1. September 2007 1 Amit Dasgupta Leveraging Web 2.0 to Develop Better Applications for Rural Communities

2. September 2007 2 Amit Dasgupta  A Perspective on Knowledge Sharing Applications  Challenges in Knowledge Sharing  Leveraging Web 2.0 for Better Applications  Crop Cultivation Planning  Irrigation Scheduling  Agro Input & Prophylactic Control  Web 2.0 for Stakeholders  Conclusions Contents

3. September 2007 3 Amit Dasgupta A Perspective on Knowledge Apps.  India has made remarkable progress in technology, industrial development and economic growth  But the benefits of such development have not reached the agricultural community - 60% of India’s population.  Lack of easy access to knowledge and information – a key inhibitor for robust agricultural development  Availability of information is not a constraint, several institutions contribute to the knowledge pool - Ineffective dissemination of information is the main impediment.  Applications available currently are limited in content and functionality and can only serve a localised community.

4. September 2007 4 Amit Dasgupta Challenges in Knowledge Sharing What are the challenges in developing knowledge sharing applications for a larger community?  Without a large user base, difficult to justify the high cost  A large user base can be expected only if regional variations and localization needs are addressed, thereby increasing complexity  To provide rich information and content, data has to be extracted from multiple sources, which demands close collaboration  Due to limited access to computers, applications can be widely used only if they can support multiple devices - cell phones, TV etc

5. September 2007 5 Amit Dasgupta How Can Web 2.0 be Useful?  To improve the quality of information by linking information from multiple data sources  To reduce cost of content creation and deployment  For providing better access through multiple devices Collaborative content authoring using WIKI and feeds for publishing data Content aggregation & syndication (RSS/ATOM feeds) with mashups allows better information and knowledge management Information access through multiple devices using feeds and mashups

6. September 2007 6 Amit Dasgupta How Can Web 2.0 be Useful?  To provide richer content using collective intelligence of user communities and experts  For effective information exchange and knowledge management between geographically dispersed stakeholders through a collaborative web platform. Tag WIKI for collaborative authoring Through tagging more meaning to data can be attached collaboratively WIKI & tagging for collaborative authoring & information exchange. Feeds & mashups for knowledge management. Tag

7. September 2007 7 Amit Dasgupta Crop Cultivation Planning Cultivation Data from Village/Block Crop Cultivation Data Demand Supply Gap Suggested Crop Cultivation Plan Farmers Insurance, Financial Agri Input & Food Processing Cos. To analyse demand & supply position Web Application Market Demand Data Application Server Village/Block - Mallur Week 36 - 2006 CropAcreage Tomatoes60 Onions112 Potatoes96 Demand vs Supply - Week 36 CropRankGap (Mt) Onions1450 Tomatoes2300 Potatoes3-200 Trading firms/ Auction Centres

8. September 2007 8 Amit Dasgupta Irrigation Scheduling Irrigation Schedules Meteorological Data Soil Maps For Irrigation Scheduling Irrigation Department Farmers Web Application Application Server Meteorological Department National Bureau of Soil Survey

9. September 2007 9 Amit Dasgupta Agro Input & Prophylactic Control Soil Test Data Pest Description Advice on: Fertiliser & pesticide use Prophylactic control Experience Sharing & Feedback Computerised models for fertiliser and pesticide use Farmers Guidance on Crop, Agro Inputs & Pesticide use Experts Web Application Application Server Farming Community

10. September 2007 10 Amit Dasgupta Web 2.0 for Stakeholders Maintain the WIKI, and its integration with other Web 2.0 technologies Author view and regulate content Author and view content Wiki Provide support for mashing- up of content; using mashup- builders to generate richer information and knowledge Use mash up-builder tools to create mashups for data mining and other research and business needs Have access to value added information and content published as feeds Mashups Provide a mechanism to data-mine tag content and provide visualization in the form of tag-clouds Monitor tags to publish more relevant feeds Tag content for receiving and searching information Tagging Manage feeds and provide easier mechanisms to publish and consume feed content Publish feeds on crop demand, prices, agro inputs and meteorology Subscribe to content feeds Feeds Systems Developers Research Institutions, Govt. Agencies & Business Users User Community Tag

11. September 2007 11 Amit Dasgupta Conclusion  Integration of data from multiple sources will be required to provide meaningful information and content.  Involvement of stake holders is crucial for sharing and dissemination of information for knowledge sharing applications for the agricultural community.  Using the Web2.0 framework would offer significant advantages:  Richer information and content  Geographically dispersed organisations can jointly work together  Collaborative framework for community participation

12. September 2007 12 Amit Dasgupta Conclusion…  The message is clear. Academic and research institutions, government agencies, NGOs, commercial organisations and users must collaborate.  The time is opportune for key stakeholders to convene a Forum to work together, to make knowledge more accessible to rural communities.  The impact of such initiatives on the rural economy and benefits to the farming community worldwide - would be truly astounding!

13. September 2007 13 Amit Dasgupta Questions? amit_dasgupta@yahoo.com

14. September 2007 14 Amit Dasgupta Thank You! amit_dasgupta@yahoo.com