1. Use of ICT in decision support for enhancing Kharif production
Basanta Kumar Dey
Agronomist, RKVY Cell
Agriculture Department
Govt. of Odisha

2. ICT in Agriculture
plays a key role in agricultural growth and development in the country by providing timely and useful information in a demand driven mode.

3. ICT in Agriculture-Why
To provide healthy decision support to planners, policy makers for improving planning and monitoring.
To provide decision support to farmers for right action.
To improve services to farmers
To empower farmers through access to information and knowledge
To enables better linkage with farmers for improvement of knowledge with ultimate result of increased production/profit/income

4. State’s Initiative on ICT in Agriculture
Research Activities
Decision making and programme planning
Technological Awareness
Input Management
Monitoring
Marketing Support
Other services

5. Research Activities Research Activities
Direct Linkage of SAU with all research stations and KVKs through e- connectivity.
E-library facility at SAU level that provide information on research

6. Decision making and programme planning
Department Portal
Important decision/approval/circular and planning reflected in Departmental portal.
Office Automation
Inter and intra departmental file movement for quick decision through OSWASS
E-dispatch
Facilitates prompt and quick delivery of letters
Video Conferencing at regular interval
E-tendering
Brings transparency in selection of bidders for supply of different inputs and civil construction works etc.

7. Technological Awareness
Various agricultural programmes like Krishi Sansar, Krishi Darshan & Live Phone in of Radio and Television.
Publicity Campaign through Krishi Rath moving across the State.
Farmer’s Portal
Kissan Call Centre
Different IEC materials being printed at Agriculture Information wing.
Organization of Agricultural Exhibition at Regional and State Level

8. Input Management Agrisnet Odisha Soil health card Generation portal
Purchase of Farm machineries and pumpsets etc.
Borewell, shallow tube wells and riverlift under Jalnidhi
Fertilizer and seed dealer licence etc.
Odisha Soil health card Generation portal
Generation of Soil Health cards
Advisory to be issued through Mobile phone SMS

9. Monitoring Crop weather watch report through Agrisnet
Video conferencing at Higher level
Online fund management in NFSM,RKVY for quick easy and transparency
E-pest surveillance to combat pest situation.
Effective monitoring of demonstration patches and other activities by capturing GPS Coordinates.

10. Marketing Support Agro Telemarketing Centre e-procurement
Facilitate farmer buyer linkage
e-procurement
This is being followed for paddy procurement
Digital Mandi with free mobile phone to farmers
The farmer can access to MSP and other market information.

11. Other services Health Insurance services through BKKY
As a matter of success, the State has facilitated Health Insurance coverage upto Rs. 1 lakh provided to 55 lakh farmers families providing smart card in order get free treatment unlike RSBY.

12. Roadmap for use of ICT to improve Kharif production
Agro meteorological information like Seasonal weather forecast by IMD to be well ventilated among all stake holders through print and electronic media.
The State Govt. to take prompt action on timely preparation of Kharif cropping programme including contingent plan for transmission to all concerned through publicity campaign and uploaded in the Departmental website.
Finalizing decision for procurement of different inputs like seeds, fertilizer, farm machineries, P.P.Chemicals etc. and sale rate through e tendering

13. Roadmap for use of ICT to improve Kharif production
Ensure availability and make wide publicity and also up date in the website.
Timely processing of dealer licence for seed, fertilizer, pesticide etc. operating the Agrisnet portal
Schematic information and assistance to farmers to be up loaded in the Website.
Timely operating the Agrisnet portal for farm mechanization, Bore well,shallow tube well etc.under jalanidhi proramme.

14. Roadmap for use of ICT to improve Kharif production
Timely providing funds to the implementing agencies through online fund management system operated by the dapartment.
Crop weather data to be updated through Agrisnet portal for better monitoring.
Regarding pest situation, e pest surveillance should be meticulously operationalized with issue of appropriate advisory.
Periodical review to be made by video conferencing.
After harvest, operationalization of Mandi for e procurement of paddy.

15. ISSUES & SUGGESTION Promotion of Mobile banking/e-banking
Promotion of Agro meteorological information services.
Seasonal forecast
Daily forecast
Alerts to farmers
Climatic information through mobile phone SMS
Promotion of Mobile banking/e-banking
To Facilitate agricultural credit to the farmers
This is being taken up under RKVY and is in pipeline.

16. ISSUES & SUGGESTIONS
Establishment of Automated Weather Station in each district.
GIS monitoring in coordination with ORSAC
Both the proposals have been initiated to be taken up under RKVY and are in pipeline.
Promotion of Direct Benefit Transfer
Software has been developed to facilitate the farmers for direct benefit transfer

17. Promotion of e- marketing
e-Marketing platforms need to be provided, particularly for Maize, Cotton & Turmeric.
e-Auction to be promoted to bring transparency in marketing

18. Thank you