Analysis of Challenges Faced by Farmers in Using ICT for Agricultural Knowledge and Information Management (AKIM)

Several empirical studies have highlighted that use of ICT for agricultural knowledge and information management (AKIM) have helped farmers to increase yield, lower input costs, and adopt sustainable practices. Despite high access to ICT facilitated by increased tele-density and affordable internet services in rural areas of Delhi-NCR, adoption and usage of ICT sources for AKIM among farmers is still below potential. Field survey of 667 farmers of Delhi-NCR and extensive literature review is carried out to explore the challenges faced by farmers in application of various ICT sources to manage their agricultural knowledge and information needs and a hierarchical model is developed using Interpretive Structure Modelling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis methodology. The study finds that despite high access to ICT sources the usage frequency of these tools for AKIM purposes is very low. Majority farmers strongly agreed that poor ICT literacy and skill, complexity of usage, lack of relevant contents and customized information are the major challenges directly linked to the low usage of ICT sources for AKIM. Lack of political will, supporting institutions, ICT and other infrastructure facilities are indirect challenges of high driving powers capable of influencing the challenges having direct linkage to the problem of low usage of ICT among farmers for AKIM.