Information and Communication Technology tools to help women farmers
T
hree hundred pigeonpea farmers across 37 villages in India are to trial using phablets and mobile phones for the latest farming and marketing advice. This is part of a pilot on a new business model for sharing information that is a win-win for all the players along the value chain. The pilot “Use and Sustain ICT Innovations for Pigeonpea Value Chain” was launched on 18 June by Member of Parliament Mr AP Jithender Reddy in the presence of 400 farmers including 300 women farmers.
Photo: ICRISAT
Dr Dileepkumar Guntuku, Global Leader, Mr APJ Reddy flanked by Dr D Guntuku (left) and Mr V Reddy (right) and other officials distributing bags of seed to women farmers. Knowledge Sharing and Innovation program, ICRISAT, said, “The main department to develop similar models in their objective of this project is to demonstrate the use respective mandals. of innovative ICT applications for improving the productivity and profitability of smallholder Dr Raji Reddy, Director of Extension, Acharya N G Ranga farmers as a sustainable business model.” Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Hyderabad, said, Mr APJ Reddy said, “I am happy to note that a renowned international institution like ICRISAT is working for uplifting the poor farmers in Addakal mandal of Mahabubnagar district of Telangana state.” He expressed hope that the efforts will lead to productivity enhancement of other rainfed crops like pigeonpea, chickpea, groundnut and sorghum. ICRISAT will partner with identified farmers of the district and share with them its knowledge in pigeonpea cultivation in addition to providing complete technology support for the pilot. Mr A Venkateswara Reddy, MLA Devarakadra, praised the efforts of Adarsha Mahila Samaikhya and requested all officials of the state agriculture
“ICRISAT is on a mission of spreading technologies like improved crop varieties and hybrids, soil conservation, integrated pests and nutrient management and use of ICT innovations. This will definitely benefit the farming community of Telangana state.”
Dr Guntuku demonstrated the use of Green Phablets and mobiles for disseminating agricultural information and showed how pico projectors can be a useful tool for educating farmers. Based on the results of the pilot, the project will be extended to the other mandate crops of ICRISAT viz. chickpea, groundnut, sorghum and pearl millet. This activity is being undertaken as part of Tropical Legumes II project which is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. g
Developing practices to increase efficiency of fertilizer use...from page 1 Nearly 4.75 million farming families are harnessing the benefits of the program through increased agricultural productivity. The estimated net economic gains from Bhoochetana are estimated to be about US$ 240 million in four years. The meeting was held in New Delhi on the 18 June and attended by 2 ICRISAT HAPPENINGS 20 JUNE 2014 1628
ICRISAT’s Dr Suhas P Wani, Dr G Narendra Kumar; Dr KV Raju, Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister of Karnataka; Mr Indrajit Singh Pal, Secretary, Chemicals and Fertilizers; Mr Satish Chandra, Mr SK Lohia and Mr Sham Lal Goyal, Joint Secretaries, Chemicals and Fertilizers; and other officials of the Ministry. g