Rythu Bharosa Kendra‘s – For e-farming services in Andhra Pradesh

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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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:

Rythu Bharosa Kendra’s (RBKs) were launched by A.P CM on May 30, 2020 in the State to supply seed, fertilizers, and seedlings to agriculture, aquaculture, and horticulture farmers during the ensuing kharif season. In all, 10,641 RBKs, attached with digital kiosks, will be set up at village secretariats, which will function throughout the year. The newly set-up RBKs will have digital kiosks and an App to help farmers know the real time market prices. The Agriculture, AP Agros, AP Seeds, Horticulture, Sericulture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry departments will jointly monitor the functioning of RBKs. Farmers have to place orders through the kiosks and the staff of Agriculture and Aquaculture departments will deliver the stocks in villages.

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Need of 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.

  So the new initiation taken by the A.P government to prove IT based farming service is good one .The success will depend on the implementation part and farmers response on it.By looking at other state should start this type of programme on trial/pilot basis to help the farmers.

(Content Source:  Agriculture Department Andhra Pradesh, thehindu.com)