is ICT in agriculture extension feasible in enhancing marketing of agriculture production in India explain in context of the story of the village of Palampur
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Abstract
The stupendous progress in Information Technology and Communication Technology has immensely contributed for economic growth of the nations. Information Technology and Communication Technology are altogether called as Information and Communication Technology (ICT).This ICT has huge potentiality for agricultural and allied sectors growth; and transforming the farming more interesting, profitable and enjoyable and retaining the farmers in farming and attracting the rural youth in agriculture. The advancements in ICT can contribute in timely, accurate, pertinent information services to all categories of farmers. However, the use of ICT in agriculture is still evolving in India and not wide spread across the nation. There have been many successes, failures, lessons learned and experience gained in ICT in agriculture. The innovations in ICT in agriculture are explored number of ways in different agricultural disciplines, however, ‘Advances in ICT in Agriculture’ is yet to fully explore for farming community. This is the foremost task waiting for academic fraternity of agriculture and allied sectors. ‘Advances in ICT in Agriculture’ in its outcome will transform the society into knowledgeable society including the farming community, which is the precursor for trajectory of developing nation to become developed nation and strengthening our farming based livelihood. In this knowledge economy, farming also become knowledge intensive. With the strong agricultural education system and research, India is enriched with agricultural knowledge and technologies. But, major underperformance in knowledge sharing is due to linkage failure in research-extension-farmers. Extension linkage failure resultant in only 20 per cent of developed agricultural technologies reached to farmers’ field. Agricultural extension is the application of scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education. Extension is the organized exchange of information and the deliberate transfer of skills. The essence of agricultural extension is to facilitate interplay and nurture synergies within a total information system involving agricultural research, agricultural education and a vast complex of information-providing businesses. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) play synergies role in research-extension-farmers linkage. Success of mobile based Agricultural Extension service through mKisan is an important milestone for Indian. With the advent of android phone/smart phone and its compatibility with different mobile apps has created opportunity for vibrant application of ICT in agriculture. Kisan Suvidha, IFFCO Kisan, RML Farmer, Pusa Krishi, AgriApp, Kheti-Badi, Crop Insurance app are some of the cutting edge apps for farmers for getting customized agricultural information on crop production, crop protection, latest commodity and mandi prices, precise usage of pesticides and fertilizers, weather information, organic farming, crop insurance etc. There are number of user friendly portal for farmers and experts viz. mKisan portal, Farmers portal, National Agriculture Market Portal (e-NAM), Agricoop, Apeda, AQUA, AGRISNET,ITC-e-choupal, Fertiliser Monitoring System etc. Advancement in ICTs play important role in agromet advisory and weather forecasting; mitigating weather related risks and uncertainties in crop production. ICTs also play pivotal roles in precision farming and resource conservation practices; Soil Health Management, Pest and Disease Management through Decision Support System and forecasting.ICT also has immense potentiality in animal husbandry and dairy industry, fishery sectors and also women empowerment and their nutritional support.