Agricultural and Biological Research

Mobile Applications in Agriculture: An Economic Analysis on Rural Farmers in Tamil Nadu

Nandhini SU, Kavitha V, Gowri, MU

In today's technological era mobile phones are an important tool that helps farmers to access updated information in the fast and in easiest way. The main objective of this study is to understand India’s upcoming mobile application trends, to evaluate the farmer respondents' access to agricultural mobile phones and applications, to examine rural farmers' perceptions and opinions of agricultural mobile apps. These apps help the farmers in delivering information on marketing and marketing cost, market linkage, promotion of rural extension support, farming methods and ideas, etc. Google play store is the largest mobile app store through which many of the apps can be downloaded in the mode of payment or free of cost. Among the network providers, the JIO network has more customers than the other service providers. It is noted that 100 percent of the farmers use mobile phones for receiving calls in both zones. It is revealed from the table that out of the entire sample size of 220 farmers, 60 percent of the farmers are aware of mobile phones and their applications and 40 percent were not aware of the mobile applications. It is also revealed from the survey that the younger generation from the farming community helps the age-old family members in easy handling of mobile phones and their applications. Recently mobile phone usage played a vital role in enhancing the lifestyle of the farmers. Future trend prediction until 2050 shows that there will be a boom in the use of mobile phones and a comparatively reduction in landline connections. It is also revealed from the survey that the younger generation from the farming community helps the age-old family members in easy handling of mobile phones and their applications. In future, mobile server must be updated regularly with reliable information. Knowledgebased technical assistance must be provided by also creating public awareness pointing out the positive impact of mobile culture among the agrarian community also changes in the policy from the government agenda can be made to provide subsidies or to arrange financial support to the farmers to avail smart phones at fair prices. The use of the most recent upgrades for mobile applications can also be encouraged through the provision of training.