Awareness and Utilization of ICT Tools among Farmers in Chitradurga District: A Socio Economic Analysis

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has emerged as the most convenient and widely used medium of communication in the modern era, enabling rapid outreach to a large audience. This study focuses on examining the awareness and utilization of ICT tools among farmers in Chitradurga district during the year 2024. The study was conducted with a randomly selected sample of 100 farmers using a pre-tested, structured interview schedule. The farmers' awareness and usage of ICT tools such as mobile phones, computers, laptops, and kiosks were assessed, along with their personal and economic backgrounds. The results revealed that the majority of farmers had only up to primary school education (28.00%) and belonged to small-sized families (51.00%), with a medium level of farming experience (48.00%). Notably, 54.00% of the respondents owned mobile phones without internet service, while an equal proportion (54.00%) had access to mobile phones with internet service. Regarding awareness, 49.00% of the farmers demonstrated a medium level of awareness about ICT tools, followed by 30.00% with low awareness and 21.00% with high awareness. Although all respondents (100%) were aware of basic ICT services such as calling, SMS, and video calling, the actual utilization of advanced features like WhatsApp, Facebook, and browsing for agricultural information was significantly lower. The findings suggest a gap between awareness and actual usage of ICT tools. Therefore, it is imperative to enhance farmers’ ability to utilize these technologies effectively through targeted educational and training programs for their overall development and well-being. The study reveals a significant discrepancy between farmers in Chitradurga district's awareness and actual use of ICT technologies. Although everyone is aware of fundamental services, advanced ICT applications' potential is still not fully utilized. Structured and ongoing educational and capacity-building initiatives are desperately needed to close this gap and enable farmers to use ICT tools to boost agricultural productivity and improve their standard of living.