[Link].

Sci (2018) 7(2): 1014-1021

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 02 (2018)
Journal homepage: [Link]

Original Research Article [Link]

Attitude of Livestock Farmers towards the ICT based Livestock Extension

Services in Jaipur District of Rajasthan, India

Sunil Rajoria1*, Sanjay Kumar Rewani2, Virendra Singh2, Manisha Singodia2,

Brijesh Nanda3 and Harshita Bhumra4

1
Veterinary University Training and Research Center, Dungarpur- 403001, India
2
Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, Post Graduate
Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Jaipur- 302031, India
3
Department of Livestock Product Management, Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine,
Jaipur- 302031, India
4
Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, College of
Veterinary and Animal Science, Navania, Vallabhnagar, Udaipur- 313601, India

*Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

An exploratory study was conducted to measure attitude of livestock farmers towards

Keywords Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) used in extension services as a source
of information livery in Rajasthan, India. A total of 120 respondents were randomly
Attitude, ICTs, selected for the study. Data were collected through structured interview schedule and
Livestock analysed through different statistical tools. The study revealed that majority of livestock
farmers farmers had favourable attitude (73.33%) towards dissemination of information through
Article Info different ICT tools in livestock sector followed by 15.83 per cent with more favourable
attitude and 10.83 per cent with less favourable attitude. Age, family size, land holding,
Accepted: herd size, extension contact and social participation had positive and non-significant
10 January 2018 relationship with attitude of livestock farmers towards ICTs, while experience in livestock
Available Online: farming had negative and non-significant relationship. Education, mass media exposure
10 February 2018 and annual gross income had positive and significant relationship with attitude of livestock
farmers towards ICTs.
Introduction opportunities on the other hand (Ravikumar
and Mahesh, 2006; Borah and Halim, 2014).
Primarily, India is an agrarian country and
agriculture is the backbone of Indian India’s public extension system accounts for
economy. Livestock sector is an integral part only a small percentage of farmer’s
of the agricultural system in India and information sources. Farmer to farmer
contributes significantly to the GDP. It informal exchanges remains the main channel
ensures food and nutritional security on one for accessing information and new
hand and provides income and employment technologies in India (Anonymous, 2005).

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Traditionally, the potential sources of Design (CAD), Artificial Intelligence (AI),

information for farmers on various aspects of Information System and Learning
production, marketing and finance include Management System which are being used
media, government extension services, effectively and efficiently in various sectors.
consultants and farm service firms, traders,
input dealers, other farmers and relatives Adequate access to knowledge and
(Mittal and Kumar, 2000; NSSO, 2005 and information is the least expensive input to
Saravanan, 2011) that has became very amend livestock sector. ICT tools can be used
tedious method in service delivery system. to impart information and knowledge and that
in turn will lead to motivation, mobilization
Recent developments in ICT offer a great and action to do something better in livestock
opportunity to facilitate the flow of sector. ICTs have played very effective role in
information and technology services delivery the agriculture and allied sector development
especially to the farmers (Maningas, and in the decision making of farmer’s
2006).Use of Information and Communication communities in different countries (Cash,
Technology (ICT) tools has potential to 2001; Galloway and Mochrie, 2005; Opara,
change the economy of livestock, agriculture 2008 and Taragola and Van Lierde, 2010).
and rural artisans in India (Sasidhar and
Sharma, 2006). The delivery of information Information delivered through ICT can be
and knowledge to the farmers on the right time timelier and can reach a greater number of
and in right way leads to more productivity farmers directly (Richardson, 1996). Access to
and more profitability. Thus, the information ICTs could reduce transaction costs related to
delivery system should include technology to information searching and reduce knowledge
impart the information and knowledge to the and information asymmetries, particularly
livestock farmers. So, these ICT tools are the related to market price information (De Silva
demand of hour. and Ratnadiwakara, 2008). Information,
rewarded with success stories, can motivate
ICT refers to all information and human to adopt healthy livestock
communication systems and technologies technologies. For instance, information on
including not only the digital formats such as immunization, calf mortality, maternal
the internet or the World Wide Web (WWW), mortality, sanitation, nutritional awareness and
but also interfaces with radio, cable and causes, prevention and treatment of disease
wireless television, video, cellular phones and can be disseminated far and wide via ICTs.
print media (Hazelman and Flor, 2004). ICTs Information helps the poor to avail of the
are integrated with different devices such as opportunities and also reduce their
computer, internet, mobile phones, television vulnerability (Kiplang’at 1999). Farmers must
and radio. According to Elijah and Ogunlade be get information at the right time and place
(2006), there are three categories of ICTs viz. (De Silva and Ratnadiwakara, 2008).It is
advance ICTs (computer, internet and mobile increasingly recognized that ICT is necessary
phone), conventional ICTs (radio, TV, land for accessing required information and
line telephone and telegraph) and really old knowledge (Richardson 1997; Chapman et al.,
ICTs (newspaper, books and libraries). Some 2004; Anandajayasekeram et al., 2008;
of the modern ICT tools are Geographic Mcnamara 2009; Aker 2010). The enhanced
Information Systems (GIS), Global and smooth communication results in the
Positioning System (GPS), Database overall development of the livestock sector of
Management System (DMS), Computer Aided the country (Saravanan, 2010).

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The focus of this study was on the attitude of frequency, percentage, regression and
the farmers towards ICT based livestock correlation were used to draw the inferences.
service delivery system, their present attitude
and level of knowledge on ICT based Attitude of livestock farmers towards ICTs
information delivery system, problem faced by
the farmers to run-through this system, which Attitude is an organized predisposition to
will be very helpful for the improvement of think, feel, perceive and behave towards a
the existing system as well as the development cognitive object. Attitude is the degree of
in advanced information delivery system in positive or negative effect associated with
livestock sector of India. some psychological object.

Materials and Methods The Modified scale of Kumar and Ratnakar

(2011) was used for measuring the attitude of
An exploratory research design was conducted livestock farmers towards ICT based livestock
in the state of Rajasthan, North-East India on extension services. The scale consisted of 22
constraints percieved by livestock farmers in statements (twelve positive and ten negetive).
the use of ICTs. State was purposively The responses were recorded on a five point
selected through criterion sampling due to the continuum representing strongly agree, agree,
Rajasthan is rich in livestock wealth and undecided, disagree, and strongly disagree
peoples of the state are using various ICT with scores of 5,4,3,2, and1 for positive
tools in their day to day life to adopt better life statements and vice-versa for negative
style. Further, Jaipur district was selected statements, respectively. The maximum and
purposively on the basis of prospective rate of minimum obtainable score was 110 and 22
information acessibility, availability, usage, respectively.
good informative network and livestock
wealth status as compared to other districts of After getting the total attitude score of each
Rajasthan. respondent, they were classified into three
groups as follows:
A total of 120 respondents who were using
ICT tools were selected randomly from two Less favourable - Less than (Mean - S.D.)
tehsils of Jaipur district namely Sanganer and Favourable - Between (Mean ± S.D.)
Shahpura. In the next stage of sampling, six More favourable - More than (Mean + S.D.)
villages were selected randomly from each
selected tehsils. Chhitroli, Bhankrota khurd, Results and Discussion
Manohariya wala, Watika, Vidhani and Goner
villages were selected from Sanganer tehsil Attitude of livestock farmers towards ICTs
and Chimanpura, Amarpura, Govindpura
Dhabai, Markhi, Neejhar and Chhapra kalan The attitude of the livestock farmers towards
were selected from Shahpura tehsil. Thus, dissemination of livestock information
total twelve villages were selected for the through use of ICTs has been analysed in
[Link] each village, an exhaustive list of Table 1. A persual of this table reveals that a
livestock farmers using ICT tools for livestock great majority of livestock farmers were in
information was prepared. Out of these, 10 agreement with positive statements about
respondents were selected randomly. Thus, information dissemination through ICTs like
total 120 respondents were selected for the ICT based disease outbreak warning system
study. Different statistical tools like facilitate farmers to take preventive measures

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(92.50%), ICTs provide possible solutions to disagreement with the negative statement ‘ICT
the present animal husbandry situation services are a distant dream for resource poor
(86.67%), ICT based extension services assist farmers’.
the farmer in planning and decision making
aspects in animal husbandry (85.83%), ICTs The results presented in Table 2 suggests that
are potential tools to reach the needy farmers majority of the livestock farmers (73.33%)
(83.33%) and ICTs based extension services had favourable attitude towards dissemination
provide new opportunities to build a skilled of information through different ICT tools in
and knowledgeable community (83.33%). livestock sector followed by 15.83 per cent
with more favourable attitude and 10.83 per
Majority of them were also in agreement with cent with less favourable attitude.
the other positive statements like access to
information centre at village level is boon to This finding indicates that livestock farmers of
the farming community (76.67%), phone-in- the study area were enthusiastic to perceive
live with scientists gives first-hand different ICTs tools to get their required
information about queries (74.17%), weather information. This might be due to the fact that
forecasting through ICTs assists farmers in livestock farmers are getting timely and
timely decisions (72.50%), farmers feedback accurate livestock information and services
is fast through ICTs than traditional methods based on their needs and desires. Livestock
(71.67%), expert advice make the farmers farmers are aware about the benefits of
enterprise/activities productive (69.17%), different ICT tools and their role in
farmers can get remunerative prices to their information dissemination towards livestock
produce through ICT based market farming in near future
intelligence (65.83%) and existing
infrastructure of ICTs is not enough to meet Relationship between selected independent
the needs of the farming community (34.17%). variables and attitude of livestock farmers
towards ICTs
Majority of the respondents had no opinion
about the negative statements like ICTs cannot The data presented in Table 3 indicates that
deliver personalized information (75.83%), age, family size, land holding, herd size,
ICT based extension services avoid the extension contact and social participation had
personal extension contact (45.83%) and ICTs positive and non-significant relationship with
cannot meet location specific needs of the attitude of livestock farmers towards ICTs,
livestock farmers (43.33%). while experience in livestock farming had
negative and non-significant relationship.
Most of the livestock farmers were in Education, mass media exposure and annual
disagreement with the other negetive gross income had positive and significant
statements like ICT based extension services relationship with attitude of livestock farmers
are alternative to the present extension system towards ICTs.
(81.67%), ICTs alone would solve the
problems of farmers (50.83%), ICT is a Positive and significant association of
valuable tool, but it will never influence education of livestock farmers with attitude
farmers own decision making (49.17%) and towards ICTs may be attributed to the fact that
only resourceful farmers can get the benefit of educated people know the importance of ICTs
the ICTs (45.83%). Equal per cent respondents and their positive impact on productivity of
(45.83%) were in disagreement and strongly animals.

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Table.1 Distribution of livestock farmers on the basis of their attitude towards ICTs

S. No. Statements SA A UD DA SDA

f % f % f % f % f %
1. ICTs provide possible solutions to the present animal 3 2.50 104 86.67 10 8.33 3 2.50 0 0.00
husbandry situation
2. * ICTs can not meet location specific needs of the livestock 0 0.00 18 15.00 52 43.33 41 34.17 9 7.50
farmers
3. ICTs are potential tools to reach the needy farmers 6 5.00 100 83.33 9 7.50 5 4.17 0 0.00
4. Farmers feed back is fast through ICTs than traditional 33 27.50 86 71.67 1 0.83 0 0.00 0 0.00
methods
5. * Illiteracy will not deter farmers in availing ICT services 20 16.67 82 68.33 10 8.33 5 4.17 3 2.50
6. * ICTs can not deliver personalized information 0 0.00 10 8.33 91 75.83 19 15.83 0 0.00
7. ICT based extension services assist the farmer in planning 6 5.00 103 85.83 5 4.17 6 5.00 0 0.00
and decision making aspects in animal husbandry
8. * ICT services are a distant dream for resource poor farmers 0 0.00 6 5.00 4 3.33 55 45.83 55 45.83
9. Farmers can get remunerative prices to their produce through 36 30.00 79 65.83 3 2.50 2 1.67 0 0.00
ICT based market intelligence
10. Expert advice make the farmers enterprise/activities 33 27.50 83 69.17 2 1.67 1 0.83 1 0.83
productive
11. * All kinds of information exchange are possible only through 3 2.50 2 1.67 12 10.00 84 70.00 19 15.84
ICTs
12. Existing infrastructure of ICTs is not enough to meet the 13 10.83 53 44.17 41 34.17 8 6.67 5 4.17
needs of the farming community
13. * Only resourceful farmers can get the benefit of the ICTs 3 2.50 15 12.50 12 10.00 55 45.83 35 29.17
14. Access to information centre at village level is boon to the 13 10.83 92 76.67 11 9.17 3 2.50 1 0.83
farming community
15. Phone-in-live with scientists gives first hand information 29 24.17 89 74.17 0 0.00 1 0.83 1 0.83
about queries
16. * ICTs alone would solve the problems of farmers 1 0.83 22 18.33 15 12.50 61 50.83 21 17.50
17. ICT based disease outbreak warning system facilitate farmers 1 0.83 111 92.50 4 3.33 3 2.50 1 0.83
to take preventive measures
18. * ICT based extension services avoid the personal extension 0 0.00 10 8.33 55 45.83 53 44.17 2 1.67
contact
19. ICTs based extension services provide new opportunities to 10 8.33 100 83.33 8 6.67 2 1.67 0 0.00
build a skilled and knowledgeable community
20. * ICT is a valuable tool, but it will never influence farmers’ 0 0.00 12 10.00 44 36.67 59 49.17 5 4.17
own decision making
21. Weather forecasting through ICTs assists farmers in timely 32 26.67 87 72.50 1 0.83 0 0.00 0 0.00
decisions
22. * ICT based extension services are alternative to the present 0 0.00 0 0.00 10 8.33 98 81.67 12 10.00
extension system
SA: Strongly agree, A: Agree, UD: Undecided, DA: Disagree and SDA: Strongly disagree; * Negative Statements

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Table.2 Overall attitude of livestock farmers towards ICTs (n=120)

S. NO. Attitude f %
1. Less favourable (upto 71.43 score) 19 15.83
2. Favourable (71.44 to 79 score) 88 73.33
3. More favourable (Above 79 score) 13 10.83

Table.3 Pearson’s correlation for attitude of livestock farmers towards

ICTs with independent variables

S. No. Independent variables Pearson’s Correlation Cofficient

(rp)
1. Age 0.101
2. Education 0.186*
3. Family size 0.122
4. Land holding 0.023
5. Herd size 0.014
6. Annual gross income 0.242**
7. Experience in livestock farming -0.024
8. Extension contact 0.014
9. Mass media exposure 0.219*
10. Social participation 0.093
** Significant at 1 per cent level; * Significant at 5 per cent level

Table.4 Linear regression analysis for attitude of livestock farmers towards ICTs with
independent variables

S. No. Independent variables β t- value

1. Age .295 2.111*
2. Education .237 1.984
3. Family size .074 .802
4. Land holding -.142 -1.396
5. Herd size .059 .620
6. Annual gross income .130 1.199
7. Experience in livestock farming -.134 -.952
8. Extension contact .039 .404
9. Mass media exposure .202 2.163*
10. Social participation .124 1.349
* Significant at 5 per cent level

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Programme Implementation, Government
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awareness regarding the benefits of ICTs. Performance of Livestock and Poultry
Sector in India: A Temporal Analysis.
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How to cite this article:

Sunil Rajoria, Sanjay Kumar Rewani, Virendra Singh, Manisha Singodia, Brijesh Nanda and
Harshita Bhumra. 2018. Attitude of Livestock Farmers towards the ICT based Livestock
Extension Services in Jaipur District of Rajasthan, India. [Link]. 7(02):
1014-1021. doi: [Link]

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