonena’s College(Autonomous)
Bannimantap, Mysuru-015

2. Introduction
• World population is expected to reaches the 9 billion
mark by 2050, and agricultural production has to
increase by 50 per cent from its 2015/2017 levels to
meet this additional demand for food.
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
applications can make a significant contribution to meet
this future global food needs.
• However, there is a need for a new revolution that will
bring lower prices for consumers contribute to “smart”
agriculture to increase production.
• Public and private sector stakeholders have long been
on the search for effective solutions to address both the
long and short-term challenges in agriculture, including
answering the abundant information needs of farmers.

3. Information needs of farmers
Market information
Information on latest techniques and technologies
Information about subsidies and rural development
programs
Weather forecasting
Latest Agricultural practices
Post-harvest technology Information
General agricultural news
Information on insurance / claim processing
Input prices and availability
Early warning and management of diseases and pests
Soil testing and soil sampling information

4. Reasons for Delay in Agricultural
Information in India
Media, Information Management and ICT are not properly used
Lack of adequate extension workers
Lack of Agricultural information literacy in India
Lack of updated agriculture information with the farmers and
most of the extension workers
Poor technological knowledge of farmers and village level
extension personnel
Economic problems of rural people
The top-down approach is adapted for extension activity. So the
linkages between research- extension and farmer remained weak
etc.

5. Objective
• To examine the role of ICTs for sustainable
agricultural development
• To study the role of ICTs in alleviating socio economic
status of farmers
Hypothesis
The dependence and adoption of ICTs is related to
socio economic factors

6. Methodology
 Present study is based on a primary survey of 400
farmers belonging to 04 taluks of Hassan district of
Karnataka.
 An enumerator-based questionnaire was used to
collect information.
 The interview method was adopted to collect data
from farmers who were involved in farming activities.
 Chi-square test of independence was used to identify
the dependence and adoption of ICT is relation to socio
economic factors of education and income.

7. Education Status of the Respondents
Sl No Education Level
No. of
Respondents
Percent (%)
1 Illiterate 98 24.5
2 Primary 116 29.0
3 High School 108 27.0
4 PUC 58 14.5
5 Degree 9 2.2
6 PG 8 2.0
7 Others 3 .8
8 Total 400 100.0

8. • From table 29 percent of the respondents have
completed their primary education – with the highest
percentage of respondents followed by 27 percent of
respondents completing their higher primary
education.
• 24.5 percent of them are illiterate and 14.5 percent of
respondents have completed their Pre University
education. Cumulatively about five percent of
respondents have completed their higher (graduation
and above) level of education.

9. Usage and Utilization of ICT
• This section describes the views of the respondents about the usage of ICT
which is the critical for the present study. Firstly, when asked whether they
are using ICT in agriculture, it is observed from below figure that 67 percent
of the respondents not using the ICT in agriculture while only
• Only one third (33 percent) of the respondents use ICT in agriculture. This
clearly indicates that many respondents are not familiar or not aware of usage
of ICT in agriculture.
Usage of ICT in Agriculture

10. Is ICT Necessary for Agriculture ?
Further, when asked on whether ICT is necessary for agriculture
activities, 62 percent replied affirmatively that it is indeed
essential while nearly one fourth (26 percent) of them
categorically rejecting that usage of ICT is a necessity for
agriculture. 12 percent of respondents were unable to make a
decision.

11. In continuation, when asked whether they have Radio in their home, 77
percent categorically disclosed that they do not have Radio at their home
while only 23 percent of respondents saying that they have a Radio at their
respective residence.
For those respondents (N =93) listening to agricultural programmes on Radio,
it emerged that 71.4 percent of them listen daily. On the contrast, 14.3 percent
of them informed that they listen very rarely and 9.4 percent of respondents
listen to programmes on Radio once in week to obtain relevant information on
agriculture.

12. Mobile Phone / Land Line
For those respondents having mobile phone/telephone, 72.0 percent of the
respondents stated that they do not use mobile phone or telephone to get
information related to agriculture. On the contrast, 28 percent of respondents
use some form of gadgets to receive information on agriculture.

13. Computer or Internet Facility to get Agricultural Information
Frequency of Internet Usage for Information
SL
NO
No. of Respondents Percentage (%)
1 Daily 12 35.3
2 Two Days Once 4 11.8
3 Rarely 14 41.2
4 Weekly Twice 4 11.8
5 Total 34 100.0
92 percent of respondents stated that they do not have computer at home and hence the
question of having internet facility do not arise. On the other hand, only eight percent of
respondents disclosed that they have computer along with the internet facility at their
respective residences.
For those respondents (N =34) using internet for information related to
agriculture, it emerged that 35.3 percent of them surf daily. On the contrast, 41.2 percent of
them informed that they surf the internet very rarely and 11.8 percent of respondents surf
the internet once in week to obtain relevant information on agriculture.

14. Hypotheses for the study
Chi-square test of independence was used to identify the dependence and adoption of ICT
is relation to socio economic factors - education, income and land holding. The hypotheses
tested are discussed below.
Hypothesis # 1:
H01: Usage of ICT tools is not associated with levels of education.
H1.1: Usage of ICT tools is associated with levels of education.
SL NO Usage of ICT
Total
Qualification No Yes
1 School Dropout
95
(96.9)
3
(3.1)
98
(100.0)
2 Primary
91
(78.4)
25
(21.6)
116
(100.0)
3 High School
65
(60.2)
43
(39.8)
108
(100.0)
4 PUC
15
(25.9)
43
(74.1)
58
(100.0)
5 Graduate
0
(0.0)
9
(100.0)
9
(100.0)
6 Post Graduate
0
(0.0)
8
(100.0)
8
(100.0)
7 others 3
(100.0)
0
(0.0)
3
(100.0)
8 Total 269
(67.2)
131
(32.8)
400
(100.0)

15. Chi-Square Test results.
Pearson Chi-Square Value = 127.79
Asymptotic significance (p-value) = 0.000
 From the Chi-square test result, it is observed that p-value is 0.000 (chi-
square = 127.79) which is lesser than the significant alpha level of 0.01 (at 99 %
confidence level).
Hence, the null hypothesis (H0) is rejected and alternative hypothesis (H1) is
accepted that there is an association between education and usage of ICT tools in
agriculture.
In essence, there is a statistical evidence to conclude that the higher qualified
respondents are using ICT as compared to the lesser qualified respondents. As
evident, there is a gradual increase in the percentage of ICT users from 21.6 %
(studied up to primary education) to 74.1 % of those respondents completing their Pre
University. Furthermore, it is observed that all graduate and post graduate
respondents are using ICT for development of agriculture.

16. Hypothesis # 2:
H02: Usage of ICT tools is not associated with income levels.
H1.2: Usage of ICT tools is associated with income levels.
Association between Levels of Income and Usage of ICT in Agriculture
Usage of ICT
Total
Income level (in Rs) No Yes
< 25,000
44
(100.0)
0
(0.0)
44
(100.0)
25001 – 50000
122
(81.3)
28
(18.7)
150
(100.0)
50001 – 100000
77
(56.6)
59
(43.4)
136
(100.0)
100001 - 500000
26
(37.1)
44
(62.9)
70
(100.0)
Total 269
(67.2)
131
(32.8)
400
(100.0)
* No. of respondents of using ICT tools. [Percentages are represented in parenthesis]

17. Chi-Square Test result
Pearson Chi-Square Value = 70.73
Asymptotic significance (p-value) = 0.000
 From the Chi-square test result, it is observed that p-value is 0.000 (chi-square
= 70.73) which is lesser than the significant alpha level of 0.01 (at 99 % confidence
level).
Hence, the null hypothesis (H02) is rejected and alternative hypothesis (H12) is
accepted that there is an association between Income and usage of ICT tools in
agriculture.
In essence, there is a statistical evidence to conclude that the higher income level
respondents are using ICT as compared to the lower income respondents.
As evident, there is a gradual increase in the percentage of ICT users from 18.7 %
(for those with an income level between Rs 25001 – 50000) to 62.9 % of those
respondents ‘earning in the income bracket of Rs 100001 to Rs 500000 annually.

18. Conclusion and Suggestions
Use of ICT in agriculture is directly proportional to the
socio-economic factors.
So, it is imperative that there is smooth and fast transition
towards ICT in agriculture.
With efforts of government, including ‘Digital India’
programme, networking across nook and corner of the sub
continent is a reality and hence ICT is way forward.
The success of ICT depends on the fact that, it provides;
There is a need for more publicity towards creating the
awareness on the uses and benefits of ICT.

19. At this juncture, government should come up with a policy
frame work exclusively for ICT use in agriculture.
To promote usage of ICT and also benefit small and marginal
farmers as exclusive programmes focusing on agriculture can be
formulated.
In addition, where ever the farmers need assistance, as a primary
step, ICT kiosks can be established.
Since, ICT believes in participatory approach the more the use
the more it will empower.
This is a way forward in inclusive sustainable development. The
whole idea is to develop better visioning and empowering the
farmers with latest technology and farming practices through the
ICT.