Lok Sabha Question No. 1539 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Kisan Channel
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: RAVNEET SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1539 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2016)

## KISAN CHANNEL

## 1539.  SHRI RAVNEET SINGH:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

(a)    whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  Kisan  Channel  which  was launched to create awareness among the farmers and has utterly failed to achieve its objectives;

- (b)  if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the details of programmes being telecasted by the said channel; and
- (d)  whether the Government has made any assessment of the benefits to farmers from this Channel; if so, the details and findings thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## {COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)}

(a)  &  (b)  No  Madam.  As  per  the  Broadcast Audience  Research Council (BARC) data including rural viewership initiated in October, 2015, the growth in ratings of Kisan Channel of Doordarshan, launched in July, 2015, are satisfactory. However, it  is  a  constant  endeavor  of  Doordarshan  to  improve  upon  its  programmes  by reviewing content and quality from time to time with a view to sustain the interest of the  viewers and increase television viewership ratings. Thus,  Prasar Bharati has informed  that  the  viewership  of  DD  Kisan  has  reached  1.68  crores  in  the  week ending 19 th  Feb. 2016 as per BARC data.

(c) The  details  of  programmes  being  telecast  by  Kisan  channel  are  given  at Annexure.

(d) A channel survey has been commissioned by DD- Kisan Channel to assess the effectiveness of the channel and also to get feedback from the farmers on the programmes telecast by the channel.

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## ANNEXURE  AS  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1539 FOR ANSWER ON 04.03.2016.

## Annexure

1.    Jeevan    Darshan ,  based  on  devotional  songs  and  short  talks  on  philosophical  and cultural  issues.
2.    Kisan  Samachar takes daily stock of important news items for farmers. Agro News Desk  has  been  created  to  prepare  live  daily  news  bulletins,  which  focus  on  the legislation and other initiatives in Parliament. It covers flagship programs and policies of the Government, besides reporting on Agro-Weather issues and Agricultural market trends,
3.  Mausam Khabar is a daily update of weather conditions and advisories to the farmers on  current crops.
4.  Mandi Khabar is a daily bulletin on the commodity market based on NCDEX (National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited) and other sources.
5.    Hello  Kisan is  an  interactive  live  show  and  deals  with  current  agricultural  topics  of interest to farmers.
6.  Chhat  Par  Baghbani programme  deals  with terrace gardening and  topics of horticulture.
7.    Ghumate-Phirte is  a  mobile  quiz  programme  based  on  questions  on  agricultural knowledge and topics of special interest.
8.   Choupal Charcha is a discussion based programme on Government schemes and its effective implementation.
9.   Khet Khaliyan is an agro research based programme produced with the cooperation of ICAR ( Indian Council of Agricultural Research), IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute) and agricultural universities etc.
10.  Baat  Rajyon  Ki is  a  programme  which  focuses  on  regional  issues  and  rural development.
11. Hamara Pashudhan is a regular programme on animal husbandry.
12. Lok Rang is a programme on folk dance and music based on external coverages and studio recordings.

Programmes like Khet Se Bazar Tak, Nayi Dishyan, Pragati Ke Path Par, Maati Ke Laal,  Dharti  Ki  Godh  Mein,  Vaah  Choudhary,  Gauri  Tera  Gaon  Bada  Pyara,  Albele Hanthon  Ka  Hunnar,  Mera  Gaon  Mera  Desh,  Kheti  Pardesh  Ki,  Draupadi,  Kamyabi  Ki Misalen, etc. are information-cum-entertainment programmes meant for empowering and entertaining rural audience.

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