Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge Level Increased Among the Mobile Phone Users in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan
Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge Level Increased Among the Mobile Phone Users in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan
Arshad Farooq1, Muhammad Ishaq2, Abdul Hassan1, Muhammad Zafarullah Khan3 and Asif Nawaz3*
ABSTRACT
The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Telenor-Pakistan (mobile operator company) to provide agricultural advisory services to the farming community in district Mardan. This study was conducted with the objective to find out the impact of mobile phones on knowledge level of farmers about improved agricultural management techniques. Out of 203 subscribers (beneficiary farmers), sixty farmers were interviewed through interview schedule. Knowledge index was used for measuring farmers’ knowledge level. The study revealed that application of mobile phones decreased the communication gap (88%) between the farmers and agricultural extension department. The agricultural advisory services provided through mobile phones have improved the knowledge level of farmers in crop varieties selection (84%), sowing time (79%), land preparation (82%), fertilizer application (83%), pesticides/insecticides application (79%), irrigation (76%) and weedicide (71%). Moreover, the knowledge level of beneficiary farmers also enhanced regarding post-harvest losses (57%), weather information (78%) and market information (79%) in the research area. Overall knowledge level of beneficiary farmers increased 77 percent in the study area. The study suggested that agricultural advisory services through mobile phones should be restarted and extended to other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
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