Profile characteristics of Users and Non- users of Kalgudi Digital Platform in Mulkanoor FPO

Author: Palakurthy Sandeep, K. Madhu Babu and Srikanth R.

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Abstract

In recent years, use of digital technologies, more so platforms, have contributed immensely to the strengthening FPOs and helped them solve diverse challenges in relation to market linkages, access to financial services The present study was conducted during 2021-22 in Mulkanoor farmers producer organisation in Mulkanoor village of Bheemadevarapally mandal, Hanumakonda district, Telangana state. This FPO was selected purposively as it adopted Kalgudi digital platform for FPO management, dissemination of information and community interaction. For studying the effectiveness of digital platform in mulkanoor farmer producer organization even the profile characteristics of the users and non-users of kalgudi digital platform in mulkanoor farmer producer organization were studied. Users and Non-users from four villages of two mandals was selected. From each villages26 users and 26 non-users were selected making a total of 56 respondents from each village. Users are those who are the members of mulkanoor farmer producer organization and using kalgudi digital platforms and non-users are those who are the members of mulkanoor farmer producer organization and using other digital platform for their agricultural activities. Hence, a total of 208 farmers were selected as primary respondents and data was collected from them with the help of well-structured interview schedule though personal interview method. Most of users (75.96 %) and non-users (63.46 %) belonged to Middle age category, most of the users having secondary school level of education (30.77 %) whereas non-users were senior secondary school level of education (26.92 %). Nearly one- third of users (31.73 %) were marginal farmers and non-users (35.58%) were small farmers. Higher proportion of users (75.96 %) and non-users (71.15%) had 5-10 years of farming experience. More than two-third of users (69.23 %) and non-users (62.50 %) had membership in one social organization. One-third of the users (35.57%) had attended more than two training programmes whereas one-third of non-users (34.61%) had not attended training programmes. Half of the users (51.92 %) had high level of mass media exposure whereas more than one-third of non-users (41.34 %) had high level of mass media exposure. Nearly half of the users (45.19 %) had high level of innovativeness and non-users (39.62 %) had medium level of innovativeness. Most of the users (46.15 %) had high level of utilization of digital platform and most of the non-users (38.46 %) had low- level utilization of digital platform. Higher percentage of users (46.15 %) and non-users (52.88 %) had medium level of information management behaviour.

Keywords

Agri-business, digital platform, Mulkanoor farmer producer organization, profile

Conclusion

Digital technologies provide tailor made agricultural adviced to farmers according to their individual needs in different ways. Digital technologies reduced information barriers as accessed by all the users of kalgudi digital platform, provided access to new input markets by high extent of utilization of platforms by users, transparent information on market prices made available to every farmer, improved farmer’s bargaining power and provide improved access to personalized information, new technologies which ultimately increase the levels of commercialization. By employing these techniques, farmer’s cropping pattern changed which in turn increased input intensity, crop yield, sales volume and farmer’s income.

References

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How to cite this article

Palakurthy Sandeep, K. Madhu Babu and Srikanth R. (2022). Profile characteristics of Users and Non- users of Kalgudi Digital Platform in Mulkanoor FPO. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4): 1228-1231.