Using of information and communication technology to improve agriculture arena

1. The changing
face of
agriculture:
Use of ICTs

2. 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

3. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. Some Initiatives
These are the
technologies
used in listed
initiatives.

8. 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 Internet
ii. Telephone line
iii. Teleconferencing facility
 Important information gateway
 Cost is almost zero, response is in local language
 If needed, the agricultural scientists also visit the field

10. 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

12. 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

13. Services
VOICE
MNESSAGES
HELPLINE
CALL BACK
FACILITY
OTHER PROGRAMES
THROUGH MOBILE
PHONE
FOCUSED
GROUPS
MOBILE
APP

14. 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

15. 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

16. THANK YOU
Made by:
MEETIKA (15)
SHALINI(150)
SUBJECT-ICT4D
B.Sc. HOME SCIENCE (HONS)
SEMESTER III
Department of Development Communication and Extension
Institute of Home Economics
University of Delhi