2 e-EXT-SAU

Transcript

Brief Introduction

Hello Friends. In our previous discussion, we were talking of e-Extension initiatives of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, wherein we have seen a range of services which are having electronic mediation, being provided by ICAR for the benefit of farmers, students of agriculture, traders and the budding entrepreneurs. In the series, in this class we will be discussing about some of the e-Extension initiatives of State Agricultural Universities.

As you are already aware. There are more than 75 State Agricultural Universities who are providing education in various disciplines of agriculture and allied sciences, and number of privately owned colleges affiliated to some universities. And some deemed universities are also involved in teaching, research and extension activities. We will be focusing our discussion on the initiatives of State Agricultural Universities.

Kerala Agricultural University

Let us begin with the initiatives of Kerala Agricultural University, which have developed the

• KAU agri-infotech portal, which provides the concepts like
• E-Crop doctor
• And online courses.

So it is a one stop solution for the farmers, wherein once they enter into this portal by registering themselves, they can get access to a number of services that are being offered by this portal. This portal is covering the issues like e-Krishi Pathshala and,

• They are offering courses for farmers, extensionists, students and farm entrepreneurs, groups and other agri-stakeholders.
• Then coming to the training workshops for the farmers and extensionists which are being organized are flashed on this portal. So that you can be part of this particular system.

So this type of effort that are initiated by the Kerala Agricultural University.

Tamil-Nadu Agricultural University

Now coming to the TNAU agritech portal, which is one of the most interesting as well as comprehensive agritech portal that we can see,

• Which provides information related to agriculture and allied sectors.
• It is supported by Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana(RKVY)
• So it developed expert systems for
  • Paddy
  • Sugarcane
  • Ragi
  • Sheep & goad
  • Coconut
  • Buffalo
  • Poultry
  • Banana

So this itself shows the range of crops that this agritech portal is covering. And the expert system keeps on asking a number of questions to address your problems. And based on the questions and the responses that you are giving, so it is giving you the specific solution what you are looking for. So this is what is the methodology that was adopted by the TNAU agritech portal.

Punjab Agricultural University

Then coming to the PAU kisan app. Punjab Agricultural University has developed an App which will provide information about the crops, weather, seed, training, kheti sandesh and advisories etc etc. This App is basically for the purpose of farmers. So this is how the Punjab Agricultural University is providing services to the farmers.

Goat Farming

Then coming to the app of goat farming developed by Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. So because animal husbandry is one of the allied enterprises of agriculture, which helps in increasing the income of the farmers. This allied enterprises, they derive their inputs from agriculture only. But by maintaining these enterprises, so both the enterprises; the crop husbandry as well as the animal husbandry are mutually benefited. Until and unless we make the animal husbandry strong, the agricultural enterprises are also not becoming strong. So that is why allied enterprises are to be given due importance so that is how the animal based app is being developed to provide the information related to the care and management of this goats for the purposes of farmers.

Pig Farming

Then coming to pig farming another allied enterprises of agriculture. So the same university Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal University, is through this app it is providing the information related to pig farming for the farmers.

Bihar Krishi App

Then the community radio station of Bihar Agricultural University is one of the most popular example in the entire State. So people are responding to the maximum extent as far as this community radio station is considered. In addition to that they have Bihar Krishi App, which is providing location specific information to the farmer, and at the same time they have Bihar agro-doctor also, so which provides solutions to the farmer.

Phone-in Live Programs : Rythu Mitra

Then coming to the State of Andhra Pradesh, which is launching a program related to the live phone-in program, popularly known as Rythu Mitra. So Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University is hosting this program in collaboration with the Dept of Agriculture (Govt of Andhra Pradesh) and TEJA channel. It’s a privately owned channel. So the timing is 6:30 to 7:00 in the morning and 6:00 to 6:30 in the evening. The pre-recorded programs usually 3 programs of 10 minutes each on agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry and other allied fields are being broadcasted through this TEJA channel. So this is the initiative of Acharya N.G. Ranga University.

Anand Agricultural University

Then coming to the Anand Agricultural University, which is providing the information related to the soil health card, which is one of the most successful case in the State of Gujarat, that we can say. The analysis of the soil properties and the application of fertilizers, based on the result of the soil health card. So once you enter into the portal and you provide your credentials, and the results of the soil health analysis once you provide into this portal. So that gives you the recommendation ki what are the fertilizers that you can go for your crops.

Prof Jayashanker Telangana State Agricultural University

Then coming to the efforts of (PJTSAU) so which created in the year 2001. So they established in the ATIC building.

• So the public and private TV channels telecasting this agricultural programs.
• So university became the knowledge partner of this and the channel started providing them the communication support. So this is how they started broadcasting the program.
• Then the production of video capsule programs, digital videos, video discs, Quickies and jingles, information kiosks and agricultural portals are some of the other initiatives of PJTSAU.

Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur

Then coming to the IGKV, Raipur. So they have developed the Krishi Gyan portal, which provides
information on the cultivation aspects of all crops that are grown in the State. It is again one stop
solution for the entire State. This is the only agricultural university that we find in the State, and which is
providing all information at one point of time.

Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University

Then coming to the DJJFU, which has developed the Fish Technology portal, which provides information about rearing of fish, management, nutrition of fish for their growth and development etc etc. Means the fish farmers are the real beneficiaries of this particular initiative. So this examples of the efforts that are being made by the State Agricultural Universities reveal that the location specific situations are being addressed by these State Agricultural Universities, and the farmers are the real beneficiaries of that.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is making a nationwide effort wherein it may or may not suit a particular region. But the efforts of State Agricultural Universities are addressing the location specific problems of the farmer.

Conclusion

So to conclude we can say that,

• Providing location specific information is the biggest challenge, what the State Agricultural Universities are taking up and satisfactorily they are doing information-communication technologies are really helping them to solve the problems of the farmers.
• And providing this services in regional language is another challenge before the State Agricultural Universities. Again with the help of software support as well as the experts belonging to the State Agricultural Universities and the various research institutions as well as some of the most experienced as well as progressive farmers are becoming a part of such initiatives, so that the ultimate information is reaching to the end-users who are the real beneficiaries.

So this is in a nutshell about the e-Extension initiatives of State Agricultural Universities. In the next discussion we will be taking up say the e-Extension initiatives that are supporting the allied sector of agriculture and the allied enterprises.

Thank You.