An information technology enabled animal health information system (AHIS) Perceptions of dairy owners

Abstract

Public sector extension is being criticized for not being relevant, ineffective, time consuming and expensive. Similarly
information dissemination through folders, leaflets, pamphlets, newspapers etc. have challenge of illiteracy and don’t
have much scope for inclusion of interactivity, so fails to develop interest for active involvement of the users in learning
process. On other side, continuing rapid development of telecommunications and computer-based information technology
seems to provide a promising solution for delivering of extension services. It can be utilized effectively to fulfill the
“Information needs†through computer based “Information System Software’sâ€, which have much scope for inclusion
of interactivity, user’s control and could become readily accessible at village level agencies. “Animal Health Information
System†(AHIS); is one such need based, interactive software developed for dairy owners, using various multimedia
tools and JAVA language. The field testing of AHIS revealed that it has greater perceived utility and effectiveness in
transmitting the information. The study concludes that, IT enabled Information Systems can be utilized for faster
dissemination of expert advice in multiple locations by using the infrastructure of grass root level village agencies.