Lok Sabha Question No. 3520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-10
Subject: Use of Modern Technology
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Brijbhushan Sharan Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3520 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2019

## USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY

3520.  SHRI BRIJBHUSHAN SHARAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has initiated any scheme to provide aid to the farmers for use of modern information technology and e-Commerce technology and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the farmers in the country are deprived of the weather related information and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): Government has taken following initiatives by utilizing modern Information Technology :
- I. In order to provide better marketing facilities for farmers, the Government is implementing National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) scheme for transparent  price  discovery  for  remunerative  prices  for  the  farmers  for  their produce  through  competitive  online  bidding  system.  So  far,  585  wholesale regulated markets of 16 States and 02 UTs have been integrated with e-NAM platform.  Under the scheme, technical support and assistance is provided to States/UTs  for  implementation  of  e-NAM  apart  from  training  support  to  all stakeholders including farmers for e-NAM.
- II. AGMARKNET  provides  a  nationwide  information  network  established  for speedy  collection  and  dissemination  of  market  information  and  data  for  its efficient and timely utilization. It also facilitates collection and dissemination of information related to better price realization by the farmers.  Farmers can get market related information such as market fee, market charges, Price related information minimum, maximum, modal prices and arrivals.

- III. Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre regularly generates crop forecasts at District/State/National level for 9 major crops of the country, using Space and related technology.
- IV. The Department has also developed and made functional SMS/m-Kisan Portal for  sending  advisories  on  various  crop  related  matters  to  the  registered farmers through SMSs.

(b) & (c): For  providing  the  weather  related  information  to  the  farmers  in  the  country following initiatives have been taken:

- I. Farmers  in  the  country  are  provided  with  weather  related  information  along with advisories through different  modes  of communications  like Radio, Television,  print  media,  Short  Message  Service  (SMS).  Kisan  Suvidha  app developed  by  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  &  Farmers  Welfare provides information, inter-alia, on weather, input dealers, market prices, plant protection and expert advisories. Further, Officers, Scientists and Experts from all the concerned Organizations and Departments of the Government of India and  the  State  Governments  (including  State  Agriculture  Universities,  Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Agro-Meteorological Field Units) are using m-kisan portal for disseminating information (giving topical & seasonal advisories  and  providing  services  through  SMSs  to  farmers  in  their  local languages) on various agricultural activities to the registered farmers.
- II. India Meteorological Department (IMD) is venturing into implementation  of  block  level  Agrometeorological  Advisory  Service  (AAS)  in collaboration  with  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  in  the country.  District  Agromet  Units  (DAMUs)  are  being  established  in  the  Krishi Vikas Kendra (KVK) under ICAR network. Implementation of block level AAS would  address  the  micro-level  variation  in  weather  and  climate  and  hence, more number of farmers will be benefitted.
- III. Further, agriculture related information including 'weather conditions' is provided to the farmers through Kisan Call Centres (KCCs)  operating  from  21  locations  using  a  toll  free  number,  which  is accessible  through  all  mobile  and  land  line  phones  of  all  telecom  networks including  private  service  providers.  The  replies  to  the  farmers'  queries  are given in 22 local languages.

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