Agriculture information needs of farm women: A study in State of north India

Abstract

Access to accurate, timely and reliable information plays a crucial role in the adoption of appropriate agriculture technology. Although, women contribute significantly in the farming operations, their contribution is not yet fully recognised and acknowledged. In order to improve agriculture productivity and production efficiency, there is an urgent need to identify their agriculture information needs. The present study was undertaken to find out the agriculture information needs of farm women in a Himalayan State of North India. The study adopted a descriptive research design and the study sample included 120 farm women selected from eight randomly selected villages using PPS method. The findings indicate that farm women expressed the need for information regarding disease control/management, weed control/management, high yielding variety crops, fertilizer requirement, use of improved farm implements, and information related to marketing. An appropriate information dissemination strategy can be developed on the basis of their information seeking and information sharing behaviour. The study has policy and programming implications for devising appropriate extension strategies for fulfilling the information needs of farm women for enhancing agriculture productivity and production efficiency.

Information empowers vegetable supply chain: A study of information needs and sharing strategies among farmers and vendors

“…Farming information has been a valuable resource in coping with http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2015.07.009 0168-1699/Ó 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. agricultural challenges (Ansari and Sunetha, 2014;Lee and Whang, 2000;Mahant et al, 2012;Morrow et al, 2002). Empowered by production and marketing information, farmers and vendors are capable of transforming traditional agriculture into a more profitable and sustainable business (Tologbonse et al, 2008).…”

“…Researchers discover that access to information holds the key to successful agricultural development as information is a crucial resource for enhancing agricultural productivity and facilitating poverty alleviation (Mahant et al, 2012). Reliable, timely and relevant information is essential for farmers to adopt agriculture technology (Ansari and Sunetha, 2014), and their life quality can be highly improved as a result (Enwelu et al, 2014).…”

Study of Situational Theory of Problem Solving (Stops) in Conceptualizing Farmer’s Response Towards Insufficient Information Delivery in Malaysia

“…Information is an essential in the practice of farming, and it is the basis of extension service and having access to the right information at the right time in the right format and from the right source will determine between success and failure of the farmers. Researchers discovered reliable, timely and relevant information is essential for farmers to adopt agriculture technology, (Ansari & Sunetha, 2014) and facilitate poverty alleviation (Enwelu, Asogwa, Nwalieji, & Ezeano, 2014). However, the research found that farmers often not receive sufficient information which matches their information needs and farming strategies (Babu & Joshi, 2014).…”

Benefits Derived from the Use of Information and Communication Technologies among Rural Farmers in Northeast Nigeria

“…The adoption of ICTs by rural dwellers has most direct impacts on agriculture and other rural livelihood activities that can enhance their increases in productivity, environmental sustainability, lower costs and greater value generation. More so, it permits access to information worldwide hence fostering empowerment of men, women and the youth in the communities (Mohammad and Shweta, 2014).…”

“…Akin to these has been the contribution of mobile phone for improved social, environmental and economic development in African countries (Gerad, 2014). Mohammad and Shweta (2014) submit that access and utilisation of timely information by rural dwellers via ICTs is needful and helpful in carrying out their various non-agricultural and agricultural activities for their livelihood. In Northeast region of Nigeria more than 80% of the populace are engaged in growing of crops or rearing of livestock for their livelihood (Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), 2017).…”