ICT application for promotion of integrated farming system

Abstract

ICT is an umbrella term that includes communication devices like computer, mobile phone, radio, television, network hardware, satellite system etc. as well as services like audio and video call, text and multimedia messages. During first decade of twenty- first century, there had been spurt in experimentation of ICT in agriculture by the government, private, co-operative and non-government organizations (NGOs). The initiatives gave mixed result of success and failures. The initial challenges like lack of power back up, poor connectivity, high cost, lack of computer literacy and absence of digital content are disappearing at a faster rate. The growth in network infrastructure, cloud computing, decreasing price of computer and mobile phone and digital literacy have increased the internet access. The present-day initiatives involve multiple channels like web, mobile app, SMS and IVR in multiple languages. At the same time the gamut of information has been increasing from crop specific information to value chain information. The emergence of social media has opened new vista for agricultural extension through which two-way information in multimedia format can be exchanged at virtually no cost. These technologies can effectively be used for promotion of IFS. However, the response of research and extension system is not very encouraging. The extension professionals should gear up to develop technical competence and exposure so that content could be developed as per channel and in local language of the clients. The frontier technologies like sensor based diagnostic equipments, remote sensing and GIS, GPS technology as well as robotics and drone in agriculture are poised to change the landscape of agricultural extension.