A Study on Attitude of Dairy Farmers, towards Mobile Application (Dairy Kannada) in Karnataka, India

Abstract

Dairy Kannada is a mobile application developed to provide dairy-related information to farmers in Karnataka in a form intended to suit users’ capabilities. This study assessed the socio-personal, economic and psychological profile of dairy farmers who had downloaded and were using the application and examined their attitude towards mobile-app use. Thirty dairy farmers were selected from each of the Bengaluru, Mysuru, Belagavi and Kalburgi divisions, giving a total of 120 respondents. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Attitude and innovative proneness were assessed by scoring responses to specified statements. The results showed that 48.33% of respondents were middle-aged, 91.66% were literate, 67.50% lived in nuclear families, and 46.67% belonged to the small-farmer landholding category. Medium levels predominated for extension contact, extension participation, mass-media exposure, material possession and innovative proneness. With regard to attitude towards mobile apps, 95 of 120 respondents (79.17%) had a favourable attitude, 15 (12.50%) had a most favourable attitude, and 10 (8.33%) had a least favourable attitude. The findings provide a descriptive account of the characteristics and attitudes of existing Dairy Kannada users and indicate the relevance of mobile applications as a source of dairy-related information within the study setting.