Creating Awareness Among Farmers for the Use of Mobile PhoneCellular Technology for Dissemination of Information RegardingAphid (Macrosiphum Miscanthi, Hemiptera, Aphididae) Attack onWheat Crop

This study was conducted in December. 2014 in district Sargodha-Punjab, Pakistan to assessthe role of Mobile phone cellular technology for dissemination of information regarding Macrosiphummiscanthi, attack on wheat crop by mobile phone. A sample size of 60 farmers was selected by systematicsampling technique using the available list of the farmers provided by Agricultural Extension Department.The respondents were than randomly assigned into two groups, one group was comprised of experimentalgroup (to whom a set of advisory instructions were sent by mobile phone) and other was control (faceto-face). Two- population independent t-test was applied for comparison of the two methods of instructions.The results of the study revealed that both methods were equally applicable and effective regardingtimely transfer of information or knowledge to the farmers for aphid attack on wheat crop. Hence, it isconcluded that the goal for creating awareness among farmers for the use of Mobile phone cellular technologyis as effective as face-to-face (traditional method) for dissemination of desired information regardingaphid attack on wheat crop. In addition, more respondents may interact with the Extension FieldStaff (EFS) by using cellular technology irrespective whether or not EFS are able to reach them physically.