Information and Communication Technology in Agriculture: A Kashmir Perspective

Agriculture is the mainstay of our economy as about 70% of the population directly or indirectly is associated with agriculture and allied activities. However, agriculture in Kashmir is continuously facing tremendous constraints in the form of poor institutional arrangements, inefficient extension services, geographical constraints and also the vagaries of the nature. However, in the present era wherein the economy of the farmer is the prime concern, it is the moral duty of all respected parties who are engaged in research, extension and development activities to come forward and work for increasing the net returns of the farmers on sustainable basis. Under prevailing situation, it is quite difficult for the extension workers to cover most of the farmers in face to face mechanism for information of technological interventions and thereby adoption of these technologies. Hence, there seems to be no immediate solution but to go for ICT. This paper focusses on various issues, constraints and prospects of ICT with respect to agriculture and allied sectors particularly in the context of J&K state.