GreenPHABLETTM video for effective information dissemination on hermetic groundnut storage technology

Information and communication technologies (ICT) tools can facilitate dissemination of need based and farmer centric information at an affordable cost to India's rural population. One of the major constraints of groundnut production is aflatoxin accumulation and insect infestation during storage. In our studies conducted at ICRISAT, the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) hermetic storage technology proved effective against insect infestation and aflatoxin accumulation during storage. To facilitate visual learning of the use of hermetic storage, a five minute GreenPHABLETTM video (GPV) in the local language was developed at ICRISAT. A 3-month long experiment was conducted in collaboration with an NGO Samatha of Penugonda in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India to assess the dissemination potential of GPV. A survey conducted among 30 farmers who received the video, revealed that about 80% of farmers received the video from a fellow farmer and only 20 per cent farmers received from the extension agents. Majority of the farmers received the video on their mobile phones through "Share It" (73.3%) and 13.3 per cent received via "Bluetooth", further 10 per cent reported through "WhatsApp" and while only 3.3% received it through the computer by USB Copy. After three months, 300 farmers from 40 villages received the GPV, while our 30 respondents shared the GPV with 150 farmers and screened the GPV to 200 farmers. The experiment shows that GPV can be an effective tool for spreading information about the groundnut hermetic storage technology and other agricultural innovations

Enabling hypervisor environment for increasing efficiency and effectiveness of training programmes - a case study at NAARM

The National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM) was established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at Hyderabad, in 1976, to address issues related to agricultural research and education management. The Academy also renders services for building IP portfolios like patents and geographical indications to various stakeholders including farmers and scientists. Keeping in view the increasing national and global need to integrate agriculture with agribusiness for raising rural incomes, and the increased emphasis on the creation, dissemination, application and exchange of knowledge in this vital area, the Academy has recently initiated post graduate education programmes and set up an Agribusiness Knowledge Centre. In the above mentioned scenario, NAARM also conducting many training programmes/courses over the year and there is lot of time and money being invested into purchasing physical machines and software. There is a need of maintaining specific set of software required for each training. The Coordinators of the training programmes has to ensure beforehand that all the machines are working fine and all the software required for that training got installed in all machines and working without any issues. This requirement of preparedness for training programmes has been avoided completely by establishing a private cloud which can provide Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) at our organization. At the end of programmes may it be a regular or refresher course, coordinators has supposed to be evaluate the participants by tools like quizzes and exams. NAARM is using SynchronEyes Student-Teacher software for evaluation purpose. Many issues were there in this examinations system because of network, virus and power problems. This also has been completely avoided by establishing a hybrid cloud

Customized Information Delivery for Dryland Farmers

This chapter presents a case study from India of a knowledge database which assembles a wide range of agricultural data relating to land holding, soil analysis, cropping patterns, past yield and fertilizer use. The case demonstrates how mobile phones are used to relay information to farmers. Particular attention is paid to investigating how a multiplicity of agencies, both government and private, can make use of such data. Because agencies and farmers themselves require tailored information packages, the 'broadcasting' of information is of limited value; rather 'narrowcasting' targeted information serves the farmers' needs better and it is more likely that the farmers will act upon the advice. The chapter assesses the use of tablets made available to farmer facilitators, for uploading/updating farmer data as well as downloading and sharing information with the farmers, and relaying information to experts in other locations

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Not AvailableInformation has been described as the fifth most important need of mankind ranking after air, water, food and shelter.” - Kemp (1976) and we believe smallholder farmers are no different. In fact, in addition to other key inputs (such as improved seed variety, micro and macronutrients etc.) access to correct, timely and actionable information (in this case scientifically supported farming practices that include but are not limited to date of sowing, irrigation, harvesting, better price, market etc.) can be considered as a critical factor in achieving better yield and thereby higher profits. Source of this information is also a critical factor in acceptance and adoption of these information. For instance, a report published in 2005 by National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO, 2005), a government of India entity, highlights that most preferred source for agricultural information services for smallholder farmers are their fellow farmers. Reports suggest that participatory approach in video based agriculture extension has proved to be more effective as compared to traditional extension method but there is not much or limited evidence of same for audio based dissemination of agricultural information services (AIS). In the above backdrop and taking this fact into consideration a team of researchers at ICRISAT along with its partners conducted a research to study the effect participatory approach for delivering agricultural information services to smallholder farmers. Where in, improved and scientifically supported farming practices were recorded as small audio capsule in participating farmer’s voice and were periodically delivered to other farmers who were part of this research study. During the study, it was found that agricultural information services, to be delivered, when recorded in farmers own voice from the same farming community creates excitement for the fellow farmers and positively affects the listening pattern of those messages. This in turn translates into increased adoption, better yield and higher profit.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableFarmers face several challenges in procuring and using quality seeds from different sources. Accessibility to quality seed has become a serious issue for farmers in the context of shifts in Indian seed policy towards privatization of seed sector. In this context, it was envisaged to study the extent of farmers’ accessibility to quality seed from formal and informal seed sector. The study was undertaken in Samastipur and Vaishali districts of Bihar and Warangal and Anantapur districts of Andhra Pradesh (AP) covering 240 farmer households using a pre-tested semi-structured scale and interview schedule. Ten parameters were included to measure the extent of farmers’ accessibility to quality seed. The study found that there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the farmers of AP and Bihar with respect to variables such as proximity to seed source, physical and genetic purity of seed purchased from formal sources and farm saved seed. It indicated that the major source of purchased seeds in both the states was dealer/retailer at nearby tehsil/mandal/town headquarters. The physical and genetic purity of certified/quality seeds purchased from market in both the states was moderate whereas quality of farm saved seeds in both the states was very high. The difference between farmers of AP and Bihar was statistically significant with respect to variables such as timeliness in availability of seeds, availability in adequate quantities, credibility of source of seed and price of seeds (p<0.01); crop performance, and documentation and record keeping (p<0.05). Farmers in AP had significantly higher access to timely availability of seeds in adequate quantities from credible sources. The prices of purchased seeds were significantly higher in AP when compared to Bihar. The difference between expected yield and actual yield realized by farmers by using purchased seeds in Bihar was higher when compared to the farmers in AP. The number of farmers who practiced record keeping was significantly higher in AP when compared to Bihar. Farmers of AP fared comparatively better than their counterparts in Bihar with respect to overall accessibility to quality seeds. However, overall accessibility to quality seed in both the states was found to be medium for majority of the farmers. The low physical and genetic purity of purchased seed and consequent lower yields was a cause of concern in both the states and requires the attention of central and state governments in addressing the gaps in infrastructure and skilled manpower in public sector seed system. The experiences of farmers in the study area indicated that increase in Seed Replacement Rate (as evident from purchase of new seeds every season from market) in itself is not an indicator of use of quality seed and high crop productivity. There are risks associated with purchasing new seeds every year from market under weak quality control regime such as crop failure on account of spurious seeds. Hence, extent of crop failure by using purchased seed (against use of farm saved seed) and difference between expected yield and actual yield realized by the farmer are to be estimated as externalities of increasing SRR. Hence, combination of parameters such as Variety Replacement Rate (VRR), SRR and use of farm saved seeds seems to be the better and scientific indicator of farmers’ accessibility to quality seed and increasing crop productivity.There is a strong need to create awareness among the farmers regarding record keeping of seed transactions. This is crucial for farmers in settling economic and legal issues related to compensation, insurance and other consumer rights. Informal seed sector needs to be strengthened as an alternative to the formal seed sector to protect the farmers from indulging in distress purchase of spurious seeds from the open/ unregulated market. The Seeds Bill 2004, which is pending in the Parliament to be passed into an act, needs to address the problems of farmers by suitable amendments related to compensation mechanism, regulation of seed sale prices and incentivizing informal seed sector.Not Availabl