Smallholder farmer insights on information systems: current use and future needs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains

Purpose: The Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) region is characterized by resource-poor smallholder farmers, high dependence on agriculture, poor market infrastructure, limited access to new technologies, and frequent climate aberrations. These challenges underscore the need for a robust agricultural in...

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Main Authors: Karki, Emma S., Karmacharya, Saurya, Ghosh, Arunava, Rana, Gunjan, Chakma, Kali Ratan, Timsina, Pragya, Chaudhary, Anjana, Nandi, Ravi
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Informa UK Limited 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174379
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author Karki, Emma S.
Karmacharya, Saurya
Ghosh, Arunava
Rana, Gunjan
Chakma, Kali Ratan
Timsina, Pragya
Chaudhary, Anjana
Nandi, Ravi
author_browse Chakma, Kali Ratan
Chaudhary, Anjana
Ghosh, Arunava
Karki, Emma S.
Karmacharya, Saurya
Nandi, Ravi
Rana, Gunjan
Timsina, Pragya
author_facet Karki, Emma S.
Karmacharya, Saurya
Ghosh, Arunava
Rana, Gunjan
Chakma, Kali Ratan
Timsina, Pragya
Chaudhary, Anjana
Nandi, Ravi
author_sort Karki, Emma S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Purpose: The Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) region is characterized by resource-poor smallholder farmers, high dependence on agriculture, poor market infrastructure, limited access to new technologies, and frequent climate aberrations. These challenges underscore the need for a robust agricultural information system to enhance food security and agricultural productivity. Methodology/Approach: This study examines current access to existing information channels and identifies preferences for future information delivery and dissemination mechanisms from the perspective of small holder farmers in the Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) through empirical data collected from 1,440 households in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Findings: Results from all locations indicate (i) heavy reliance on informal sources like agrovets and village peers in the absence of a robust extension system, (ii) strong preference for more formal, government-driven information sources (iii) need for a pluralistic approach to information dissemination, integrating public, private, and community-based sources to meet diverse farmer needs and (iv) training was the most preferred method of information dissemination. Practical implications: The results advocate for policy changes and the development of inclusive, innovative extension systems to better serve smallholder farmers, ensuring improved access to valuable information and fostering agricultural development in the EGP. Theoretical implications: This study contributes to the literature on farmer's current and future preferences for both agricultural and off-farm activities in the EGP highlighting the role of pluralistic agriculture extension. Value: This paper addresses a gap in literature by examining the perceptions of smallholder farmers on their current and future information sources for agricultural and off-farm activities in the EGP, a region that lacks literature regarding information systems.
format Journal Article
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institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
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spelling CGSpace1743792025-10-26T12:50:25Z Smallholder farmer insights on information systems: current use and future needs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains Karki, Emma S. Karmacharya, Saurya Ghosh, Arunava Rana, Gunjan Chakma, Kali Ratan Timsina, Pragya Chaudhary, Anjana Nandi, Ravi agriculture information systems smallholders technology adoption agricultural extension Purpose: The Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) region is characterized by resource-poor smallholder farmers, high dependence on agriculture, poor market infrastructure, limited access to new technologies, and frequent climate aberrations. These challenges underscore the need for a robust agricultural information system to enhance food security and agricultural productivity. Methodology/Approach: This study examines current access to existing information channels and identifies preferences for future information delivery and dissemination mechanisms from the perspective of small holder farmers in the Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) through empirical data collected from 1,440 households in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Findings: Results from all locations indicate (i) heavy reliance on informal sources like agrovets and village peers in the absence of a robust extension system, (ii) strong preference for more formal, government-driven information sources (iii) need for a pluralistic approach to information dissemination, integrating public, private, and community-based sources to meet diverse farmer needs and (iv) training was the most preferred method of information dissemination. Practical implications: The results advocate for policy changes and the development of inclusive, innovative extension systems to better serve smallholder farmers, ensuring improved access to valuable information and fostering agricultural development in the EGP. Theoretical implications: This study contributes to the literature on farmer's current and future preferences for both agricultural and off-farm activities in the EGP highlighting the role of pluralistic agriculture extension. Value: This paper addresses a gap in literature by examining the perceptions of smallholder farmers on their current and future information sources for agricultural and off-farm activities in the EGP, a region that lacks literature regarding information systems. 2025-10-20 2025-04-29T15:10:23Z 2025-04-29T15:10:23Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174379 en Limited Access Informa UK Limited Karki, E., Karmacharya, S., Ghosh, A., Rana, G., Chakma, K. R., Timsina, P., Chaudhary, A., & Nandi, R. (2025). Smallholder farmer insights on information systems: Current use and future needs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2025.2455153
spellingShingle agriculture
information systems
smallholders
technology adoption
agricultural extension
Karki, Emma S.
Karmacharya, Saurya
Ghosh, Arunava
Rana, Gunjan
Chakma, Kali Ratan
Timsina, Pragya
Chaudhary, Anjana
Nandi, Ravi
Smallholder farmer insights on information systems: current use and future needs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains
title Smallholder farmer insights on information systems: current use and future needs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains
title_full Smallholder farmer insights on information systems: current use and future needs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains
title_fullStr Smallholder farmer insights on information systems: current use and future needs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains
title_full_unstemmed Smallholder farmer insights on information systems: current use and future needs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains
title_short Smallholder farmer insights on information systems: current use and future needs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains
title_sort smallholder farmer insights on information systems current use and future needs in the eastern gangetic plains
topic agriculture
information systems
smallholders
technology adoption
agricultural extension
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174379
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