Constraints faced by farmers in access and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Bihar

Abstract

In this information age, ICTs play a pivotal medium for knowledge dissemination between research systems and farming system. ICT provides farmers various latest technologies and improves their farm income. Although, Bihar has not such succeeded as other South-western Indian states. The present study was undertaken to find out the constraints faced by farmers in accessing and utilizing of various ICT tools. This study was conducted in the Samastipur and Katihar districts of Bihar during the year 2018-2019. A total of 100 respondents were surveyed for the study. Results showed that, majority of the farmer were facing the problem of insufficient power supply with mean of 2.84 was ranked first followed by connection of internet was poor or slow (2.83), lack of knowledge(2.82), lack of confidence in using ICT tools (2.79), and lack of training programme(2.71). Suggestions given by the respondents were training programme for farmers related to ICT mean of 2.79 (rank I) followed by improve power supply was ranked second with mean value (2.76), improve internet connection (2.74) ranked third.