Agricultural Extension in India: A Journey since 1952

Kiran yadav

(GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Expert system

      Expert systems (ES) are identified as powerful tool for extension workers and government officials. It is also known as knowledge based system (KBS). Expert system is a special computer programme designed to simulate the problem solving behavior of an expert in a narrow domain or discipline. In agriculture such system integrate the accumulated expertise of various discipline such as entomology, horticulture, soil management into a framework that best address the specific problems and onsite needs of the farmers. It combines experimental and conventional knowledge with the reasoning skills of specialists to help farmers in making the best decisions for raising a successful crop. The main advantage of expert system is not only the easy access to expert solution but also to enhance the performance of average worker to the level of an expert. The expert system must be developed in local languages which will help the farmers to develop their own expertise which in turn will enhance the production and productivity of crops. This expert system may be made available at common places in the villages or at KVKs, Kiosks, ATICs, cooperatives societies etc. which can act as information center for the farmers in the villages.  

Cyber extension

      Cyber extension is an effective and viable tool of dissemination of information not only for farmers but also for students, extension personnel, scientists, policy makers, planners and other stake holders. It is an integration of various technologies using network and the process of communicating the desired and the needy information to the target clients for making them more participative and independent in their decision making. Cyber extension is cheap, often updated and can reach maximum number of targets at a minimum time and more importantly it is an interactive media. Cyber extension will bring new information services to the rural areas which farmers, as users will have much greater control over current information channels. Several approaches like 'Warana Wired Village Project (Maharashtra)', 'Cyber Grammen (Swarna Bharat Trust)', E-Chaupal (ITC), I-Kisan (nagarjuna Gorup of Companies) etc have been tested and doing well.

      The cyber extension tools and techniques affect the whole extension system in a big way as it reduces the dependency for personal advice to a great extent. In most case cyber extension will not even replace the traditional extension. Rather it will add more interactivity and adds to two way communication. Cyber is the most flexible medium of communication currently available.  Kisan Call Centers: Toll Free Telephone Number 1551 considering the impressive telecom network in the country, Kisan Call Center scheme started by the Govt. of India, Ministry of Agriculture, which is based on extension service delivering knowledge and information exactly as per the requirements of the farming community by using telecom network. The scheme has been functioning from 2^nd January 2004. The call centers can be accessed by farmers all over the country on common Toll Free Telephone Number 1551 which can be dialed from anywhere in the country, the location is immaterial as the call can originate from any village to land at a specific call centers.

      The study conducted in Samastipur district of Bihar for seeking the opinion of progressive farmers about its accessibility. The study revealed that 95 % respondents did not know about the number 1551 and no access to the call centers so far. Only 5 % respondents accessed the call centers and were satisfied partially with the answer. The information agencies therefore, need to make intensive efforts for popularization of kisan call centers as awareness programme. In addition, there is also need to strengthen telecom network for effectiveness of knowledge and information delivery to the farming community.

Knowledge Management

            Knowledge plays a very important role in agricultural development in present days. Without imparting proper knowledge to farmers on crop diversification, use of land according to land capability class, balanced fertilization, improved seed replacement rate, integrated pest management, improved processing, marketing of products, storage facilities and coverage for risk and uncertainties, the dream of achieving the second green revolution will be futile. The future role of extension agent should be knowledge manager in order to make farmers competent for enhanced production and increased income.

      Information technology offers immense potential in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of agriculture extension programmes and dissemination of the best practices. However, it is to be taken care that we have very low internet penetration and as a matter of fact the rural internet penetration is restricted to only a few states and regions. In this regard MSSRF has proposed the unique HUB and SPOKES model for information dissemination. The idea of an online grid of extension and educational materials by ICRISAT in collaboration with the State Agricultural Universities and National Agriculture Research System (NARS), the integrated use of internet and the community FM radio as promoted by the National Alliance for Mission 2007, are some extra ordinary steps ahead. However, when we look into the statistics of the internet society of the internet society magazine, it was found that barely 7 % of the rural information used in the ICT based centers was for actual agricultural practices. With the launch of advanced satellites, it is now possible to share the research data and disseminate information to every nook and corner of the country. 

      In the existing system knowledge management in rural communities still continue to have difficulty in accessing crucial information and understand easily without dissemination loss. A wide gap between the researcher/experts and farmers, exists. It is true that India possess a valuable agricultural knowldeg and expertise but it is not in structured electronc form that can be easily accessed. Web services can provide solution to rural masses such as e-chaupal and I-Kisan.  I-Kisan is being developed as a comprehensive Agri Portal to address the information, knowledge and business requirement.

            Certainly the powerful and speedy electronic medium like internet has revolutionized the information availability, acquisition, processing and utilization but what sounds alertness is the likely emergence of digital divide in society. The wide disparities among farming communities with respect to socio-economic conditions, infrastructure base and physical accessibility may lead to differential gain and resulting in imbalance growth. Application of ICT needs a closer examination to identify and analyse the constraints. Illiteracy, unpreparedness of farmers for virtual learning, physical inaccessibility to ICT, lack of skilled ICT professionals to manage ICT Kiosks in rural areas, poor infrastructure base like computer and computer network and power supply, cultural barriers etc. There is lack of opportunity for skill development of farmers in utilizing internet facilities and retrieving information from larger pool. Though there were several initiatives from public and private sectors for promoting ICT application, lack of capacity building programme and insufficient budgetary provision for installing ICT infrastructure facilities at village level remain a challenging impediment. Development of appropriate content for agriculture is a Herculean task as the technology and information need to be location specific. Thus, the Govt. of India started a latest NAIP project to bridge these socio-cultural gaps.