USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTs) BY FLOWER FARMERS OF JASHORE DISTRICT

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the extent of use of ICTs by the flower farmers and to determine the extent to which the selected factors influence their use of ICTs for production and market-related information in selected areas of Jhikargacha upazila under Jashore district. Three unions namely Panisara, Godkhali, Nabharan of Jhikargacha upazila were randomly selected as the research area. Data were collected from 106 randomly selected flower farmers from the study areas, through personal interview by the researcher himself during 20 December, 2020 to 27 February, 2021. Data were analyzed by Multiple Regression analysis using SPSS 23.0. Data indicates that the highest proportion (45.3%) of the flower farmers moderate use ICT based applications, while (35.85%) had less ICT based applications and less than one-fifth (18.9%) had high use of ICT based applications for their flower production and market related information. Results indicates that annual family income, extension media contact, ICT ownership and ICT use skill were significantly contributed to their use of ICTs while age, level of education, farm size, family member, organizational participation, perceived benefit use were found non-significant predictors of ICTs use. All the factors jointly explained 74.3% (R 2 = 0.743) of the variances of the dependent variable. Thus, the study concludes with the recommendation to enable favorable environment to promote use of ICT based applications in receiving flower production and market related information.