A Study on the Effect of the Women Farmers Information Project

여성농업인 정보화 시범사업 효과 평가

As the information gap between rural and urban area, and between men and women has been widening, the Rural Development Administration(RDA) has initiated the women farmers information project from 2000. The aims of this project are; 1) to facilitate women farmers' computer and information application in agriculture and income generating activities, and 2) to make them to be leaders to popularize computer application in rural area and agricultural sector. For these, RDA has provided not only PC, software, computer training but also the post support of extension educator to target group. This paper focused on evaluating the effect of the project, clarifying the related variables with the effect, and providing suggestions to enhance the effect. The data were gathered from 310 target women farmers and 166 extension educators in charge of the project all over the country by mailing survey with questionnaire. The main findings of this study were as follows; 1) The level of computer application of the target group was improved drastically, 2) As their self-assessment, they could improve psychological fear on the computer, recognition about information, and attitude to seek information, 3) This project was helpful for them in terms of information gathering and farm(or income generating activities) management, 4) They tried to disseminate the benefit of computer application to neighbors, so that the neighbors' interest in computer and attendance of computer training were improved, 5) Variables such as the computer training hours, the number of interaction with extension educator, formal schooling and farming history were significantly related to the project's effect. To enhance the project's effect the following strategies should be carried out; 1) The period of the computer training course should be standardized and the subjects should attend to the computer training course for the standardized period. 2) Through continuous interaction with the subjects, the extension educator should support them to use computer well and to overcome some difficulties as a beginner. 3) In selecting the subjects, the priority should be given to the person who graduated high school at least. 4) The subjects should focus on using management software, gathering useful information for their business, and selling their products directly to the consumer. 5) So as to enhance the abilities mentioned above, RDA should strengthen learning opportunities through on-line training and providing educational software, besides of existing off-line training.