Jammu, July 05 (Scoop News)- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Poonch under the patronage of Directorate of Extension, SKUAST-Jammu celebrated Digital India Week by organizing two days vocational training programme for rural youth on “Applications of ICT in Agriculture.”
While welcoming the participants, Dr. Sanjay Swami, Programme Coordinator of KVK-Poonch highlighted that Digital India is a flagshipprogramme of the Government of India that aims to “transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy”. The focus is on being transformative to realize IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India Tomorrow). He further emphasized that Digital India is not for urban population. It is mostly for rural areas. We have more than 65 crores of people using mobile now with data and 70 per cent population living in rural area. Use of Mobile technologies as a tool of intervention in agriculture is increasing day by day. Reach of smart phone even in rural areas extended the ICT services beyond simple voice or text messages. Several smart phone apps are available for agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and farm machinery. Smart phone mobileapplications designed and developed by Jayalaxmi Agro-tech Pvt Ltd from India are the most commonly used agriculture apps in India. Their mobile apps are in regional language are designed to break the literacy barrier and deliver the information in most simple manner. Several thousands of farmers across Asia are empowered with these apps. He urged the young rural youths to take maximum advantages of the technology and start smart farming on their small land holdings to transform this hilly district in the most productive district of J&K.
While welcoming the participants, Dr. Sanjay Swami, Programme Coordinator of KVK-Poonch highlighted that Digital India is a flagshipprogramme of the Government of India that aims to “transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy”. The focus is on being transformative to realize IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India Tomorrow). He further emphasized that Digital India is not for urban population. It is mostly for rural areas. We have more than 65 crores of people using mobile now with data and 70 per cent population living in rural area. Use of Mobile technologies as a tool of intervention in agriculture is increasing day by day. Reach of smart phone even in rural areas extended the ICT services beyond simple voice or text messages. Several smart phone apps are available for agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and farm machinery. Smart phone mobileapplications designed and developed by Jayalaxmi Agro-tech Pvt Ltd from India are the most commonly used agriculture apps in India. Their mobile apps are in regional language are designed to break the literacy barrier and deliver the information in most simple manner. Several thousands of farmers across Asia are empowered with these apps. He urged the young rural youths to take maximum advantages of the technology and start smart farming on their small land holdings to transform this hilly district in the most productive district of J&K.
Mohd. Qasim, Programme Assistant (Computers) also interacted with the participants and said that with the booming mobile, wireless, and Internet industries, ICT has found a foothold even in poor smallholder farms and in their activities. The ability of ICTs to bring refreshed momentum to agriculture appears even more compelling in light of rising investments in agricultural research, the private sector’s strong interest in the development and spread of ICTs, and the upsurge of organizations committed to the agricultural development agenda.
Dr. Muneeshwar Sharma, SMS-Plant Protection informed the youths that ever since people have grown crops, raised livestock, and caught fish, they have sought information from one another. What is the most effective planting strategy on steep slopes? Where can I buy the improved seed or feed this year? How can I acquire a land title? Who is paying the highest price at the market? How can I participate in the government’s credit program? Farmers in a village may have planted the same crop for centuries, but over time, weather patterns and soil conditions change and epidemics of pests and diseases come and go. Now, the Updated information through various ICT modes allows the farmers to cope with and even benefit from these changes. Providing such knowledge can be challenging, however, because the highly localized nature of agriculture means that information must be tailored specifically to distinct conditions.
All the participants show keen interest in this new field of ICT and asked many questions while interacting with the experts. Ms. Rukhsar Tabassum, one of the active participants thanked the team of KVK Poonch for enlightening them with the latest applications of ICT in agriculture. She assured from participant’s side that they will make full use of the technology and will try their best to do smart farming.
Dr. Muneeshwar Sharma, SMS-Plant Protection informed the youths that ever since people have grown crops, raised livestock, and caught fish, they have sought information from one another. What is the most effective planting strategy on steep slopes? Where can I buy the improved seed or feed this year? How can I acquire a land title? Who is paying the highest price at the market? How can I participate in the government’s credit program? Farmers in a village may have planted the same crop for centuries, but over time, weather patterns and soil conditions change and epidemics of pests and diseases come and go. Now, the Updated information through various ICT modes allows the farmers to cope with and even benefit from these changes. Providing such knowledge can be challenging, however, because the highly localized nature of agriculture means that information must be tailored specifically to distinct conditions.
All the participants show keen interest in this new field of ICT and asked many questions while interacting with the experts. Ms. Rukhsar Tabassum, one of the active participants thanked the team of KVK Poonch for enlightening them with the latest applications of ICT in agriculture. She assured from participant’s side that they will make full use of the technology and will try their best to do smart farming.
Taken from Scoop News
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