Constraints faced by young farmers in adopting ICT tools in Agriculture: a case study of district Sargodha
Paper Details
Constraints faced by young farmers in adopting ICT tools in Agriculture: a case study of district Sargodha
Abstract
In the modern ages, application of ICTs has not been negated by anyone due to its promising role as information source and in digitalizing of agricultural business. This study was focused on determination of constraints being faced by the young farmers (rural youth) in Sargodha. Descriptive study was administered by the interview schedule, having open ended and close ended questions. Multistage probability (simple random) sampling method was used for the selection of study respondents. Data were collected from 225 randomly selected young farmers who used to do farming for their livelihoods. For reaching on an authentic decision, recorded data were analyzed using SPSS. Data showed that majority of the respondents were adult and mature farmers, having small size of landholding. Monthly family income of majority of respondents was medium. Different kinds of information sources were being prominently used by the respondents. Lack of awareness, language barrier, stereotype behavior and content irrelevancy are some of the major social constraints highlighted by the farmers. Among the economic constraints, poor ICTs infrastructure is the one to whom they blamed. Coming to technical constraints, their inability to use ICTs, internet coverage, authenticity of information and lacking in skill set were major constraints. Authors have recommended to establish sustainable ICTs network for productive channelizing of information to reach the target of “highest proportion of population mean rural youth”. For engaging young farmers in Agriculture using ICTs a policy framework comprises of four major segments is suggested.
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