Ashok Tripathi
Independent Researcher
Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract
Agricultural policies formulated at national and state levels aim to improve productivity, ensure food security, and enhance rural livelihoods. Yet, their effective implementation is often impeded by communication gaps between policymakers and end-users—smallholder farmers—who frequently lack access to comprehensible, timely information in their own languages. This study investigates a suite of grassroots-driven technology innovations designed to bridge these gaps by leveraging local linguistic knowledge and low-cost digital tools. Specifically, we examine three intervention modalities: an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platform offering policy briefs in native dialects; community radio programming co-created with local farmer reporters; and peer-to-peer distribution of short, animated videos via offline mobile sharing technologies. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we surveyed 150 farmers across three linguistically diverse districts and conducted 30 in-depth interviews with extension officers, innovators, and farmer collaborators. Quantitative analysis reveals a statistically significant increase in policy awareness—45% on IVR exposure and 30% via radio broadcasts—alongside a doubling of adoption intent following video interventions. Qualitative findings highlight the critical roles of participatory content co-creation, trust engendered through peer networks, and system designs tolerant of low bandwidth and intermittent connectivity. Cost-effectiveness assessment shows community radio as the most economical channel per unit of awareness gained, while peer-to-peer video sharing fosters deeper engagement despite higher marginal costs. The study concludes with recommendations for institutionalizing vernacular dissemination strategies within national extension frameworks, including funding mechanisms for grassroots innovators, capacity-building programs for local content developers, and policy incentives for public–private partnerships that prioritize language inclusivity. By centering native-language communication and community involvement, these innovations hold promise for closing the persistent “information gap” in agricultural policy outreach, thereby enhancing both social equity and food system resilience.
Keywords
Grassroots Technology, Agricultural Policy Dissemination, Native Languages, Smallholder Farmers, Participatory Innovation
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