Bridging the Digital Gap: Socioeconomic Impact of ICT Utilization in Rural areas of Punjab- Pakistan

The present study investigated the impact of farmers' demographic characteristics on using ICTs.The population for this study consisted of individuals from the Punjab province of Pakistan.A multistage sampling technique was used to select the respondents.A total of four hundred (400) respondents were selected randomly from twenty villages in Punjab.The results of this study show significant impacts of demographic variables on the use of various information and communication technology (ICTs) tools for obtaining information regarding agricultural practices.According to the correlations analysis age, education has a positive correlation with the use of radio, TV and internet while the size of landholding and area under cultivation have a negative correlation with the use of various ICT tools.Data on future preferences show that most farmers prefer modern ICT tools, such as mobile phones, to obtain agricultural information.Considering the results of this study, the government and policy institutes should concentrate on the efficient use of modern ICT tools as the source of information and uplift the educational level of the farming community.