Use of information sources among farmer for weeds management in four cropping systems of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

This study aimed at comparing the use of modern and traditional information sources among farmers in four cropping systems in the Punjab, province. A total of 356 farmers from the district Gujranwala, selected through stratified proportionate sampling participated in the study. Respondents were interviewed on a structured, validated and reliable interview schedule through face-to-face techniques and collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). This study summarized that farmers accessed information regarding weeds management through the modern and traditional channels, although the traditional sources were given more preference over the modern information sources. Except for the mobile phone, the rest of the modern gadgets had poor penetration among the public and the extent of information was not as good as it was in the case of most of the traditional information sources like fellow farmers, extension field staff of public and private sector and pesticides dealers. This study concludes that the reliance of farmers on traditional sources like fellow farmers especially in the age of digital tools and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) is posing questions about the credibility and effective functioning of modern information sources.