1. WELCOME Challenges in e- Agriculture: Way Forward Dr. Anil Kumar Das
Deputy Director (ICT)
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE)
Ministry of Agriculture

2. ● Generation agricultural development under global perspective
1. Introduction of plough in agriculture.
2. Use of nitrogenous fertilizer in crop production.
3. Introduction HYV of different crops.
4. Use of hybrid seed in crop production.
5. Use of genetic engineering and bio-technology in agricultural development.
6. Use of ICT supported agricultural activities : e- agriculture.
Agricultural Knowledge:
1. Universal : 75%
2. Agro climatic : 20%
3. Microclimatic :10%
Prologue

4. The aim of e-Krishi Vision 2025 is to explore the use of ICTs in:
i. Fostering rural prosperity and grass roots level development by empowering farmers with information, knowledge and training.
ii. Developing a decentralized, localized and non-human based extension program with proper management and efficient delivery.
iii. Promoting, supporting and enhancing rural farm and non-farm enterprises.
iv. Mainstreaming ICTs in the areas of agricultural research, development, education, extension and training.
v. Establishing mechanisms to receive farmers’ feedback for effective research, development, extension and training.

5. ROLE OF EXTENSION SERVICE
Extension organizations have a key role in brokering between communication technologies, providers of those technologies and services, and the client groups they serve. Extent workers, equipped with ICTs add tremendous strength to already existing wide rage of service. Some of those strengths include:
1. New range of additional media that can be part of the communication for development “mix” of traditional and/or appropriate media.
2. Articulation and sharing of information on needs and local knowledge;
3. Increased efficiency in use of development resources because information is more widely accessible;
4. Less duplication of activities
5. Rapid speed of communication - locally, nationally and globally
6. Reduced communication costs in comparison to other available communication choices

6. DAE Agriculture Research Institutions
Farming Communities & Other Stake holders
DAE

7. (a) Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)
Agriculture Research System in Bangladesh
The National Agricultural Research System (NARS) of Bangladesh consists of ten research institutes under the umbrella of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC). Out of ten research institutes six belongs to Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), two to Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MOFL) one to Ministry of Commerce, and one to the Forest and Environment Ministry. In addition the NARS also comprises universities that have casual working relationship with BARC and other related organizations. The ten research Institutes under the NARs are:
(a)   Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)
(b)   Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI)
(c)   Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI)
(d)   Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA)
(e)   Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI)
(f)   Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
(g)   Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute (BSRI)
(h)   Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI)
(i)   Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI)
(j)   Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI)

9. Some of Bangladeshi and international NGOs working with ICTs are now developing community information centers in the country to facilitate information transmittal to the rural people. Some NGOs partners with private organizations or local government include-
Gonokendras of BRAC,
Banglalink inc.
 D.NET-Pallitathaya Kendra,
 GP-Communication I Dam  
RTC of Practical Action, 
 CARE Bangladesh
BIID 
mPower etc.

10. Potentiality of Agriculture sector
The economy of Bangladesh is largely dependent on agriculture –80% of our total population lives in rural areas and 62% of them directly or indirectly depend on agriculture ––
The agricultural sector contributes around 29% of the country’s GDP
Farmers are the most important stakeholder in agriculture. Farmers need to know information at different stages of farming.

11. Information need 1. Pre-cultivation 2.Crop selection,
3. Land selection,
4. Calendar definition,
5. Access to credit
6. Crop cultivation –Land preparation, sowing, water management, fertilization,
pest management
7. Post-cultivation –Marketing, transportation, packaging, food processing
We need to deliver accurate, reliable, and easily understandable information timely to farmers in a cost effective way

12. Key Challenges:
1. Establishment of high speed connectivity throughout the country
2. Institutional capacity building on ICT
3. Agricultural content digitization
4. Integrated initiatives on e-agriculture
5. Effective coordination between domain experts and ICT experts.
6. Development of user friendly e-services and knowledge repository
7. Establishment of sufficient internet access points
8. Development of an appropriate business model
9. Mind set of public and private sectors services providers

13. Way forward -

15. THANK YOU
Foot note: EASY TO SAY, But still not so easy to do!!!!