Use of information quality concepts to improve effectiveness of agricultural information delivery: some empirical evidence

Abstract

This paper examines the current state of agricultural information delivery in India, use of technology in delivering information and tries to find out whether by focusing on quality of information provided can we enhance the use and effectiveness of various technology and improve performance of agriculture.

We evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the current options available using IS literature on information quality, agricultural information adoption literature and knowledge adoption literature. We find that most of the current options are lacking in one aspect or another; and go on to speculate that this is one of the reasons for low use of the technological options.

We then present results from a project conducted in Karnataka which combined elements of several information delivery mechanisms and focused on various aspects of information quality and show the potential that information dissemination holds for improving productivity and financial and ecological sustainability of agriculture.