Agricultural productivity is at lower level by lack of access to relevant information leads to low yields, farmers stress and low income. The performance of this sector has an overwhelming impact on major macroeconomic objectives like employment generation, poverty alleviation, human resources development, food security, etc.
Nowadays, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the potential to transform agriculture in rural area. Smartphone and it applications have come with great innovations. The applications have been developed to help farmers reduce stress, acquire relevant information on good agriculture practices, weather, quality input, markets tendency etc. (Nikola M. et al, 2019). Mobile phone usage by farmers can reduce the information search costs, thereby dramatically lowering transaction costs and enabling greater farmer participation in commercial agriculture (Mansingh and Erena, 2016).
The types of ICT that are useful for improving the capacity and livelihoods of poor smallholders are growing quickly. One of the best examples of these services is the use of mobile phones as a platform for exchanging information through short messaging services (SMS). The mobile phone is one of the main forms of communication technologies over the world. Mobile delivery of extension information is an idea whose time has come, as this represents the most cost effective and widespread interactive delivery medium (Ramamritham et al. 2005). Mobile phone usage by farmers increases farmers’ participation in commercial agriculture. It is very much imperative to know the impact of mobile phone technology in the field of agriculture and rural development.
Mobile phone has provided new approach to farmers to make tentative decisions such more easily than before. Mobile phone technology has developed significantly in the past few years. The subscription rate in increase day by day in the developing countries. Mobile phone is devices that can store, access and share information anytime anywhere. Mobile phone technology helps to create a good communication with rural and urban population in developing countries and provides latest information about market, weather, natural disaster and other related issues (Aker and Mbiti, 2010). Most of the farmers in Bangladesh are still lack of information and modern agricultural knowledge. Most of the farmers need easy access of information like element, availability, access and utilization. Mobile technology that creates opportunities for rural farmers to obtain information and knowledge about market, agricultural issues, problems and suggest how to develop the agricultural market. Many scholars have addressed the mobile phone as an important tool of farming in developing. However, studies on the impact of mobile phones in general, and specific mobile phone initiatives (m-services), have shown mixed results. Research has not been able to consistently show how farmers in particular the poor are influenced by the adoption and use of a mobile phone (Merijn , 2014).
Mobile services in agricultural sector provide more information on market, weather, transport service and agricultural techniques that helps to contact with the agencies and department (Aker, 2011). Phone could be good device to make strong relationship with all agriculture business stakeholders by communication, SMS, email thus benefiting farmers by timely market information to increase the income and decrease the poverty. Now a day's mobile technology has increased rapidly and it spread to the remote areas of the thirds world’s developing countries (Huq,et al. 2017).
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Many studies showed that the access of communication technologies have impact on the economic, poverty reduction as well as agriculture development. The use of mobile phones could increase the efficiency of farmers by affordable access of communication technologies in rural areas of developing countries (Abraham, 2006; Aker, 2008; Galperin & Mariscal, 2007; Jensen, 2007, Bhavnani et al. 2008). However, studies on the impact of mobile phones in general, and specific mobile phone initiatives (m-services), have shown mixed results (Merijn 2014). Mobile phone technologies have provided a good platform for farmers to share their knowledge and information among each other on the time such as market rates and weather information in developing countries (Munyua et al. 2014).
Smart Solutions in Agriculture: Prospect and Challenges
While high yielding varieties and agronomic good practice play a vital role, modern technologies like it, machine learning, AI and big data can create a dynamic shift towards modernizing the agricultural sector.
No wonder agricultural sector has experienced delayed adoption of Information Technology compared to other business sectors. Agriculture, as a profession, was less attractive to urban population. However, the fascinating fact is, organizations mostly IT firms turned their attention towards agricultural sector. This ultimately creates an immense opportunity and extends a scope of collaboration between different domain of experts and disciplines.
Starting from GIS application for site-specific agriculture and mobile phone use for agricultural market information access to present-day uses of agri-robotics and Internet of Things (IT), this collaboration has paved many ways. While this write up may not reflect on diverse set of issues, it primarily concentrates on the prospect and challenges that have to overcome for successful implementation of modern technologies like remote sensing and IT, particularly in Bangladesh context.
The latest technologies like machine learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data management create a great opportunity across agricultural discipline yet we have to ask ourselves about our preparedness at national, institutional and individual level.
Opportunities Created by Modern Technologies
For any change movement, top management support is an essential prerequisite. The present Govt. manifesto for digital Bangladesh is therefore an important step towards this development. Responses from both public and private organizations are also remarkable. As results, many promising and time-demanding IT solutions have been launched. Nonetheless, we have to be very conscious to appraise their success and real impact to the development.
Challenges
The first and foremost challenge is “Connectivity” which inhibit farmers’ ability to take advantage of new technologies. According to (BTRC, 2018), Bangladesh has 90.50 million Internet subscribers, among which 84.68% access Internet through mobile device. However, we don’t have any census data regarding how many farmers use smart devices and how many of them use those devices for agricultural purposes. Smart devices are mostly in hands of large agri-corporations that have to be reached to the rural farmers; otherwise achieving wider success may not be possible.
FAQ Here:
- How to use mobile phones in alternative ways?
Mobile phones help in improving production by making information and technology easily accessible to farmers. Farmers can get weather forecasts, market prices, new farming methods, and irrigation system information through mobile phones, which is helpful for their growth. Farmers can also buy their products through mobile phones, thus eliminating the influence of middlemen.
- What are the benefits of mobile phones for farmers?
Mobile phones provide farmers with easy agricultural benefits, such as timely information on pesticides, proper irrigation methods, new technical and farming advice. Through this, farmers are able to form alliances and actively buy products at affordable prices.
- What steps should be taken to further improve the use of mobile phones in the agricultural sector?
To further improve the use of phones in the agricultural sector, mobile apps and digital training should be provided to farmers, which use their technology. Only the development of mobile networks and facilities is needed, so that farmers in remote areas can benefit from digital technology.