Course title: Fundamentals of Agricultural Extension Education

Course code: UEXT 106

Lecture no: 18
Lecture topic: ICT
Prepared by: Bhagirath Das, Scientist (Agricultural Extension)

Michiels and Van Crowder (2001) have defined ICTs ‘as a range of electronic technologies which,
when converged in new configurations, are flexible, adaptable, enabling and capable of
transforming organizations and redefining social relations.’ The range of technologies is increasing
all the time and ‘there is a convergence between the new technologies and conventional media’.
Need of ICT in Agriculture Extension or /Agriculture
1. To accelerate agricultural growth
2. To expand knowledge resource
3. To facilitate better information services
4. To supplement inadequate technical manpower
5. For stronger research-extension clients system linkage
6. To develop essential feedback mechanism
7. For cost effective extension delivery
8. To develop knowledge managers
9. To ensure gender equity in technology transfer process
10. To empower small and marginal farmers
11. To serve farm stakeholder beyond technology transfer role
Catalytic Role or Importance of ICT
1. Decision making process
2. Advisory services
3. Market outlook
4. Empowering rural community
5. Multisectoral services
6. Targeting marginal groups
7. Creating employment opportunities
8. Maintenance of land holding records

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9. Triggering knowledge revolution
Advantage of ICT
The online services can be provided through the ICT for information, education and training, and
consultation, diagnosis, monitoring and finally transaction and processing.
E-commerce can be effectively used for linking the local commercial and production activities
directly to retailers and trade purchases and to suppliers.
ICT can provide question-and-answer services where experts respond to queries on specialized
subjects.
Provision of ICT services on to the block level and district level development officials lead to
efficiency in delivering the services for overall agricultural development.
It helps in providing up-to-date information services to the farmers, such as a package of
information, market information, weather forecasting, input supply, credit availability etc. can be
provided at the earliest possible times.
It helps in the creation of databases of local resources in villages and the villagers, site specific
information system, expert system etc.
It also helps in providing information services on disease/early pest warning system, information
regarding rural development programme, crop insurance and post-harvest technology.
Facilitation of land records and online registration services can be realized using the ICT.
Improving the marketing of milk and milk products is another area where ICT can be used.
ICT can be extended services regarding farm business and management information to the farmers.
Increase the efficiency and productivity of cooperative societies can be possible with computer
communication networks and latest data-based technology.
Providing tele-education to the farmers is another area where ICT can be effectively used.
The agricultural research institute’s findings can be made available to the extension worker. These
institutes can also get firsthand information from gross root extension workers.
Scope of ICT
1. It will promote rural business
2. Maintain priority between rural and urban areas
3. Facilitate diversification of economic activity in rural areas
4. Dissemination of farm information
5. E-governance at gross-root level
6. Sustainable management of natural resources

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 7. Enhance quality of life in rural areas
Limitations of IT
1. Poor telecommunication system in rural areas.
2. Insufficient power supply in the villages causing serious interruption in data transmission.
3. Less service providers like internet service provider, technical and software expertise and
hardware engineers, thus resulting in higher cost, delay and less access to these services.
4. Low purchasing power of people
5. Low literacy rate in rural areas in comparison to urban areas.
6. Limited and insufficient coverage of issues related to rural areas by radio and television
service providers.
7. Gender sensitivity in accessing different needs and preferences through ICT
8. Slow service responses to telephone problems.
9. Slow connectivity in case of internet.
10. Less awareness about net Information and Communication Technologies in rural areas.
11. Poor maintenance of Information Communication Technologies.
12. High telecommunication costs remain remains a strong deterrent in accessing information
through internet.
13. Lacking policies and strategies that facilitate the harnessing of new ICT for rural
development.
14. Inadequate infrastructure facilities for utilizing the new ICT services for strengthening
the rural socio-economic condition.
15. Inadequate human resources like training and capacity building for effectively harnessing
ICT in rural areas.

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Major ICT Initiatives in India
Name Year Initiated by Implemented by Area Features
Warna Wired 1998 PMs Office IT NIC, Govt. of Warna Nagar, -Computer Booths were installed
Village Project Task Force Maharashtra & Kolhapur & Sangli, which served as information centers
Warna Vibhag Maharashtra for the farmers in their villages
Shiksha Mandal -To serve the information needs on
different crop cultivation practices of
major crops, sugarcane cultivation
practices.
The Info Village 1998 MSSRF & IRDC Pndicherry -To bring the benefits of modern
Project ICTs to the rural population
Community Radio 1998 Deccan Development Society Medak District, - giving a voice to people who do not
Andhra Pradesh have access to mainstream media to
express their views on community
development.
eChoupal 2000 ITC ITC Hoshangabad, -farmers through the information
Madhya Pradesh kiosk set up in each village can
access variety of information related
to farming, purchase inputs etc.
Bhoomi 2000 Govt. of Karnataka Karnataka -Online database & viewing system
for management and access of land
records
Gyandoot 2000 Government of Madhya Pradesh Dhar, Madhya - Low-cost rural intranet project
Pradesh based on e-governance
- information services to the farmers
like best practices related to
agriculture, prices of agricultural
produce in different markets, Ask the
Expert

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AGMARKNET 2000 MoA&FW DMI & NIC India -Facilitates generation and
transmission of prices, commodity
arrival information from agricultural
produce markets, and web-based
dissemination to producers,
consumers, traders, and policymakers
transparently and quickly.
aAqua 2003 Agrocom - Any farmer, agriculturist or hobbyist
can register, and post questions and a
panel of Agriculture Experts answers
questions based on the problem
description and photos
Kisan Call Centre 2004 MoA&FW NIC India -Main aim of the project is to answer
farmers’ queries on a telephone call
in 22 local languages
- KCC's toll-free number is 1800-
180-1551
eSagu 2004 Funded by IIIT, Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh -eSagu means electronic cultivation
Medial Lab Asia - web-based personalized agro-
advisory system for farmers
eArik 2007 College of Arunachal Pradesh -To provide agro advisory service
Horticulture and among the tribal farmers
Forestry, CAU
Agropedia 2009 Funded by NAIP IIT Kanpur India -Online knowledge repository for
information related to agriculture in
India
mKrishi 2012 Tata Consultancy Tamil Nadu - Farmers got answers to queries
Service related to agriculture, such as advice
on use of fertilizers, pesticides and
growth hormones

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 -Also provided up-to-date weather
and market information through SMS
e-NAM 2016 Government of SFAC India -It is an online trading platform for
India agricultural commodities in India
-It enables farmers to showcase their
products through their nearby
markets and facilitate traders from
anywhere to quote prices

Kisan Suvidha 2016 MoA&FW C-DAC India -To facilitate dissemination of

information to farmers on critical
parameters such as weather, market
prices, plant protection, agro-
advisory, extreme weather alerts,
dealers, pesticides, fertilizers, farm
machinery, Soil Health Card (SHC)

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