Information Need of Rural Women In Agriculture And Their Preference of Information Sources: A Case of Four Villages of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Women have various information need on several aspects of agriculture since they are involved actively in farming operation like their male counter parts. Women of rural areas have to face several problems like lack of credible information source concerned with agriculture, lack of technical assistance in accessing and using information, lack of mobility, weak social contacts and many others. In rural areas Women are actively engaged in all kind of agricultural operations, they need assistance from Government, private or any other agency for latest information sources related to crops, livestock and others allied activities. To determine the agriculture information need and preferences of sources of agricultural information this study was designed. It was conducted in Hapur and Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 120 rural women were selected through simple random sampling technique and interviewed through well-structured interview schedule. The data, thus collected, was analyzed by using appropriate computer software to draw conclusions. Study revealed thatmost of the respondents i.e. rural women (80.83%) reported to have high information need about insect management, followed by 75.00percentof respondents having high information need regarding weather advisory. The results of the study revealed that family members, fellow farmers and radio were found to be important information sources and ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd respectively. Study also found that the electronic media, print media and female extension personnel were other important agricultural information sources.