Can ICT transform the sustainable agriculture production scenario and bridge the divide and the inequalities

among groups?
P. Adhiguru National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy esearch !NCAP" Ne# $elhi

Changing Agricultural Scenario

Globalization and liberalization Consumer interest Changing consumer preferences Diversification of food basket Quality food products alue added! processed food products Competitive price

NCAP

Changing Agricultural Scenario

National #aising and stabilizing income over seasons Generating employment opportunities Alleviating poverty and undernourishment Participating effectively in ne$ trade regime #egional e%uity &mproving food security &mproving sustainable farming systems
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Information is vital-Why?
(in the context of globalization)
(ield enhancement Production efficiency )udicious use of inputs *no$ledge intensive technologies Precision farming Quality farm produce Grading and standardization &nformation access cost reduction +ransaction cost reduction Cold chain management
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Information is vital-Why? (in the context of globalization)

Post harvest processing -vercoming price instability Glut avoidance #isk management ./port oriented production &ncreasing cropping intensity Diversification #eduction of intermediaries .fficient credit utilization 0oss prevention 1Natural!pests 2 diseases3
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Information needs of farmers

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 &nput market +echnological information 1.6g6 .nterprise mi/3 7inancial market -utput market Consumer market 8ocio9economic development 8pecial information 1e6g .arly $arning system: Crop &nsurance: 3
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Information flow inadequacy

Inadequate extension coverage Less interactive Time consuming Multi-step communication channel Traditional methods become expensive.
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$ividers Age =olding size Gender &ncome Caste!community 0iteracy 2 Computer literacy .nterprise Geographical Agro9climatic +echnology Culture &nfrastructure

Divi ers an issues

Issues (outh: middle: elderly needs: activities: physical 2cognitive access +echnology! resources re%uirement: input 2 output transaction problems Needs of $omen: nature of activities engaged: entitlements >illingness to pay for services across income groups 0evel of back$ardness and their technology orientation 0evel of literacy: ?asic operational skills: computer utility a$areness: Computer shyness: Attitude to$ards advanced &C+ tools .nterprise composition of the locality: risk associated $ith the enterprise +opography9plains and hills: remote9 infrastructure development:6 &rrigated: semi9arid: arid +echnology baskets: technology clusters =omogenous: heterogeneous: cohesiveness 0evel of development9 tele9density: po$er stability: last mile connectivity9internet9#eliability: band$idth

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Share of o!erational hol ings by size grou!

100 &0 %0 $0

%holdings

#0 "0 !0 0 20 10 0 1&#0-#1 1&$0-$1 1&%0-%1 1&&0-&1 2000-01' 2010-11' Large()! ha* Medium (2-!* +mall (,2*

Years

NCAP)ha: D6 Presidential Address: @ 8ourceA &8A.: 2BBC

IC"s !otential in transforming agriculture an bri ging the ivi e

?roadening content coverage Providing time sensitive!customized! early $arning information!standardized calculations Complementing traditional e/tension! information service Disseminating messages far and $ide very %uickly6 Providing scope for e%ual accessibility to vulnerable groups 1small2 marginal farmers: $omen3 NCAP CB

IC"s !otential in transforming agriculture an bri ging the ivi e

Providing alternative solutions to a set of problematic situations! scenarios: thereby facilitating decision making based on optimum combinations of solutions6 &mproving t$o9$ay vertical and horizontal communications $ithin e/tension institutions and $ith other developmental organizations6 #eceiving bottom9up articulation of development needs! perceptions of farmers and rural households6 NCAP CC

IC"s !otential in transforming agriculture an bri ging the ivi e Creating a$areness and providing details about agricultural programs empo$er the
farmers6 #educing transaction costs in accessing information: purchasing inputs and sale of outputs6 Providing regional specific information to satisfy farmersD needs 1e6g6 contents of soils: local policies etc63 Direct involvement of scientists!technology developer in the preparation of technological messages and in ans$ering %ueries thereby reducing distortion of messages6 7le/ibility in terms of time and fre%uency for accessing the information by users add value to time6

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Strategies and Policies 7ormulate conducive &C+ policy in Agriculture at national

and state level6 Policies $ith regard to ta/ and tariff to be conducive for faster &C+ infrastructure development in rural areas6 National Agricultural #esearch 8ystem to be more proactive in user friendly: need based and locally relevant content development: hosting and inter9linking of $eb9sites6 Periodic assessment of information needs and information access preferences of farmers to be done so as to make &C+ demand driven6 0ocation specific need assessment is to include group specific needs6
Capacity building programs are to include group specific sensitivity training modules6 NCAP C"

 .mphasis on gender e%uity by providing $omenDs accesses to &C+: ensuring $omen9oriented content: and increased $omen participation in application of &C+6
&nclude contents so as to attract youth $ho can serve as sparkplug in in use of kiosks6 ?ecause youth tend to be less computer shy6 Pooling of resources: aggregation of demand: scale neutrality to benefit small holders6 8elf9help group approach to enhance affordability of the group to avail services or use resources6 8ocio9psychological9cultural assessment be made to integrate &C+ model $ith local culture6 .nterprise $ise time sensitivity assessment for designing static: dynamic and real time content: early $arning system6 Eore thrust on $ireless &C+ model to suit to remote areas!hilly areas! less populated hamlets6 Fse of graphics: voice9overs: vernacular user interface soft$are to enhance cognitive access of illiterates9 semi9literates6 Demand driven technology baskets to form the core content for NCAP C' dissemination6

"o Sum u!
5 Information and Interface% Eedia planning and capacity building 5 Integrated support% Quality service 2 &nfrastructure 5 Institutional arrangement% Complimenting Public9Private partnership 5 Incentives% use of advanced 2 alternative technologies 5 Investment%&ncreasing public investment for infrastructure and Agri9&C+ programs

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