UTILIZATION OF ICT TOOLS AMONG DAIRY FARMERS AND ASSOCIATED SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools have emerged as pivotal assets in modernizing agricultural and allied sectors. ICT in dairy farming has several applications, from improved market information and real-time weather updates to personalized advisory services for the farmers. The current study explored how farmers use ICT tools in dairy farming to meet their information needs and how different factors are associated with it. The research design used was ex post facto. A total of 120 dairy farmers were chosen at random from 6 villages in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh state, and using an interview schedule, data was gathered. The results showed that most (47.50%) of the dairy farmers belonged to the medium level of ICT tools usage, followed by (31.70%) under low and (20.80%) under high categories. ICT tools that were primarily being used in the sample area were television, followed by mobile phones for getting market information and maintaining sales records, and disease management. Farmers usage of ICT tools is significantly influenced by a combination of socioeconomic, behavioural, and psychological factors, which included education, land ownership, income, information seeking habits, extension engagement, and attitudes toward risk, innovation, and achievement. While age and experience in dairy farming were negatively correlated with the usage of ICT tools, family size appears to have no effect on usage of ICT tools among the dairy farmers.