Use of Information and Communication Technologies by the Farmers in Modernizing Agriculture at Barind Tract Area of Bangladesh

Abstract

A study was carried out at Barind area of two upazilas (small administrative unit) under Chapainawabganj district in Bangladesh during January, 2024 to April, 2024 to find out the extent of use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and explore the relationship between personal attributes and their use of information and communication technologies in modernizing agriculture. Information and communication technology in the districts of Chapainawabganj, Nachole, and Gomostapur are used by the populace. There are around 3500 and 5000 users of information and communication technology in Nachole and Gomostapur Upazilla, respectively. The study's population consisted of 386 ICT-using farmers from all 14 Pourasava and unions; 386 respondents were chosen using the Taro Yamane Formula. Out of 13 socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, education, agricultural knowledge, ICT ownership, ICT knowledge, farm size, cosmopoliteness, communication exposure and risk orientation had significant. In addition, age, family size, training experience, supervision of crop production and formal group affiliation are insignificant with use of information and communication technologies. Majority of the farmers had medium to high level of use of information and communication technologies