M-Agriculture: ICT to Bridge the Agriculture Extension Gap At ICT in Agriculture Nepal 

Abstract

Agricultural sector has the greatest potential for improving the rural livelihood and
eradicating poverty. In Nepal the economy is dominated by Agriculture. Over 80
percent of population works in agriculture sector, Agriculture provides employment
opportunities and contributes about 40 percent in GDP. “Agriculture is four times more
effective at raising income among the poor than other sector”. (WB) Due to lack of
lack of knowledge, skill and technology the farmers are not able to transform the
traditional farming to commercial farming system. Many different organizations and
actors are involved in developing and disseminating agricultural knowledge and skills
in different parts of Nepal.
The application of information and communication technology (ICT) is increasing in
the field of agriculture. Mobile is considered as the affordable and accessible means of
communication. Mobile penetration rate has cross from 5 percent in 2007 to 100 percent
in 2015. Rural communities are realizing the potential of mobile telephony to create
economic opportunities and strengthen social networks. Mobile Agriculture (shortened
to M-Agriculture) is the subset of e-Agriculture and it focus on the enhancement of
agriculture and rural development through improved information and communication
process.
The extension worker in Agriculture in very low in Nepal compared to the developed
countries. The gap could be narrowed through the use of ICT tools including the
mobiles phones and internet compared with the traditional media such as radio. MAgriculture
fulfill the information needs of agricultural practitioners and farm
communities through the use of modern information and communication technology.
The application also help to bridge the agriculture extension gap by the means of
communication. IT also helps to decrease digital divide between rich and poor farmers,
urban and rural areas through innovative use of ICT in a way to ensure food security,
poverty alleviation and sustainable agricultural development.