Relationship between Farmer Characteristics and Gadget Using in Rural Area for Improving Regional Development

Abstract

This research aims to see the relationship between the farmers' characteristics and their gadgets, such as mobile phone or smartphones in support of agricultural activities. This research used qualitative and quantitative research types namely qualitative research with a survey method of observation and semi-closed interviews. The data from the field survey was processed into useful information in seeing the characteristics of farmers and their relationship in utilizing their gadgets. Analysis of this relationship was analysed using quantitative chi-square methods. The significant value of the significance of the variable age, level of education, and saving ability is 0.001, 0.003, and 0.002. Variable age and education level are internal condition of farmers who are strongly associated with the ability of farmers in operating a mobile phone to search for a variety of agricultural information. The use of a mobile phone can affect the effectiveness and efficiency of farmers in terms of time, cost, and energy. However, the use of mobile phone can also the negative impact when the expenditure to buy credit phone is not controllable, so it can be related to the inability of farmers to save in the bank.