ICT management tool uses in agricultural extension services in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladeshi farmers gain traditional agricultural knowledge and skills by hereditary. Such experience and historic knowledge are now inadequate to meet the food requirement of the huge population of the country. Thus modernization of the traditional system is very essential for the agriculture sector of Bangladesh. This article focuses on the innovations and developments. As such we have given focused on by ICT access in agricultural sector of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a developing country. Agriculture, being one of the major driving forces is contributing maximum share to the GDP and the growing economy of the country. Almost 80% of the total workforce directly connected to agriculture (Kashem et al., 2010). Due to the rapid growth of population the food demand is increased. Though the agricultural sector is developing it does not achieve the optimum level due to lack of up to date knowledge and information. Usually the farmers counter difficulties in obtaining the proper information as they collect information from conventional and traditional sources like extension fellow farmers. From season to season there is high demand of up to date information for new cultivation processing techniques, pest and diseases control, marketing and consumer demand, crops transport etc (Malone et al., 2012).Timely and accurate information can assist farmers to protect from potential seasonal losses. Up to date knowledge can helps them to make optimum use of limited resources. As such the conventional method of cultivation is to be changed using modern digital ICT services.The Country has stepped into new era of digital world with a spectacular vision for making Digital Bangladesh. This vision would be saddled by e-agriculture involving multi disciplinary initiatives of agricultural information, agricultural development and entrepreneurship towards building a hunger free, efficient and resourceful Bangladesh.The history of ICT use in Bangladesh agriculture is not so rich. ICT taskforce program launched in 2003 by the ministry of agriculture perhaps would be the first initiative to set up on Agricultural Information system. Recently a dedicated division Agricultural Statistics and Information & Communication Technology (ASICT) has been established in BARI for providing the agricultural Information

Effectiveness of Agricultural Information and Communication Center for Disseminating Agricultural Information

“…Therefore, for getting knowledge of the modern agricultural technologies, their usefulness, proper operation of these information and technologies messages should reach to the farmers within a shortest possible time. In relation to this, research indicates that the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to disseminate agricultural technologies has been shown such effectiveness to improve agricultural production (Rahman and Islam, 2015).…”

“…As a result, it is critical to offer farmers with high quality information and knowledge in a timely manner. The farm family to grassroots level extension agent ratio is 1000:1, which is extremely low (Rahman and Islam, 2015). As a result, both the government and the business sector should take steps to offer timely, need based information.…”