Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Modern Agriculture

ABSTRACT: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) refers to the broad range of hardware, software, network infrastructure and media that enable the processing, storage and sharing of information and communication both among humans and computers, locally and globally. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a merger of computing and telecommunication technologies for information acquisition, retrieval, and dissemination. Agriculture constantly experiences advances in technology. Recently, the use of information technologies (IT), such as e-mail and the World Wide Web, has become commonplace. Information technologies afford the agriculture industry the opportunity to increase information flow to all industry participants at a decreased cost. The agricultural extension mechanism is becoming dependent on IT to provide appropriate and location specific technologies for the farmers to furnish timely and proficient advice to the farmers IT can be a best mean not only to develop agricultural extension but also to expand agriculture research and education system. The crop forecasting, input management, command area management, watershed management, land and water resources development, drinking water potential mapping precision management, natural disaster management, fishery management , hill area development and postharvest management are the key areas, where Information Technology can play its imperative impact.