The changing face of

agriculture: Use of ICTs

Case Study of a farmer Name: Balram Kumar Occupation: Farmer, crops dependent on monsoon Lives in: Arunachal Pradesh Problem : Inaccessible terrain , excessive slope susceptibility to land slides Change: Came to know about e – arik-got  information about- "climate smart agriculture"   climate change, improved cultivation & day-to-day market information Result Able to made changes in practices and the timing of sowing seeds . Helped in to be less affected by irregular patterns of monsoon Happy & satisfied from the results-enhanced crop productivity & profit

What are ICTs? Information & communication technologies - an umbrella term

• Includes radio, television, cellular phones, satellite systems etc

• Applied for processing, exchanging & managing data, information & knowledge

• To communicate desired information to the target audience in a participative way

Need of ICTs in agriculture

• Many Farmers are not educated

• Cut off from cites & information

• Lack of extension faclities

• Lack of knowledge of modern technologies & market prices

• Inability to compete with modern farmers

• There is a gap b/w traditional & modern technology

ICT initiatives by various sectors

GOVERNMENT N-logue (with local

service provider) AGMARKNET (central

government) E-sagu (Andhra

Pradesh) Kisan call

centre(Ministry of Agriculture)

Weather advisory

PRIVATE & NGOs Agriwatch (IASL) TATA Kisan

Kendra(TATA Buiseness house)

Tarahaat(TARA) Hariyali kisan bazaar

(DSCL) Weather advisory-

SKYMET E-choupal(ITC-IBD)

Some Initiatives

These are the technologies used in listed initiatives.

Kisan call centre Launched on January 21, 2004 by the Department of Agricultural & Co-operation

Farmer dials toll free number ‘1551’ for any enquiry If queries not answered satisfactorily then the call is forwarded to level II & level III

Main technologies involved:i. Computer system with Internetii. Telephone lineiii. Teleconferencing facility

Important information gateway Cost is almost zero, response is in local language If needed, the agricultural scientists also visit the field

E-sagu Initiative of IIIT HYDERABAD Based on personalized agriculture extension system Improve agriculture productivity by agriculture expert advise to

the farmers Generate advise based on crop situation – basis of text &

photographs A high positive co-relation -between the compliance rate & the

yields Agricultural scientist delivers advice by getting the crop status in

the form of digital photographs and other information  Cost-effective system Capacitates rural livelihoods and generates rural employment

Kisan Sanchar Nigam Limited Developed by IIFCO IIFCO with Bharti Airtel & Star Global Resources Ltd. Promoted this

initiative SIM Card is used for communication, relevant & free information is

provided to framers Focus is to take the access to input from experts & services of reliable

quality through Value Added Service (VAS). Provide information with best packages & practices on various crops,

mandi information, weather information, expert advice, advisories & much more on http://www.iffcokisan.com

2 initiatives are-• IIFCO kisan mobile app• IIFCO kisan portal

Services

VOICE MNESSAGES

HELPLINE

CALL BACK FACILITY

OTHER PROGRAMES THROUGH MOBILE PHONE

FOCUSED GROUPS

MOBILE APP

Benefits of ICTs in agriculture Enhanced productivity Quick accomplishment of work Strengthen the seed sector: timely & updated information on

seed related issues such as new varieties release , fake seeds etc.

Emergence of new threats such as diseases Reduce the gap between information rich & information poor &

support sustainable development in rural & agricultural communities

Weather forecast ,Pricing control & Warning alerts

Limitations of ICTs in Agriculture Illiteracy/ low level of literacy of farmers Digital illiteracy Poverty Poor infrastructure such as internet connectivity Non ownership of computers, tablets and other digital devices Lack of awareness of farmers Lack of satisfaction with use of ICTs Several farming related issues unaddressed by ICTs Lack of access to markets and prices Challenges need to be addressed

THANK YOUMade by:

MEETIKA (15)SHALINI(150)

SUBJECT-ICT4DB.Sc. HOME SCIENCE (HONS)

SEMESTER IIIDepartment of Development Communication and Extension

Institute of Home EconomicsUniversity of Delhi