Profile and Constraints faced by the cotton growers towards utilization pattern of ICT tools in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra

The study was conducted to find out the Profile and constraints faced by the cotton growers towards utilization pattern of ICT tools in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. Parbhani district was randomly selected, and within it, two talukas Parbhani and Gangakhed were randomly chosen. From each taluka, three villages were selected, resulting in a total of six villages. A sample of 120 respondents was drawn using random sampling. Data were collected through a well-structured interview schedule and analyzed using statistical tools such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The study revealed that most respondents (69.17%) were middle-aged, with (53.83%) educated up to middle school. A majority had marginal landholdings (57.50%) and medium annual income (80.83%). Medium levels were also recorded for social participation (80.00%), source of information (70.83%), and extension participation (64.17%). Further, (96.67%) exhibited medium risk preference on farming, (83.33%) had medium knowledge about ICT technology, and (81.67%) possessed a moderately favourable attitude towards ICT tools. The most pressing constraint faced by cotton growers was the high cost of ICT equipment (90.00%), followed by high service charges (87.50%), lack of information about the use of ICT technology (86.67%), and unavailability of uninterrupted electricity supply (85.00%). Other major issues were lack of internet connectivity (82.50%), limited availability of content/messages in the local language (80.00%), no training for ICT skill development (76.67%), and non-availability of subsidies for ICT equipment (75.00%). Additional problems included low public awareness about ICT benefits (72.50%), slow internet speed (70.83%), absence of service centres in villages (68.33%), lack of nearby educational facilities (65.00%), shortage of basic facilities (61.67%), restricted access to markets with ICT spare parts (58.33%), and no fair price for produce (55.83%).