Abstract:
Agricultural extension service largely depends on the ‘agent-based’ service delivery
model, however ICTs could efficiently be used as an alternative of this traditional
approach. However, the question remains unexplained whether an ICT-based
application is valued by the farmers as an alternative ways for receiving farming
information. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate users’ perceived effectiveness
of Krishoker Janala as an ICT-based extension service as an agricultural advisory
system. Attempts were also made to identify personal and technological level factors
and their effects on users’ perceived effectiveness of ICT-based service. A crosssectional
survey
methodology
was
employed.
All
the
blocks
of
Fulbaria
upazila
under
Mymensingh
district
were selected as the study area. One hundred twenty two (122)
farmers were selected as the sample by using proportionate random sampling technique
from a population of 525 users who used Krishoker Janala at least once in last cropping
year. Data were collected by the researcher himself using a well-structured interview
schedule during the period from 20
th
December, 2016 to 10
th
February, 2017. Data
revealed that majority of the respondents (79.5%) perceived ICT-based service like
Krishoker Janala as moderately effective as an agricultural advisory system. A multiple
regression analysis revealed that education, ICT ownership, ease of use, information
richness were found to be significant predictors which altogether explained 51.6% of
the variance of perceived effectiveness of Krishoker Janala as an ICT-based extension
service. However, extent of ICT use (both general and agricultural purposes) were
found to be non-significant to perceived effectiveness of Krishoker Janala as an ICTbased
extension
service.
The finding indicates while ICT-based service may not be a
direct alternative of ‘agent-based’ system, its effectiveness for disseminating timesensitive
farming
information
is promising.
Description:
A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture,
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka,
in Partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS)
IN
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
