Lok Sabha Question No. 3816 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Kisan Call Centres in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Malaiyarasan D

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3816

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 th  AUGUST, 2025

## KISAN CALL CENTRES IN TAMIL NADU

3816.  SHRI MALAIYARASAN D:

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

- (a): the features of and the number of Kisan Call Centres (KCC) functioning in the state of Tamil Nadu;
- (b): the details of agricultural topics and challenges discussed by farmers through these centres
- (c): the steps taken to ensure the accessibility of Kisan Call Centres for farmers in Tamil Nadu,  particularly  in  rural  and  remote  areas,  and  the  availability  of  services  in  local languages
- (d): the  role  of  Kisan  Call  Centres  in  providing  farmers  with  information  on  crop management, pest control, Government schemes, weather forecasting and market prices in Tamil Nadu ;
- (e): the  details  of  financial  allocation  for  the  operation  of  Kisan  Call  Centres  in  Tamil Nadu and utilised thereof for the establishment and running of these centres; and
- (f): whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  expand  or  enhance  Kisan  Call  Centre services  in  the  state  of  Tamil  Nadu  to  further  assist  farmers  in  adopting  new  agricultural technologies and improving their productivity?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a): Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers Welfare  is  running  Kisan  Call  Centres  (KCC)  to address the queries from farmers related to various farming issues, Package of  Practices (PoP),  weather  and  market  advisories,  government schemes  etc.,  on  a  telephone  call  in their  own  languages,  since  January  21,  2004.  Currently  KCCs  are  run  at  17  different locations in the country covering all the States and Union Territories (UTs), including Tamil Nadu.  A  countrywide  common  eleven-digit  Toll  Free  Number  1800-180-1551  has  been allotted  for  Kisan  Call  Centre.  This  number  is  accessible  through  mobile  phones  and landlines  of  all  telecom  service  providers.  There  is  one  (01)  Kisan  Call  Centre  (KCC) located at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore to provide the advisories to farmers of Tamil Nadu.

(b): Queries received from farmers related to weather, plant protection, cultural practices, nutrient  management  practices,  water  management,  fertilizer  usage,  weed  management, crop varieties, sowing time, etc., as well as government schemes, market prices etc., are addressed through Kisan Call Centres. (c): The  Toll  Free  Number  1800-180-1551  is  accessible  through  mobile  phones  and landlines  of all telecom service providers in order to reach the unreachable categories of rural and remote area farmers of Tamil Nadu. Initiatives have been taken to popularize the Toll free number 1800-180-1551 and services of KCC through social media, mass-media, etc.  Replies  to  the  queries  of  farmers  are  given  in  the  local  language  viz.,  Tamil  to  the farmers of Tamil Nadu. (d): The calls  from  farmers  are  attended  by  graduates  in  Agriculture  &  Allied  subjects who  are  deployed  at  KCC,  known  as  Farm  Tele  Advisors  (FTAs)  &  Supervisors.  They provide  the  latest  information  on  crop  management,  pest  control,  government  schemes, weather forecasting, and market prices to the farmers of Tamil Nadu. (e): The Kisan  Call Centre is  a Central  Sector  programme  operated through a service provider on contract basis. There is no separate financial allocation for individual Kisan Call Centre. Existing Kisan Call Centre in Tamil Nadu, is catering to the needs of farmers, having the  advanced  features  for  video  conferencing,  sharing  of  videos,  photographs,  etc.  to provide information on the latest technologies in Agriculture for improving their productivity

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(f): from the fields.