Cellphone Use by the Farmers in Securing Need-based Information

Abstract: 

The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of cellphone used by the farmers and to explore the relationship of farmers’ characteristics with their cellphone use. Data were obtained from a random sample of 113 farm family heads in 3 selected villages of Raipur Union under Pirganj Upazila of Rangpur District. Data were collected during 12th November 2009 to 16th January 2010. Pre-tested interview schedule was used for collection of data. Appropriate scales were developed and used in order to measure the concerned variables. Correlation test was used to ascertain the relationships between each of the concerned variables and extent of use of cellphone by the farmers. Majority (79 percent) of the farmers had very low cellphone use while 18 percent of them had low cellphone use and only 1 percent had medium use. Only two percent of the farmers did not use any cellphone at all. Findings of the study indicated that, as a communication tool, farmers used cellphone nearly three times more in non-agriculture sector than that of agriculture sector. Farmers’ characteristics such as education, family size, effective farmsize, commercialization, annual family income, social participation, extension contact and aspiration had significant positive relationship with the extent of use of cellphone by the farmers, while conservatism had significant negative relationship with their extent of cellphone use. However, considering the main focus of the study, it can be concluded that nearly cent percent (98 percent) of the farmers were using cellphone but their extent of using cellphone was very low to low.

Subject and Keywords: 
Year: 
Volume: 
22
Issue: 
1 & 2
Page: 
7-14
Article Identifier: 
1515