Partnership to strengthen mobile-based advisory system sealed
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o promote effective mobilebased advisory system to help improve smallholder farmers’ access to knowledge and information, ICRISAT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL) to promote the sustainable “Krishi Vani” model of delivering voice advisories to Photo: PS Rao, ICRISAT farmers. The agreement was Director General WD Dar exchanging the MoU with Mr S Srinivasan. signed by Director General William D. Dar and IKSL Chief Executive Officer S “This is an excellent instrument in providing the last Srinivasan on 5 July at the ICRISAT headquarters. mile connectivity to smallholder farmers,” said Dr Dar during the agreement signing. He also Through the agreement, ICRISAT and IKSL have underscored the importance of advisories related agreed to collaborate on: (1) five free voice messages to market intelligence. Mr Srinivasan added “Jointly to farmers and farm facilitators on a daily basis; (2) we shall work together to mitigate the situation call-back facility; and (3) focused services for groups with common interest by providing Green SIM cards. related to food shortage with this latest technology.” These voice messages as prepared by experts will be delivered at one go to millions of farmers in different areas of India. Krishi Vani is a financially sustainable, innovative ICT-mediated extension system. It brings private sector participation into public interest, where farmers get free advisories, farm facilitators and IKSL can generate revenue, and ICRISAT can promote a platform for communicating with smallholder farmers directly. This is a proven revenue model that has generated Rs 31,000 in 15 working days for farm facilitators in Anantapur district.
Dr Dar and Dr Dileepkumar Guntuku also discussed with the IKSL delegation the importance of leveraging mobile technology for empowerment of people living in rural India, with a mission to improving the quality of decision-making by people in the villages through useful information inputs in local language and voice format. Also present on the occasion were Mr Sumanthkumar from ICRISAT, and Mr Narayanarao, Mr John, Mr Siddannagouda and Mr Satish from IKSL. g
Safety awareness and orientation program held
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he Environment, Health and Safety Committee (EHSC) conducted a one-day Safety Awareness and Orientation Program for 46 safety wardens and new staff of ICRISAT and partner organizations at the ICRISAT headquarters on 2 July. The participants learned about best practices, policies and procedures at the institute for enabling a safe, healthy and environment-friendly workplace. During the program, Director General William D. Dar emphasized the need to minimize potential accidents inside the campus by following safety measures and safety related infrastructure. Deputy Director 6 ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 12 JULY 2013 1578
General Dave Hoisington gave an overview of the risk management objectives, policies and framework at ICRISAT, while Acting Director – Human Resources and Operations, Surya Kant Sharma presented the institute’s safety management policies, practices and mechanisms. g
Photo: PS Rao, ICRISAT
Participants of the safety awareness and orientation program.