Teaching New Technologies to the Farmers through Electronic Media

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar informed in Rajya Sabha that the DAC&FW is training farmers through the use of electronic media in many ways. Below we have mentioned all the ways in which the department is educating the farmers;

• All the crop related advisories are sent regularly to the registered farmers via SMSs on mKisan Portal (www.mkisan.gov.in).

• Kisan Suvidha mobile app facilitates dissemination of information to cultivators on important parameters viz., Weather, Plant Protection, Soil Health Card, Market Prices, Input Dealers (Seed, Pesticide & Fertilizer) Farm Machinery, Cold Storages and Godowns, Veterinary Centres & Diagnostic Labs.

• ICAR has compiled over 100 mobile applications developed by the institution, State Agricultural Universities & Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the areas of crops, horticulture, dairy, poultry, fisheries, veterinary, natural resources management & integrated subjects.

• Education and awareness is being created among farmers through different electronic mass media mediums such as DD Kisan Channel, Doordarshan and All India Radio etc.

In addition, social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are being used to educate farmers, all over the country.

The centre is implementing the following schemes to provide training to the farmers in the agriculture & allied sectors:-

A Centrally Sponsored Scheme on ‘Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms’ also called Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme is under implementation in as many as 691 districts of 28 States and 5 Union Territories of India. The extension activities under scheme include Farmers’ Training. 19.18 lakh farmers took training under ATMA.

ICAR with its network of 717 KVKs has mandate of technology assessment, demonstration & capacity development of the farmers. Krishi Vigyan Kendras are imparting training to cultivators for getting higher agricultural production & income. In 2018-19, around 13 lakh farmers were trained by the KVKs in different thematic areas.

4 Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institutes (FMTTIs) at Budni (Madhya Pradesh); Hissar (Haryana); Biswanath Chariali (Assam) and Ananthapur (Andhra Pradesh) are engaged in imparting training to different categories of trainees including farmers, in Farm Mechanization.

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is being implemented for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, root / tuber crops, spices, aromatic plants, coconut, flowers, cocoa, cashew, and bamboo.

National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is being executed in identified districts of 28 States and two UTs viz. Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir of India to increase the production & productivity of wheat, rice, pulses, coarse cereals & nutri- cereals (millets) through area expansion as well as productivity enhancement. In 2018-19, 3, 42,188 farmers were trained.

Moreover, training of farmers is an inbuilt component under the Sub-Mission on Plan Protection and Plant Quarantine. Farmer Field Schools are held for promoting Integrated Pest Management among farmers. During the year 2018-19, 712 FFSs were organized under the scheme.

Source - PIB