Qualitative Analysis of Expectation and Anxiety of Farmer Deciding to Adopt On-farm ICT Irrigation Devices

Abstract

This study analyzed expectation and anxiety of a farmer who has decided to adopt ICT on-farm irrigation devices by using a qualitative analysis method, SCAT. The farmer's expectations for ICT on-farm irrigation devices were clarified as follows: (1) remote operation of water management at home, (2) reduction of water management operation mistakes by visualizing data, (3) realization of optimal time water management in all fields, (4) labor saving for water management, and (5) reduction of labor cost required for water management. The farmer's anxieties were clarified as follows: (1) the need for continuous rotation irrigation, (2) theft, damage, and failure of ICT on-farm irrigation devices, (3) data transmission problems, (4) malfunction of ICT on-farm irrigation devices and smartphone, (5) difficulty in attaching and detaching ICT on-farm irrigation devices, and (6) maladaptation to complicated water management such as puddling and intermittent irrigation. It was also clarified that the farmer still feels the need to go around the rice fields to check the growth of rice, even with the adoption of ICT on-farm irrigation devices. Furthermore, the issues to be examined for these were considered.