CENTRAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR DRYLAND AGRICULTURE(CRIDA) Hyderabad

1. Global Consultation on “Innovative ICT and Knowledge Sharing Platforms for Revitalizing Agricultural Extension and Education: Opportunities and Challenges”K.NagasreeScientist Sr.sc( Agril.Extension),CRIDA 3-4 December 2012Infosys Campus, Hyderabad CENTRAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR DRYLAND AGRICULTURE(CRIDA) Hyderabad

2. Importance of Information • Information access is a key constraint for technology adoption , particularly in rainfed agriculture. • Access to information reduces burden on the traditional extension system where man power is a major constraint. • With ICTs, access to agriculture technologies and information on markets and weather etc,. can be improved. • 60 percent of farmers have no access to technology (NSSO,2004 ). • Information and communication networks are expanding quickly which offer scope to reach farmers more effectively.

3. Importance of ICT in agriculture • Assist the agricultural extension functionaries. • Able to reach to large number of people in the shortest time. • Cost effective and timely. • Can deliver high quality personalized (farm-specific) agro-expert advice.

4. The Project CRIDA started “Sustainable rural livelihoods” project under NAIP as an action research project for evolving innovations in technology transfer. One of the objectives is “Capacity building and skill development of primary and secondary stakeholders through knowledge sharing, collective action and use of modern ICTs”. PROJECT AREA Each project cluster consists of 8 districts 3-8 villages/hamlets 409-739 households 800 - 6934 ha area PROJECT PARTNERS CRIDA I Kisan 8 cluster level NGOs

5. Process of introducing ICT interventions • Situation analysis through PRA exercises. • Information needs assessment . • Content development based on the needs assessed. • Institutionalization of the process ( KRCs,KSCs and IKU groups) • Building capacity of stakeholders in usage of services. • Monitoring and evaluation. • Sustainability & Scaling up.

6. Feedback Monitoring Corrective measures Evaluation Repairs & Maintenance

7. Content addition of 53 other crops ( medicinal & aromatic, oilseeds,spices ,horticulture crops etc to the existing ten crops (Black gram Bengal gram Cotton, Paddy, Redgram, Maize, Green gram, castor etc )content . Content for livestock etc has also been included based on the CRIDA publications Community mobilizaton exercises and capacity building through Kharif 2010 Refresher Programmes, exposure vists and training programme on use of services .

8. Information needs assessment (contd,.) Overall

9. 3 tier institutional set up Institutalization of Knowledge Share Centres Knowledge Resource Centres-KRCs CRIDA Knowledge Share Centres-KSCs KSC KSC KSC KSC KSC KSC KSC KSC Anantapur Adilabad Kadapa Khammam Ranga Reddy Mahabubnagar Warangal Nalgonda Information & Knowledge Utilization Groups - IKU Groups IKU IKU IKU IKU IKU IKU IKU IKU Mahabubnagar Nalgonda Anantapur Adilabad Kadapa Khammam Ranga Reddy Warangal

10. Knowledge Share Centres ICTsreach and access to rural masses was planned through establishment of KSCs . Envisage the access to value added information services on latest tools and technologies of agriculture. Facilitates the sharing of data, information and the collective knowledge from research, experiences and interaction with cluster partners

11. KSC ( Knowledge Share Centre) Visitor statistics Average number of visitors per month

12. Services available at KSCs • Information access through touch screen information kiosks(TSIK), • Queries addresal system through Interactive voice response system, IVRS • Technology utilization through Internet • and Display announcement package (DAP) for farmers

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14. TOUCH SCREEN INFORMATION KIOSK (TSIK) • Touch screen kiosks , provide one stop access to information needs of individual or group of farmers with minimum literacy standards • Kiosk allows users to navigate for information on • Crops cultivation practices, • Agri inputs • Crop diagnostic kit • Management time table • Farm machinery and • market information etc,.  

15. TOUCH SCREEN INFORMATION KIOSK (TSIK) contd,. Crop wise usage of TSIK services Based on the data from eight clusters

16. TOUCH SCREEN INFORMATION KIOSK (TSIK) contd,. Technology wise usage of TSIK services

17. Screen shots of Touch screen information kiosk Crop diagnostic kit ,Groundnut crop Telugu version

18. Display Announcement Package (DAP) • Communication media to address the needs of medium to large group of audience. • It displays the information with voice input which can serve the needs of illiterate farmers. • Used to screen the films that create awareness of the improved technologies .

19. Cluster IVRS .NO B.Yerragudi 9573784185 Jaffergudem 9573422705 Jamisthapur 9603970119 Dupahad 9666918427 Pampanur 08554-250999 Ibrahimpur 9705095621 Thummalacheruvu 9502647451 Seethagondi 08732-220459 CRIDA 9948380890 Ikisan 040- 23352436 Interactive voice Response system (IVRS ) • An IVRS is installed for answering to the farmers’ queries. • Pre recorded voice files guide the caller to avail the information • Farmer can avail the information with one call from the place wherever he is. Introduction of toll free IVRS number for all the clusters from April 1,2011 1800 4252436

20. ONLINE VERSION www.naipsrl.org homepage English version Website www.naipsrl.org www.naipsrl.org Telugu version

21. INTERNET Usage Average usage MB per month

22. Introduction of Sasyavani facility Text message (SMS) Voice alerts website

23. Information preferences on mobile based advisories The information services as demanded by the farmers, were weather alerts (83% ) market based information ( 92%) and information on pest & disease outbreak and management (63%)etc,.% of respondents Total no.of respondents N=40 and figures in the table are expressed as percentage values of multiple responses

24. Preference towards mode of mobile based advisories

25. Maintenance / sustainability options The sustainability options as preferred by the farmers, were KSC to be with Gram panchayat ( 52%) followed by Govt depts( 18%) and field NGOs (13%) respectively. Total no.of respondents N=60 and figures in the table are expressed as percentage values

26. Feedback Monitoring Corrective measures Evaluation Repairs & Maintenance

27. Field schools, feedback and documentation Interaction with IKU ( information & knowledge utilization )groups

28. Constraints / Issues Operators performance Community mobilisation Connectivity Cluster anchors support Power problems Financial sustainability

29. Publications Poster Bulletins

30. Awards and Recognition The ICT initiative "Knowledge share centres" is selected as the winner under Serving Citizens:Best ICT Initiative in Agriculture category of e‐Asia 2011 awards. This was adjudged by a panel of juries and declared at the e‐Asia conference held at Dhaka, Bangaladesh during December 1‐3, 2011. The details can be seen at http://www.e‐asia.org/2011/award‐finalist.aspx Best Citizen's Choice award was presented under ‘ICT Enabled Agri Initiative’ category to Knowledge share centres of CRIDA in the e-World Conference held in New Delhi (1-3 August, 2011)

31. Future needs & constraints • Sustainability issues(Lack of sufficient revenue generation, maintenance of infrastructure etc,.) • Continuous up gradation and integration of emerging novel simplified Communication technologies in e-Extension initiatives • Convergence of state department, Agricultural University Research and Extension Programmes with Knowledge share centres • Research into service gaps in information delivery • Development of user friendly software adaptable to user environment • Cost effective agro advisory system, relevant to the local situation