International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Radhika Krishnan

abstract
The extension agencies help the farmers to be aware about new technology which is very important from the point of view of production, productivity and profitability in agriculture. The study examines about the sources of information about new technology to banana cultivators of Pathanamthitta district. The sample of 540 banana cultivators were selected among which 180 are the beneficiaries of Krishi Vigyan Kendra and the remaining are non-beneficiaries. The farmers are depending more on fellow farmers and newspapers for sources of information about farming. The mobile phones as well as internet or social media have less influence on farmers. The factor analysis identified the first status of sources as new generation media reflected by the variable’s mobile phones and apps, social media networks and internet. The second status is traditional media reflected by the variable’s newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and fellow farmers. The third status of information is agencies, indicated by NGOs and Government offices like Krishi Bhavan. Farmers are more influenced by the factor traditional media although some of them are using new generation media.