The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Access to expert opinion a boon to farmers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 10, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Access to expert opinion a boon to farmers

Nagesh Prabhu

The centre is connected to 34 Village Resource Centres and 11 Krishi Vigyan Kendras
Scientists extend information and communication technologies to farmers in remote areas

BANGALORE: The satellite-based Expert Centre, recently established by the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, has been receiving good response from farmers in 19 districts. The Centre has not only enhanced their negotiating power against price-fixing middlemen, but also improved crop knowledge.

The Indian Satellite Research Organisation (ISRO) lent a helping hand to UAS in establishing the centre at its campus in Bangalore. The centre is connected to 34 Village Resource Centres (VRC) and 11 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) across 19 districts through a satellite.

Offering information

Experts in various fields offer information on latest prices of agricultural produce and inputs, weather forecast, soil conditions, cropping pattern and Government programmes, on Mondays and Fridays between 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., to farmers assembled at VRC and KVK. Farmers can get their doubts cleared by the experts instantly.

UAS Vice-Chancellor P.G. Chengappa told The Hindu that with the support of ISRO, scientists of the university have been extending benefits of information and communication technologies (ICT) to farmers located in remote areas.

The interactive sessions between experts and farmers have helped identify the information requirements of the farming community. Volunteers, who mange the VRC, provide information to farmers on topics to be discussed on Mondays and Fridays through the Milk Producers’ Societies in respective villages and other cooperatives.

“The beauty of the programme lies in the availability of expert opinion to an ordinary farmer, live, as this is a two-way audio and video programme. The experts offer vivid details about emerging technologies, and farmers in VRC and KVK can interact with experts if they have any queries,” said Narayana Gowda, Project Coordinator, Bio Resource Complex of the university.

Farmers could also show the specimens of weeds, diseases and pest-infected crops to the experts and get control measures at an appropriate time. A case study conducted in Bangalore Rural district, by the university, showed that farmers could take crucial se of produce by retailers and wholesalers improved price transparency and allowed better grading. It also allowed farmers to realise a bigger share of the final price, scientists said.

Officials of the Agriculture, Horticulture and Sericulture departments, scientists of the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Hesaraghatta, the university and progressive farmers have been roped in to provide information to farmers.

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