C H A P T E R - 1

INTRODUCTION

1. In form ation

Information is the very basis of human existence. It is

undoubtedly and increasingly being recognised that information is

a vital resource1. It is the content or message of a written or oral

communication or discourse. Scientific information is information

arising from or pertaining to research activities.

The term information has been derived from two Latin

words 'Forma' and 'Formation', both these terms convey more or

less the same meaning of giving shape to something and forming a

pattern. There are terms such as knowledge, facts, data, news,

message, etc. used as synonyms to information. It is not easy to

define the term information precisely. Information means the

communication of knowledge about an event of a given condition

or the spread of knowledge derived from observation, study

experience or instruction. According to Shera, information, both in

the sense it is used by the biologists and in the sense librarian's use

it, is a "fact". It is the stimuli we receive through our senses. It may

be an isolated fact or a whole cluster of facts; but it is still a unit; it

is a unit of thought.2 According to Prof. Bhattacharyya, information

is the message conveyed or intended to be conveyed by a

systematised body of ideas, or its acceptable substitutes.3 A

comprehensive definition of the word information is not possible

due to its amorphous, complex and multifarious nature. To quote

T.N.Rajan, no universally accepted definition of information is yet

crystallized perhaps, it will never be crystallized.4

1.1 Verities of Information

There are various types or forms of information. They

are recognisable on the basis of different characteristics.

According to Prof. Bhattacharyya5 information has two

recognizable varieties. They are : (i) Discursive information;

and (ii) Non-Discursive information. Discursive information

is the message conveyed by a systematised body of ideas or

its accepted or acceptable substitutes. The information that is

not discursive is non-discursive information. It is a message

consisting of a unit conveyed by a systematised body of ideas

or its accepted or acceptable substitutes.

Information can be categorised on the basis of the

nature of its use and purposes for which it is used. J.H.Shera

has categorised information into six type. They are: (i)

conceptual information (ii) empirical information (iii)

procedural information (iv) stimulatory information (v) policy

information (vi) directive information.

The conceptual information relates to ideas, theories

and hypotheses about the relationship, which exists among the

variables in the area of a problem. Empirical information

relates to data and experience of research, which may be drawn

from oneself or communication from others. Procedural

information is the data of investigation, which are obtained,

manipulated and tested; it is essentially methodological and it

is derived from scientific attitude. Stimulatory information is

a type of information which is motivated by oneself or

environmentally derived. That type of information which

focuses on the decision making process is known as policy

information whereas information which is used for co­

ordination and for enabling effective group activity is grouped

under directive information.

1.2 Qualities of Information

Information has varied attributes and characteristics.

Cleveland in an address to the World Future Society in 1982

outlined the inherent characteristics of information. He applied

the follow ing seven adjectives to information: human,

expandable, compressible, substitutable, transportable,

diffusive and shareable.6 According to another school of

thought some of the important qualities of information are;

(i) Accessibility, (ii) Comprehensiveness, (iii) Precision,

(iv) Compatibility, (v) Timeliness, (vi) Clarity, (vii) Flexibility,

(vii) Verifiability, (ix) Free of bias, and (x) Quantifiable.

1.3 Information Channels

Information is generated through a number of

communication channels, predominantly through printed media

viz. books and periodicals and mass media viz. News papers,

radio, television, cinema etc. These sources generate a large

quantity of information. It is calculated that the number of

articles published in periodicals each year in the field of

science and technology alone exceeds one million. Literature

doubles within a range of 5-10 years in social science subjects.

In India, the growth of literature is such that she is the fifth

largest producer of books in the world and the largest among

third world countries. It may be said that we are living in an

age of "information explosion" and "publication deluge" The

major factors which lead to this phenomenon are the

exponential growth of literature, innovation in the field of

printing, technological revolution in the field of computers,

telecommunications etc.

1.4 Importance of Information

Information is a valuable commodity. The progress

of modern society is highly dependent on the provision of

accurate, meaningful and complete information at the right

time. Ready and easy availability of information is an urgent

need of present days.7 Information is recognised as national

resource which as of vital significance in all sectors of human

endeavour planning, decision making, research and industry,

education, socio-economic and culture development. It is an

important factor in improving the quality of life of every

member of the society.

John Gessord8 says about the importance of

information that in business, information is more important

than money. The right information given to the right people

at the right time can increase sales, reduce costs, produce new

products, secure new financing, obtain government approval

or resolve employee conflicts.

Information is an asset and like other assets it is

useless unless it is put to use.

2. In form ation Needs

It is beyond doubt that information is one of the basic

resources for the development in any field of knowledge or human

activity.

To establish an effective information systems or improving

the existing system it is necessary to know the actual and defined

information need of users of the system. Now it is clear that these

systems and services of information which are designed to provide

specific and well-defined information to user, have in general

displayed the quantities of a more responsive and effective user

oriented system. Information need of any particular user is depend

upon various variables of the society of which he is a part. A general

user has need for information about the area in which he is working.

Apart from this the information need is also influenced by the

characteristics, attitude, socio-economic status and their information

9seeking behavior.

Wilson10 measures the information need on the basis of

the following questions :

1. Dose this person or group need information (Influencing factor

- Social role.)

2. Does he know he need information (Influencing factor -

Problem recognition ability.)

3 What kind of information he need (Influencing factor - Level

o f performance of role, nature of specific problem

environment.)

These questions are difficult to answer because they imply

that, the people who need information may not have defined the

need.

Information need may be Expressed or Unexpressed.

National commission on library sciences 11 identified four

general classes of need, all of which could be related to four types

of information i.e. working/professional need, educational need,

cultural need and leisure time need. This categorization of

information need is followed by all people.

Vashist12 describes information as the essential need of

the human being. He quoted information is a concept, an idea, a

statement, a fact, a news etc. and the ability to grasp things and

establish relationship between item of information is understanding

or intelligence. Information constitutes knowledge and knowledge

is power, which is very much essential for the well being of man

and his society.

After discussing the need of information one can not

ignore that the selection and reception of information depends upon

individual conception of his own need. It is rightly said, "one man's

1information is other man's noise". In the light of this idea we

need to analyze only the relevant information needed by the

community members. This task can not be completed with out

analyzing the characteristics and socio-economic variables of the

community member.

2.1 Information Needs and Uses

The year 1971 saws a continued growth of literature

reporting information needs and uses in science and

technology. One most remarkable feature of this literature,

shows that systematic studies of information need and uses

have become truly an international phenomena.14

2.2 Nature of Information Need:-

Scientists and technologists are in constant need of

information and the average worker spends an estimated twenty

percent of his time searching for it. Perhaps some of the most

valuable deductions from the user studies have been about the

nature of information need in a composite concept of different

types of requirements and approaches to information. A

remarkable analysis of this composite nature was made by

Melvin Voigt. His study revealed that the same person could

interact with the information system in different ways at

different times depending upon his purpose in relation to his

work, stage of his work, general interest, amount of information

already available to him and so on. Melvin Voigt clearly

identified three types of information requirements. Later on a

fourth type was added by other workers in the field. Now, it is

generally accepted that there are four different types of

information requirements or approach. They are :

1. Current approach.

2. Everyday approach.

3. Exhaustive approach

4. Catching up or Brushing up approach or

Browsing approach.

2 .2 .1 The current approach arises from the need to keep up, to

know what other workers in the field are doing (or about

to do). Surveys o f both scientists and technologists have

shown that the most important source o f such information

is a fairly small core o f primary periodicals, systematically

scanned. O f great importance too are personal contacts with

colleagues, with visitors, and at conferences. Secondary

sources such as abstracts and indexes, i f used at all are

regarded as guides to the primary sources.

2 .2 .2 The everyday approach arises in the course o f daily work,

regularly and frequently, usually in the form o f a need for

some spec ific piece o f in fo rm a tio n v ita l for further

progress. U n like in fo rm a tio n needed in the current

approach, it can usually be found in a number o f places,

and to the user the source is o f little concern provided it is

reliable. A lm ost invariab ly the one nearest to hand is

chosen, and the emphasis is on finding what is wanted as

soon as possible. This approach is the one most frequently

used by scientists and technologists.

2 .2 .3 The exhaustive approach usually arises when work begins

on a new investigation, and involves a check through all

the relevant information on a given subject. It is called

for less frequently than the current or everyday approaches,

but is vitally important, and often urgent.

2 .2 .4 The browsing approach by de fin ition unp lanned , and

certainly ine ffic ient, is nevertheless a fru itfu l path to

in fo rm a t io n , d e f in ite ly part o f the s c ie n t if ic and

technological communication system, and could well be

added to Voigt's three approaches. Hence, deliberately or

otherwise, but without any specific topic in mind, workers

seek information outside their predefined areas of interest,

the aim (or result) being to extend the boundaries of that

interest. Surveys have shown that printed sources play a

major 'Triggering' role in stimulating new ideas and

interests.

3. Chhattisgarh Region:-

Chhattisgarh, basically a tribal dominated stated was born

on 1/11/2000 as the 26th state of India, cutting off the umbilical

cord from the mother state Madhya Pradesh, with Hon. Dinesh

Nandan Sahai as first Governor and Shri Ajit Pramod Jogi as its

first chief minister.15 The Chhattisgarh region 17°45'-24°6'N and

80° 15'-84°24'E,16 stretches about 385 km east-west with the

maximum north-south extent of 650 km, covering an area of

135 133krns2. The districts of Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Sarguja,

Korea, Korba, Jaspur, Kawardha, Janjgir, Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari,

Mahashamund, Ranker, Baster, Dantewara and Raigarh together

constituted the present Chhattisgarh state. Once ruled over by

Haihaivanshi Rajputs from whose thirty-six forts (chhattis-garhs)

17it derives its name.

3.1 Historical Background:-

The Chhattisgarh region formed part of the Aryan

territory called 'Dakshin Koshal' or 'Mahakoshal' which

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extended over the present eastern part of Madhya Pradesh.

This area was considerably forested and lay in the eastern

part of the Dandakaranya forest mentioned in the Ramayana.

The name Chhattisgarh for this region was used for the first

time by the bard (poet) of Khairagarh state Shri Dalpat Ram

Rao in 1487. Afterwards the poet of Ratanpur Shri Gopal

Mishra also used this name and populerised it in his work

'Khoob Tamasha' in 1689.1X

While the twentieth Haihaivanshi king, Surya Deo

was ruling at Ratanpur around A.D. 1000, his younger brother

started ruling from Raipur in feudal subordination to his elder

brother. Thus the kingdom of Chhattisgarh was divided into

two parts during this period. The capital town of Ratanpur

was founded by the Haihaivanshi king, Ratan Deo. Similarly,

the capital of Raipur was established by Rai Bramha Deo. Of

these two capital towns, Ratanpur is left as a village while

Raipur has grown into the premier city and ended up as capital

of Chhattisgarh. Each one of the thirty-six forts had an

administrative territory around it, being in feudal possession

of either the king's relatives or his other subordinate chiefs.

Until the Maratha invasion in 1741, the Haihaivanshi

kingdom of Chhattisgarh enjoyed immunity from external

attacks and there is evidence of great prosperity during the rule of

the forty-fourth king, Raja Kalyan Sahi (1536-1573A.D.). He

was the first ruler of Chhattisgarh who brought this region

under Mughal influence when he received a title from Akbar.

Chhattisgarh was under Maratha rule from 1741 to

1853, excepting a brief interlude (1818-1830) when it was

administered under the British protection. The region

completely passed over to the British rule in 1853.

During the British rule, Chhattisgarh was gradually

divided into administrative districts. Raipur, Bilaspur and

Durg districts continue to be the administrative units in the

region from pre-independence time. Afterwards Raigarh

district was formed by merging the princely states of Raigarh,

Sarangarh, Jashpur and Udaipur. The Sakti state has been

added to the Bilaspur district. Similarly, the Nandgaon,

Dongargarh, Khairagarh, Chhuikhadan, Khamaria and

Kawardha states become the part of Durg district. These

reorganisations, by willing co-operation of the ruling princes,

were completed by 1949, later Rajnandgao, Baster and

Surguja also became districts. Further reorganisation of

districts took place on 25/5/1998 and we find today there are

in all 16 districts in Chhattisgarh.

4. Agriculture:-

Agriculture was probably the first stage in the evolution

process that u ltim ately led to the development o f human

civilization. The human migration across the continent and oceans

in the post glacial epoch in search of more favourable environment,

the selection and diffusion of useful plants domestication of useful

animals etc., led the premitive man to change from nomadic to

more sedentary life. In other wards it can be said that history of

agriculture is the history of human civilization.

Agriculture involves raising deliberately bred crops and

livestock for food, fiber, and other materials. Although thousands

of plants and animal species exists, only 200 plants and about 50

animals species have been domesticated. About 12 or 13 plant crop

are important staples, and almost all of these are 'grains'-especially

wheat, rice and maize (corn)- that were domesticated from wild

grasses by deliberate cultivation of their seeds.

4.1 History

In Mesopotamia, the region between the Tigris and

Euphrates rivers in present day Iraq, cultivation began in the

9th millennium B C. The wheel was invented, pulleys were

used to draw water from artificial canals, and complex

irrigation systems were constructed. Mesopotamians raised

wheat, and other cereal grains, were skilled in gardening, and

domesticated the camel, donkey and horse.

Relying on the water and fertile silt of the Nile,

Egyptians irrigated land to ensure large crop of wheat and

barley, which along with flax provided the basis of their

agriculture. Several types of palm trees were cultivated, and

the wild papyrus was harvested to make paper. In addition to

oxen and horse, the Egyptian kept poultry, sheep, goat and

swine.

The Indus civilization of northern India, which

existed from about 2300 to 1750 B C, raised wheat, barley

and rice. These people grew such plants as cotton, sesame, tea

and sugar-cane. Chickens were domesticated from Indian

jungle fowl, and the water buffalos and zebu cattle were used

as draft animals. Farmers used plows, designed effective

irrigation systems, and built large granaries. Among the river

valleys of China, people learned how to cultivate soybeans,

oranges, peaches, pears, hemp and tea. They kept livestock,

practiced intensive gardening and excelled at flower

19horticulture.

4.2. Agriculture in Modern World (F.A.O)

The Food and Agriculture Organisation was founded

in October 1945 with a mandate to rise levels of nutrition and

standards of living, to improve agricultural productivity, and

to better the condition of rural populations.20

FAO is the largest autonomous agency within the

United Nations system with 180 member nations plus the

European Community (Member Organisation) and more than

3 700 staff members - 1400 professional and 2300 general

service staff. The Organisation's 2000-2001 biennial budget

is set at $650 million and FAO assisted projects attract more

than $300 m illion per year from donor agencies and

governments for investment in agricultural and rural projects.

Since its inception, FAO has worked to alleviate

poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development,

improved nutrition and the pursuit of food security - the access

of all people at all times to the food they need for an active

and healthy life. The Organisation offers direct development

assistance, collects, analyses and disseminates information,

provides policy and planning advice to governments and acts

as an international forum for debate on food and agriculture

issues.

A specific priority of the organisation is encouraging

sustainable agriculture and rural development, a long term

strategy for the conservation and management o f natural

resources. It aims to meet the needs of both present and future

generations through programmes that do not degrade the

environment and are technically appropriate, economically

viable and socially acceptable.

5. Agricu lture in India:-

5.1 Vedic period :

History of agriculture in India is very old. Aryans

came to live in this region in the vedic period (1500-1000

BC). The oldest sacred book of Aryan's 'Rigveda', contains

the details about eating habits, in which ghee, milk, and

vegitables got dominance. Cow was considered as the holy

animal. Cultivation starts right from the beginning of the

monsoon season. People of Harappa cultivated rice and barley.

Mahabharata and Ramayana both carry the reference

of frouts and vegetables. Later on iron tools came into

existence. In this period, barley, rice, wheat, macca etc. were

21cultivated. Cultivation of bajra was started in this period.

5.2. Buddha Period (700 BC )

In this period there were 16 states in India, which

were called as 'Maha Janpad'. Agriculture was the chief

business and the entire community including Brahmins,

performed it. Agriculture was considered as a prestigious

profession. Along with farming, animal husbandry was also

performed and the sacrificing of animals associated with

farming was banned.

5.3. British Period

Britishers did not paid much attention towards

agriculture. In 1906, Imperial Agricultural Institute, Pusa

(Darbhanga) was established. In 1908, six Agricultural

Colleges were opened. Much emphasis was given towards

irrigation. One of the major drawbacks of this period was the

’Jamindari system' which has given birth to exploitation of

farmers.

5.4. Post-Independence Period

After independence, one of the main challenges

before the government was to provide food to each and every

citizen of India. Therefore, in 1951 the First Five Year Plan

was started, which was mainly based on agriculture. It was

agreed that the economic condition of the country could only

be improved if agriculture is developed. Programmes like 'Land

Reform' and 'Green Revolution' were started. Emphasis was

given on mechanisation, irrigation and loan facilities. Due to

these policies, food grain production increased from 5.08 cror

tons-in 1950-51 to 17.64 cror tons in 1990-91. Cultivation

area raised from 9.73 cror hectear to 12.78 cror hectear.

Average food grain production raised from 522 kg per hectear

to 1380 kg per hectear in 1990-91.

At present agriculture is the backbone of Indian

economy. It provides livelihood to about 64% of the labour

force, contributes nearly 29.4% of Gross Domestic Product

and is responsible for 18% share of the total value of country's

export. It supplies bulk of wage goods required by non-

agricultural sectors, and raw materials to a large section of

industries.

So it can be said that the development of agriculture

after'independence had been significance, and it is contributing

a lot for the economic reforms of the country.

6. A gricu ltu re in Chhattisgarh

In Chhattisgarh, 85% of its work population draws

livelihood from agriculture and on about 43.78% of its total land

agriculture is taken up. Despite industrial and agricultural

development, Chhattisgarh is one of the most backward region of

India. Migration and selling of lands and becoming labours by small

22farmers show the critical condition of agriculture in this region.

6.1 History

The most amazing fact is that about 300 years back,

Chhattisgarh was a rich region. Historical travelogues give the

evidence to it. Chines traveler Huan Sang wrote in 639 AD

that the lands of this region are very fertile and gave good

harvest. What Huan Sang said was further supported by a

British traveler Captain Blant who came to Chhattisgarh in

1795. He wrote that the region was nicely irrigated by small

rivers. There were many villages full of mango trees and ponds.

This region was very rich and people were well mannered. He

also wrote that it took 13 days to reach Raipur from Ratanpur

and on the way he saw various types of crops in abundance.

Another British traveler Mr Laike in the 18th century also wrote

23about this region testifying Captain Blant's statement.

Thus we can say that at least up to the end of 18th

century Chhattisgarh was very rich in agriculture. Although

rice was the main crop, but cotton, sugar cane, wheat, etc.

were also cultivated in large scale.

6.2. Present status

In spite of sufficient scope for agricultural development, the

present condition is not at all satisfactory. The agricultural

backwardness can be seen by the fact that the average rice

production of the so called 'Rice Bowl' is half of the national

average. When the condition of the main crop is such, the

condition of other crops can be very well understood.24

. . . o—

R E F E R E N C E S

1 Devarajan,G.

2 Shere, J.H.

3 Bhattacharyya,G

4 Prasher,R.G.

5 Bhattacharyya,G

6 Molholt,Pat.

7 Varma,Neerja

8 John, G.

9 Mishra, Rajesh

Library Information Science Users and Use

Studied, 1978,Beacon Books,N Delhi, p9.

The Foundation of Education for Librarianship,

New York, Becker & Hayes, 1972.

Information Science: a unified view at through

a system approach, IASLIC, 1978, pl8.

Information and its Communication, ILA

Bulletin, 23(3), 1987, p i8.

Opt cit, p i9.

The Nature of Information and its Influence on

Libraries, Special Libraries, July 1984, p247.

Information Needs of Pre-employment

Candidates and Bank Employees of Public Sector

Banks of Grater Gwalior, Ph-D.Thesis, p.9.

Grey literature, Source of information for

project financing. IASLIC Bulletin, 36 (3),

1991, 125-129.

Perception of Information Needs of Rural

People, M .Lib.I.Sc.D issertation, B .H .U .,

Varanasi, Ch. 1.

10 Wilson, T.D. : The Investigation of Information Use and User's

Needs as a basis of Training Programs,

Int.Forum Inf. Doc., 2(4), 1977.

11 National Commission on Library and Information Science Report,

Library Quarterly,48(4), 1978, 393-415.

12 Vashist,C.P. . AGRIS, Lucknow Librarian, 13(2), 1981, 71-

80.

13 Vickery,B.C. : Techniques of Information Retrieval, 1970,

Butter Worth, London, p395-400.

14 Das,Manjula Rani: Information Sources and Services in the field

of Agricultural Sciences, M .Lib.Sc.

Dissertation, 1984, p9.

15 Chhattisgarh, Competition Success Review, Dec 2000, p i9.

16 Gupta,H.S. : Chhattisgarh Rajya: ek bhowgolic paridarshan,

In-Nav Bharat Bilaspur, 1st Nov 2000.

17 Singh,R.L.: India : A Regional Geography, ch 20.

18 Sharma,Paleshwer: Chhattisgarh ka itihas evem gatha, In-Nav

Bharat Bilaspur, 1st Oct 2000.

19 Grolier Encyclopedia, 1991,V-l, Dunbury, p 187.

20 Internet site of FAO.

21 Singh,R.L. : Scientist Krishi Farm Koni, Bilaspur, IGAU

Raipur, interview on 15.3.2001 at 11.30AM.

22 Chhattisgarh Sandarbh, Desh Bandhu, Raipur, 1993, p82.

23 Mishra, Anand : Socialist leader, Bilaspur, Interview on 3.3.01

at 1.00PM.

24 Kashyap,R.L. : Sr.Agricultural Scientist and Ex-Vice

Chancellor of Pt. R S Shukla University, Raipur,

interview on 11.3.01 at 10.30 AM.