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COMPENDIUM, IEEC-2023   ( ISBN : 978-81-967860-4-5 )
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Theme-4: Advances in Social Management in Agriculture and Allied Sciences

Farmers Information Landscape: Trends and Transformation

V. Jyothi and B. Vijayabhinandana

Agricultural College, Bapatla
jyothyext@gmail.com

Abstract

Providing farmers with access to relevant and timely information is crucial for improving agricultural productivity, sustainability and overall well-being. Understanding the specific information needs of individual farmers or farming communities allows extension workers to tailor their advice and support. Different farmers have different crops, practices, and challenges and providing relevant information is more likely to lead to successful outcomes. Knowing the information needs of farmers helps extension workers communicate more effectively. Familiarity with farmers' information needs also enables extension workers to assist in problem-solving. Farmers information needs vary depending on their location, the crops they grow and their specific circumstances. However the needs of the farmers are changing with the time as they are influenced by various factors namely technological advancements, climate change, market dynamics and sustainability concerns. In a study conducted among 150 farmers at Narsayapalem, CJ Palem, Kankatapalem of Bapatla mandal, Andhra Pradesh the information needs of farmers were probed and documented. The results of the study indicated the need for the information on the place of availability of inputs along with prices was ranked first by the farmers followed by market opportunities, information on which variety to grow, accurate and timely information on weather forecasts & extreme weather events, up-to-date information on best practices in pest & disease management, modern farming technologies like drones & automated machinery, digital farm management tools, changing agricultural policies & subsidies, diversifying income sources and adding value to their agricultural products, hiring, managing & training farm labor, disaster preparedness and resilience strategies, connecting with other farmers, agricultural organizations, and extension services.

IEEC-2023 at RARI (SKNAU, Jobner), Jaipur, Rajasthan organised by Society of Extension Education, Agra, India