1. Experience, Lessons Issues and Options
ICT in Agriculture:
Experience, Lessons Issues and Options
Dr. V.P. Sharma
DIRECTOR (ITD&P)
National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad

2. MANAGE is an Institute of Ministry of Agriculture, GOI
National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad
MANAGE is an Institute of Ministry of Agriculture, GOI
Core Mandate: Capacity Building of Extension Professionals
Develop new, innovative, demand-driven,
Participatory Extension Systems and models
Activities : Training, Research, Consultancy, Education
PGDM(ABM), PGDAEM, DAESI,
Support GOI in implementation of their schemes
Kisan Call Centre (KCC), ACABC

3. % Contribution to GDP (2010-11)- 14.2%** (Economic Survey-10-11)
India and Agriculture
Total population – 1029 million*
Rural Population – 743 million (72%)*
Pop. Engaged in Agriculture – 234 m.*
Cultivators m. *
Agricultural Labour m. *
% Contribution to GDP ( )- 53%*
% Contribution to GDP ( )- 14.2%** (Economic Survey-10-11)
*Data Source – Agricultural Statistics at a Glance- 2004, DES, DAC, MOA, GOI
*** Population is 1210 million (2011 Census)

4. 990 Telephones (929 M Mobiles)-July 12 - Times of India, July 5, 2012
India and Connetivity
990 Telephones (929 M Mobiles)-July 12
- Times of India, July 5, 2012
As the fastest growing telecommunications market in the world, India is projected to have billion mobile subscribers by 2013.Several leading global consultancies estimate that India will become the world's largest mobile phone market by subscriptions by 2013.
100 Million Internet Users* (Only 5 M. in 2002), likely to increase to 300 m by (WSJ)
(A Total of 20 million Subscribers of Internet – June 2009) Inernetworldstats.com/
Connectivity is highly skewed: Rural 32%/ Urban 150%)
Internet connectivity more skewed
Technology for Rural Connectivity available
Efforts required to promote Rural Connectivity
*2009 figures as per ITU

5. Agricultural Extension: Where we are today: Challenges
1950s–1970s: Community Development, National Extension Services, Multipurpose Agriculture Development Programmes;
1970s-1990s: Specialized Extension Systems: Training & Visit System – Fortnightly Workshops, Subject Matter Specialists at district, Sub-District levels;
: Broad basing of Extension – Bottom-up Planning, Participatory Mode, Integrated delivery of Extension Services;
: Extension Reforms extended to whole country, Public Private Partnerships, increased role of NGOs, Farmers’ Organizations; Introduction of KCC; and
2010 onwards: Strengthening of ATMA (at District and below)- BTMs, ABTMs, Farmers’ Friends; Strengthening of SAMETI; KCC, increased focus on ICTs

6. 50 Years of Agriculture (India)
Rate of growth
0.25% in First Half of the Century
2.7% in the Second Half of the Century
Since 1951…
Food grains Production more than Quadrupled (52 to 241 mts)
Cereals Production over 5 times (44 to 223 mt)
Oilseeds Production Quadrupled
Pulses Production doubled (8 to 18 mts)

7. Percentages Of Farmer Households
Accessing Modern Agricultural Technology:
S. No.
Source
% of hhs 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17,
Participation in Training
Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)
Extension worker
Television
Radio
Newspaper
Village fair
Government demonstration
Input dealer
Other progressive farmers
Farmers’ study tour
Para-technician / private agency / NGO
Primary cooperative society
Output buyers / food processor
Credit agency
Others
Any Source (all of the Above)
0.9
0.7
5.7
9.3
13.0
7.0
2.0
13.1
16.7
0.2
0.6
3.6
2.3
1.8
1.7
40.4

8. Changing methods of Communications
50s, 60s and 70s- Face to Face Extension/ Neighbor Farmers/ Radio/ Demonstrations/ Melas
80s & 90s – Radio/ T.V. / Neighbor Farmers /Face-to-face/ Farm Melas/ KVKs/
T.V./ Neighbor Farmers/ Input Dealers/ Radio/ Telephones/ Private Companies
2010 onwards: SMS/Telephone/ TV/ Radio/ Internet/Input Dealers/ Melas/ Face-to-face/ Private Companies

9. ICT Initiatives in XIIth Plan
Capacity building of farmers, extension workers, extension officers, institutions and society to enhance their ICT knowledge and skills with a “National Farmers’ e-Literacy Mission” (Rashtriya Kisan e-Saksharata Abhiyan);
Empowering the grass-root level extension officials with state-of-the-art ICT tools –PDAs/ Laptop/ Mobile, Digital Camera & Internet access;
Kisan Portal: A single window access point for all queries, information, and support related to Farming community for project delivery, transparency in functioning; with strong feedback and monitoring mechanism.
Integrate AGROPEDIA, KKMS, AGMARKNET, Seed net, EMS and all other major Agri-knowledge portals – ICAR/state/ SAU Agricultural Portals / information about Input Dealers / AC-ABC
One Community Radio in each District
Reach out to all Farmers thru SMS/MMS every day/ week
Promote vernacular Agricultural Newspapers
Integrate CSCs in KCC Services

10. Use of Call Centers for Tele-Advisory Services;
Strategy and Options
Conscious Effort at Policy level to integrate ICTs enabled Extension as a part of Agricultural Extension;
Necessity of a nodal planning and implementation agency at Country/ State level;
Continuous hunt and integration of new Communication technologies in Good Governance Strategy;
Use of Media –Radio and T.V. in participatory programming and interactive mode;
Use of Call Centers for Tele-Advisory Services;
Continuous on-line monitoring and updating of ALL Extension systems and Databases;
Mechanism of Capturing lessons and sharing –horizontally, vertically (within districts/ states and across the states)

11. Let us COMMIT to work together for Farmers.
The Road Ahead……
Appropriate use of ICTs can facilitate
To Meet the expectations of Good-Governance in Agriculture by improving transparency and Farmers’ participation in Agricultural Planning, implementation and Monitoring.
To reach up to over 90% of Farming community (from current level of below 50%), within next 5 years, with Agricultural Information
AND HENCE
Let us COMMIT to work together for Farmers.

12. THANKS
Dr. V.P. Sharma,
Director (Information Technology, Documentation and Publications)
National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE),
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad – , Andhra Pradesh, India
Ph :
Fax :