Information Communication Technology for Agricultural Knowledge Dissemination in Hill Farming

Abstract

Government and Private organizations are engaged in providing knowledge based information on agriculture to farmers through ICT based applications. It includes Farmers' portal (www.farmer.gov.in), mKisan Portal (www.kisan.gov.in) and Kisan Call Centers (KCC). These portals are facilitating dissemination of information and advisories to farmers. These portals, mobile based platforms and Kisan Call Services, can be integrated together to disseminate knowledge based information among farmers effectively. In hill state like Uttarakhand, mobile based SMS service is more effective as compared to web-based service due to limitation of internet connectivity and internet usage by hill farmers. In this regard Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be useful tool to reduce the physical barrier. The quality of information, its timeliness and trustworthiness are the three important features that enables farmers to use mobile-enabled agricultural information effectively. Integration of ICTs in agricultural extension will provide much needed impetus to agricultural sector and ICT can complement the traditional extension system for “Knowledge Resource” delivery to the millions of farmers. Mobile phones are becoming popular and most effective in disseminating agriculture related knowledge through Short Messaging Services (SMS) to the farmers.

ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan is addressing farmers’ agriculture related queries through Krishak (Farmers’) Help Line Service along with Need Based SMS Service. Weekly SMS alerts are being issued to farmers on agriculture related issues like insect-pest management, agronomic practices, irrigation, fertilizer application, etc. SMS on various issues enables farmers to react immediately for any clarification with the scientist through toll free telephone service. Similarly, queries registered through toll free number are addressed by sending personalized SMS to the farmers. A study was conducted to find out the ease of use, usefulness and attitude of farmers towards receiving SMS. It was found that 73 per cent farmers agreed that SMS received is fast, easy to understand and follow. Moreover it can be accessed at any time and from anywhere. Majority of the respondents informed that they require regular information on seed sowing (73 %), weeding (73 %) and plant protection (73 %) followed by fertilizer application (58 %) in different hill crops. Call records of Farm Advisory Service were analyzed and it was found that majority (27.2%) of the queries were related to plant protection measures followed by seed availability (15.9%). It can be concluded that a small initiative of linking hill farmers to recent advances in agricultural practices through SMS and Kisan Call Centre is enabling the farmer at distant and remote place make best out of his limited resources.