THE EFFECT OF ICTS ON AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES IN BANGLADESH

The study was conducted at the Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh and research was done in period from 15^th January, 2021 to 30^th December, 2021. Following a comparable random sampling technique, a sample of 120 Sub Assistant Agriculture Officers (SAAOs) were selected as respondents from five upazilas of Noakhali district, as like Noakhali Sadar, Kabirhat, Subornachar, Hatiya, Chatkhil, and Begomgonj. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, case studies and focus group discussion (FGD). The utilization level of ICTs was measured considering two aspects: i) collecting information and ii) providing services. Findings showed that a total of 43 percent and 75 percent of respondents used mobile phones regularly for collecting information and providing services, respectively. Among different ICT tools, the mobile phone was highly used by the respondents, both for official (97%) and personal purposes (100%). Overall utilization of ICT was very low. Only 30.45% percent and 5.77% percent respondents highly utilized ICTs for collecting information and providing services, respectively. A total of 45.55 and 75 % of respondents had low levels of utilization of ICTs for collecting information and providing service, respectively.