Social Media Used by the Farmers in Sharing Farm Information

Abstract

Social media has emerged as a highly powerful tool in facilitating online social interactions and has shown tremendous potential in facilitating information exchange among individuals. It has been extensively used by farmers to tremendous increase in the number of smart-phones users during the last decade. A study was conducted during 2021-22 to find out the different social media being utilized by the farmers. A total of 140 progressive farmers who are using social media were randomly selected from purposively selected blocks of the Kota division of Rajasthan. Results of the study revealed that WhatsApp, YouTube, and Facebook were the most popular social media tools which are being used by farmers for sharing farm information. Keeping in touch with extension workers/ scientists, sharing or capturing information, and socializing with relatives /contact were major purposes for the farming community on social media sites. It can be concluded that social media would deliberately remain as a booster or supporter or enhancer to the farming community.