PERCEIVED USEFULNESS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTs) USE IN AGRO FARMING SYSTEM IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agriculture is a key component in improving agricultural production and linkages to remunerative markets, thus improve rural livelihoods, food security and national economy. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of perceived usefulness of ICTs use in agro-farming system. Attempts were also made to determine the factors, both ICT-related and personal characteristics, that influence farmers’ perceived usefulness of ICTs use in agro-farming system. The study was conducted in three villages of Sadar upazila of Lalmonirhat district. Data were collected from 90 farmers from 223 population by using interview schedule during the period from 18 June to 10 th August, 2017. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used to explore the relationship among the variables. The highest proportion (61.1%) of the respondents perceived ICTs as high useful in agriculture compared to 4.4% perceived low and 34.5% perceived as moderate useful in agriculture. Among the variables, level of education, ICT self-efficacy and ICT use experience were found to be positive and significantly associated while farm size, ICT ownership, extent of ICT use and constraint of using ICT were found to be non-significantly associated with perceived usefulness of ICTs use in agro-farming system.