Study on Information Seeking Behaviour among the Farmers of Different Cropping System of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Information seeking behaviour refers to the orientation of individuals in finding the different information sources and using the availed information in various circumstances. It also includes information retrieval, with its main focus is on understanding the need to seek information and process of using it. The present study deals with the information seeking behaviour of farmers of different cropping systems. The study used an ex-post facto research design. Ex-post facto research is an organised empirical study in which the researcher has no direct influence over the independent variables. A sample size of 300 was selected for the study. Information seeking behaviour was calculated by using a scale consisting of three subheads i.e., personal localite sources, personal cosmopolite sources and impersonal cosmopolite sources. It could be concluded from the findings that slightly above two-third of the farmers (67.00 per cent) had medium level of information seeking behaviour, less than one-fifth of the farmers (17.33 per cent) and only little amount of the farmers (15.67 per cent) had high level of information seeking behaviour. The study helps the various development departments related to agriculture and rural development to make relevant policies in suitable communication models.