Indian farmers are increasingly challenged by climate change, globalized domestic markets, advanced technologies and multitude of policies, there is a need to develop a vibrant agribusiness extension/information system to facilitate them to take appropriate decisions. So far availability of accurate, reliable, timely, comprehensive, cost effective information in an understandable way has been a distant dream for Indian farmers. Comprehensive Agribusiness Extension System under the Digital Krishi Project was designed as a new approach to address the problems of poor yield and high risks in agriculture in the country. The primary objective of this extension system is making agriculture profitable, less risky, and sustainable. The project takes into account all the 5 dimensions ( planning, input procurement, production, value addition and marketing ) in an integrated fashion to provide inputs in a user-friendly way using Information and Communication Technology ( ICT ).

The project was found beneficial to the farmers. Raithamitras ( advisers to farmers ) delivered farm advisory services to the farmers using an ICT tool called E-SAP. Pest and disease related advisories were one of the key factors which helped the farmers in reducing the cost of cultivation and improve their yield levels significantly. Raithamitras conducted several meetings and campaigns at Gram Panchayat level, Village level and at small farmer group levels. Resource persons from universities, were invited and the initiative met with a very good response from the farmers.

To measure the impact, statistical test of significance (t-test) was conducted . There was positive impact on the cost of cultivation. It was found that in case of Bengal Gram there was a significant reduction in the cost of cultivation by Rs. 316 for the adopted practice at 5% level of significance. In case of cotton it was at Rs. 198.86 at 5% level of significance, for paddy it was Rs 435, and for chilli it was Rs 941.

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• Asia and Pacific

• The poor
• Remote and rural communities
• Farming community

Information gap among poor has been a major cause of low productivity in rural areas of developing countries. The current project is designed such a way that it is replicable easily in other places. The project involved the following activities are replicable as the institutions already such as agricultural universities, NGOs are already existing in many places. the process followed are:
1. Information Delivery: Timely and necessary information was provided by the Raitha Mitras ( advisers to farmers in the region ) to the treatment farmers. Using a tool called ESAP. The Raitha Mitras provided information regarding the best cultivation practices followed for a crop in particular agro climatic zones.

2. The best cultivation practices were compiled by the respective agriculture university. Further using tools, the Raitha Mitras also diagnosed any disease/pest infestations in the crops and advised the farmers with necessary inputs and precautionary measures were taken so as to ensure minimum damage to the crop.

3. Data was collected from both the treatment as well as control farmers. Raitha Mitras collect the data from the treatment farmers and separate data collectors were appointed by the NGO’s to collect the data from the control farmers. Two sets of data were collected from both these groups of farmers:
i) Baseline data: Previous crop seasons practices followed and costs incurred
ii) End line Data: Current crop seasons practices followed and costs incurred

Each of the above sequential activities are repeatable. It can be replicated anywhere in India as identical departmental governance hierarchy and academia can be found. It can be replicated in other countries where the system , hierarchy and ICT infrastructure are similar or better than that over here .

The project is sustainable on three different dimensions. First, best practice information will help in preventing land degradation and excessive use of chemicals. second, best practices will help in increasing productivity. Third, cost reduction will revenue enhancement has improved net revenue for farmers, which will encourage farmers to continue with their agriculture. From the implementation point of view, it only needs streamlining the current budget allocation by the government to focus more on provisioning of information. ICT infrastructure involves tablet based applications and existing mobile phones. There is no exploitation of natural resources and hence it is entirely sustainable.

Sharing of information and knowledge in order to empower, enable individuals, communities of farmers, is the premise of the project undertaken. Also the process includes use of ICT to help achieve the full potential of farming community, and hence promoting the sustainable development of the region. It has also been the endeavor to improve the quality of life of the farmers, through a focused approach based on an inclusive, information oriented community development. Equality is upheld by the approach of viewing and treating the entire farming community as one entity and enabling free flow of information across.