Are mobile advisory and face-to-face communication effective for enhancing the capabilities of farmers-evidence from farm science centre

Abstract

This study was conducted during the year 2020-2021.In this study, the researchers investigated the impact of mobile advisory and face-to-face communication on the capability building of farmers in the Ganjam district of Odisha, India. The farmers in this region were provided with agricultural training and information services from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) or Farm Science Centres that serve as knowledge and resource hubs for farmers and rural communities. These centers are established and funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and are spread throughout various districts in India. This aimed to improve agricultural productivity and promote rural well-being in India. These institutions provide farmers with valuable information, guidance, and support, which can improve their agricultural practices, productivity, and overall livelihoods. To assess the impact of these services, the researchers utilized Gigler's Alternative Evaluation Framework, which applied Sen's Capabilities Approach to evaluate the indicators of economic well-being and quality of life among the farmers. Additionally, the study explored the farmers' perception of effective communication tools for information transfer and analyzed the actual usage of communication media in capability building. The findings revealed that, despite KVK's primary use of face-to-face communication and limited usage of Short Message Service (SMS), the combined impact of both communication channels resulted in enhanced capability building among farmers, improving their productivity, economic well-being, and quality of life. These approaches provide access to information, remote guidance, real-time updates, language and literacy support, cost-effectiveness, personalized support, and contextualized recommendations. By leveraging these tools, farmers can improve their agricultural practices, increase productivity, and ultimately improve their livelihoods.