Role of information and communication technology in agriculture–perception of the farmers in ramanathapuram district

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in agriculture is an emerging field focusing on the enhancement of agricultural and rural development in India. It involves application of innovative ways to use ICT in the rural domain. The advancements in ICT can be utilised for providing accurate, timely, relevant information and services to the farmers, thereby facilitating an environment for more remunerative agriculture. Given the development scenario in Indian Agriculture, ICT movement is still evolving. However, all the ICT initiatives are not uniform with disparities between regions in the level and quality of telecommunications, information and the effort of individuals, public and private organizations, and differentiated nature of demand of the farmers in different areas. As a result, there have been many successes, failures, lessons learned and experience gained, so far. In the agriculture sector here the farmers mostly stick on to tradition and traditional method of agriculture. Even though, science has gained importance and developed a lot, since most of the agriculturists are illiterate or some lacking in the awareness of technology and its change, there was not much influence of technology till late 1980's. But now thanks to mass media like T.V., mobile phone, radio and internet the benefits of technology in agriculture are known by the people. Hence, there is a need to study the nature of the problem. It attempts to analyze the role of ICT and its impact on production and marketing of various agriculture crops with special reference to Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. The agriculture is bound to adopt and implement ICT, as the Government of India aims to double the agricultural production, and to increase India’s share of the global export. This aim can be achieved only when there is proper utilization of ICT and more investment in it. As ICT helps in information dissemination in less time with effective ways of communication, its implications cannot be ignored by the government and its scope and coverage should be extended as a whole rural areas in India.