Volume : 3, Issue : 3, MAR 2017

FARMERS' INCLINATIONON INFORMATION SOURCES FOR INNOVATIVE FARMING

A. R. Makwan

Abstract

Today, more than ever, a wide range of information sources on new orinnovative farming practices is available to farmers. However, there islittle evidence that the increased availability of information sources hasbeen effectively used by farmers (Lionberger & Gwin, 1982). The value ofinformation as a commodity in today's information age cannot beoveremphasized since it has contributed immensely to the stagnation orprogressiveness of many farming operations. In today's agriculturalindustry, survival often depends on having an edge on information relatedto the market, efficient allocation of available resources, and use of newor innovative farming practices (Fedale, 1987). Information sources are conceptualized as the sources through which farmers get information about innovative agricultural technologies, especially in regard to paddy cultivation. To measure the information sources, interview schedule was developed consisting of 4 different types of informal source such as family members, friends, neighbors, relatives etc. and 8 formal sourceslike as subject matter specialists, village level workers, co-operative society, voluntary organization, newspapers, radio, television, internet etc. which play crucial role for dissemination of innovative agricultural technologies to the paddy growers. In order to study the sources of information used by the respondents for getting information related to paddy cultivation, they were asked to mention which sources they utilized for seeking information. The farmers in the study were asked to indicate their formal and informal information sources for seeking innovative agricultural information about paddy cultivation. Trained farmers had sought information from the family members followed by friends and neighbors. With regard to untrained farmers, they had sought information from family members, neighbors and friends with rank of first, second and third respectively.From the study, it is found that farmers had soughtinnovative agricultural technologies from the family members, friends and neighbors as informal sources, while, subject matter specialists, village level workers, newspapers and television were utilized as formal information sources.

Article : Download PDF

Cite This Article

Article No : 3

Number of Downloads : 982

References

1. Lionberger, H.F., & Gwin, P.H. (1982). Communication strategies: A guide & for agricultural change agents. Danville, IL: The InterstatePrinters and Publishers, Inc. 2. Fedale, S. (1987). Principles and practices of extension education:Electronic information technology for extension. Unpublished manuscript,University of Idaho, Agricultural Communications, Moscow, ID.