International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Pooja VS, MK Rathod, Manohar KN, HS Mendhe, PP Wankhade and RS Waghmare

abstract
This study explores the extent of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) utilization among second-year postgraduate agriculture students at the College of Agriculture, Nagpur. Using an exploratory research design, data were collected through a well-structured and pretested questionnaire administered to 110 students across nine agricultural departments from December 2022 to February 2023. The analysis focused on the frequency, duration and patterns of ICT service usage, providing insights into students' digital engagement for academic and research activities. The findings revealed that 82.74 per cent of the students exhibited medium ICT utilization, while 11.81 per cent were demonstrated high usage, and 5.45 per cent showed low usage. Commonly used ICT tools included Google, MS-Word, PowerPoint, Excel, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Agricultural Web Portals, with high engagement for both academic and general purposes. In contrast, specialized academic resources such as CeRA and MOOCs experienced lower usage, highlighting a gap in awareness and integration within the students' educational routines. The study also examined the duration of ICT use, showing that platforms like Email, MOOCs, Wikipedia and Agricultural Web Portals were used for shorter periods weekly (0.30 to 2.30 hours), while WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram saw significantly longer engagement (5.01 to 14.00 hours per week). These usage patterns suggest a need to balance social and educational digital activities. The research underscores the importance of fostering comprehensive ICT competencies through targeted awareness campaigns, hands-on training and curriculum integration. Addressing barriers such as limited access to specialized agricultural ICT applications and inadequate training is crucial for creating an inclusive learning environment. The study's findings provide a foundation for policy recommendations aimed at enhancing ICT infrastructure, digital literacy and academic innovation in agricultural education, thereby preparing postgraduate students to meet modern agricultural challenges and contribute to sustainable development.