FARM ECONOMY IN INDIA WITH ICT APPLICATION

Today we are in need of new approaches and technical innovations to cope with the challenges and to enhance the livelihoods of the rural population. ICT -based market information systems have a proven track record for improving rural livelihoods in middle income developing countries where they have been introduced. ICT initiatives provide information services such as facilitation of access to land records, question -and-answer services, information on rural development programmers’, weather forecasting, marketing information, best package of practices for dry land agriculture, information on crop insurance and post - harvest technology. It is also recommended that, before ICT s ervices are set up in a region, efforts are made to develop among the farmers both a satisfactory level of faith in the intentions of the ICT staff and a firm commitment to the goals of the proposed project. It is also suggested that participatory and r apid rural appraisals are carried out to ascertain what information the farmers need. In the process, the farmers’ self-fulfilling faith in the information services provided should be enhanced. It is further recommended that the farmers be instructed in ho w to get the best possible use out of the services provided. However, these systems are generally limited in scale and have not been effectively pretend beyond the local level. This article explores the potential contribution of information and communica tion technology in agricultural sector in developing countries;, the opportunities and challenges in the agricultural sector for the upliftment of the small-scale farmers and to raise their efficiency.