Use and Role of Mobile Phone for Information Services in Agricultural Activities

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to determine the use and role of mobile phone for information services in agricultural activities as well as to explore the relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of women farmers and their use of mobile phone in agricultural activities. Data were collected using pre-tested interview schedule from a sample of 85 women farmers during the month of August 2018. Besides descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) was used to explore the significant influencing factors. Ten (10) different android mobile phone apps were identified which are most frequently used by the women farmers in the study area. Among the mobile apps, ‘vutta or maize app’ was found as the top used mobile app for information services in agricultural activities. This might be because of rapidly spreading of maize cultivation as a highly benefited cereal crops against the climatic change situation in the study area. Findings indicated that among the women farmers, majority (64.7 percent) of the women farmers used mobile phone moderately for information services in agricultural activities followed by 23.5 percent high and only 11.8 percent low used of mobile phone. Among ten socio-economic characteristics of the women farmers, education, annual income, organizational participation, training received and ICT self-efficacy had positive significant relationship and influence of the use of mobile phone in agricultural activities. ‘Insect and disease control measures’ was found the 1st ranked agricultural activities in which mobile phone played highest role for information services. It suggests that issues related to economic impact or effect of mobile phone on sustainable livelihood could be considered for future research to be undertaken.