Hello everyone, I think you have heard about the ITCs
e-choupal services started in the country to help out the farmer’s .The application
of IT in farmers service sector was started with it in public –private –partnership
mode. A similar type of services was started by the Andhra Pradesh known as
Rythu Bharosa Kendra‘s to provide different services through these centers.
Highlights:
* Concept of IT based agro-services
*Rythu Bharosa Kendra’s: concept, Need, how they operate?
* Benefits and services from the center
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(Image credit:english.sakshi.com) |
IT based agro service:
The application of Information technology services and the tools like the internet, computers, Kiosks, mobiles usage in providing the various service and information to the farmers. For example in case of the e-chupal services provide the relevant and real - time information on weather, prices and news, customizing information in terms of knowledge and provides a direct marketing channel for farm produce and it also helps the farmer’s access to infrastructure, improved psychical logistics and virtual e-network.
Rythu Bharosa Kendra’s:
*As we know that
farmers need many inputs material for crop production like seed, fertilizers, pesticides
etc. for getting these inputs farmers need to visit the different trading shops
and we knew that the service provided by these private traders were not
according to the farmers need .Mostly they will promote the MNC and other
private companies.
*Apart from
inputs the farmers need the market information like the prevailing market prices,
the demand and supply of commodities in the market and mostly they will depend
on the middle men or the agents.
* Farmers also
need consultancy services, weather forecasting, pest and diseases information etc.
Farmers will not
get all these things at one point. Staring from e-choupal many agencies and governments
tried to provide all the farming service at single roof .In the similar way Andhra
Pradesh government took good initiative to provide all farming service through
e –service at panchayat level.
How the Rythu
Bharosa Kendra’s operate:
*The RKBs were
having the digital kiosks with touch screen front camera, Aadhar enabled finger
printing scanner and other features. Farmers have to place orders through the
kiosks like seed, fertilizers and other inputs.
* AP Agros arranged 65
warehouses across the State (five in each district) and the orders placed by
farmers will be supplied within 48 hours.
* An integrated call center
would be set up at the Agriculture Commissioner ate to address the problems and
provide solutions to farmers. A mini digital studio, digital signage would be
integrated with the call center to give technical content to farmers through
smart TVs at RBKs.
*Adding to this September
30, 2020 service added that farmer can place orders for seeds, fertilizers by
sending SMS to their nearest RBKs through digital kiosks. The fertilizers will
be delivered at the doorsteps of farmers within 24 to 48 hours. For this a
Point of Sale (POS) 3.1 software and an SMS Gateway will be there.
* Each RBK has a
digital kiosk, smart TV, white board, digital library for imparting training to
the farmers, and the equipment necessary for soil testing.
* The Agriculture, AP
Agros, AP Seeds, Horticulture, Sericulture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry
departments will jointly monitor the functioning of RBKs.
Benefits and Services
from Rythu Bharosa Kendra’s:
* Through Rythu
Bharosa Kendra’s (RBKs) government is aimed to supply seed, fertilizers, and
seedlings to agriculture, aquaculture, and horticulture farmers during the
ensuing kharif season.
* RBKs will have
digital kiosks and an App to help farmers know the real time market prices.
* RBKs would prevent
middlemen and spurious products and curb high prices. Only certified products
would be supplied through the newly set-up RBKs.
* Kiosks would provide
information on market intelligence, market prices, and information on
procurement centers, weather forecast and other services.
*Village agriculture
assistants, horticulture assistants, animal husbandry staff and fisheries
development officers and other staff would be available at all RBKs. A technical support
unit comprising agriculture and allied departments, institutions, universities,
research centers and experts were constituted to guide.
*Keeping in view
of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic condition, contactless OTP-based
authentication option has been introduced in the POS 3.1 version. Farmer can
purchase fertilizer without touching the finger print sensor. The SMS Gateway
will periodically send SMS to farmers about the availability of fertilizers at
the retail outlet from where they made the last purchase e farmers from time to
time.
(Content Source: Agriculture Department Andhra Pradesh,
thehindu.com)
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