Evaluating the Socioeconomic Outcomes of Agricultural Information Literacy among Mango Cultivators: Evidence from Malda District, India

Knowing how to find and use agricultural information is very important for farmers. It helps them make smart choices about growing crops, managing resources and dealing with the market. As digital tools and farming methods change in India, it’s becoming more and more important for farmers to be able to find, understand and use the right farming information. This study looks at the socioeconomic outcomes of agricultural information literacy among mango farmers in Malda district, West Bengal. This area is known for its large mango orchards and its role in India’s local and export markets. The study looks at how different parts of information literacy, like knowing about agricultural programs, using digital tools, attending extension services and being part of knowledge-sharing networks, affect productivity on the farm and improve people’s lives. A mixed-methods study approach was used. This included structured surveys of mango farmers, in-depth interviews with agricultural extension experts and focus group discussions in village clusters. The sample has a lot of different kinds of small, marginal and commercial mango farmers. Regression modeling and comparative socioeconomic profiling were used to find out how strong the link is between socioeconomic indicators that can be measured and information literacy skills. The data shows that farmers who know more about agriculture have more productive farms, use scientific orchard management techniques more, control pests and diseases better and are more efficient in handling and selling their crops after harvest. Farmers who were digitally literate and got advice on time had more stable incomes, less knowledge asymmetry and more power to negotiate in supply chains.