Amirtham Thomas

Empowering Farmers:: Role of Information and Communication Technology (Ict) Amirtham Thomas

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can offer new solutions to long-standing rural development problems faced in developing countries. It can enhance the capabilities of poorer communities especially small and marginal farmers. This book is a product of a field based study carried out in one of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, India. It not only portrays the status and struggles of small and marginal farmers in India but also highlights the educative potentials of ICT tools such as, Radio, Television, Telephone, Mobile Phone, Computer and Internet for their empowerment. It argues that ICT tools provide farmers expanded access to resources like credit, scientific information, market information and agriculture inputs. The expanded access, in turn, enables them to acquire improved bargaining power and negotiating skills. This empirical study has used innovative research tools - Farmer's Empowerment Scale and Focused Group Discussion. It offers valuable insights to social scientists, academicians, and field practitioners. The concrete suggestions and recommendations provided in this book are the sure-way of enhancing the capabilities of small and marginal farmers.