Knowledge Share Centres
Description
Efforts are made in CRIDA led National Agricultural Innovation Project , an action research project in 8 districts of AP involving a consortium of institutions from public, private and NGO sectors to open the avenues for technology access and utilization by the rural clientele through ICTs Knowledge Share Centers are serving as vehicles of agriculture technology dissemination in rural areas. The formation of “Knowledge sharing center” at grassroots level envisages the access to value added information services on latest tools and technologies of agriculture for improving the rural livelihoods. It also facilitates the sharing of data, information and the collective knowledge gleaned from research, experiences and interaction with cluster partners. KSCs are expected to increase the ability of individuals to take decision for immediate action, which needs priority. KSC s have succeeded in delivering the location specific timely, need based advisory & diagnostic services to the farmers of 51 villages with in geographical area of 17,297 ha covering 4754 households in 8 districts of Andhra Pradesh state.
What we deliver
User-friendly information through touch screen kiosks (TSK), query addressal system through interactive voice response system (IVRS), awareness creation of the technologies through display announcement package (DAP), Internet etc, are the essential services of the KSC. · Content development is based on information needs assessment, which helped to generate location& need specific content. · Content is developed and deployed in the local language Telugu and even illiterates can access information via voice over which is in Telugu. · Touch screen kiosk (TSK) allows users to navigate for information on crop cultivation and package of practices, crop diagnostic services, etc, with a finger touch facilitating user-friendly interaction like ATMs.· Display announcement package (DAP) is a communication media in the KSC through which knowledge is disseminated by screening films and CDs, which can serve the needs of illiterate farmers on knowing about improved technologies. · IVRS is installed for answering to the farmers’ queries. Pre recorded voice files with different options on various information services on thirteen crops in IVRS guide the caller to avail the requisite information. · Internet to cater the needs of rural youth in identifying job opportunities downloads of marks lists of examinations etc. The website “www.naipsrl.org” in English & Telugu is designed for building the online platform between different stakeholders.
Why is the project unique?
The project ICT initiative is an Innovative multiple Platforms developed to offer Personalized and Integrated Services to Farmers in the local language. The initiative addresses the information needs of the diverse group with various literacy levels ranging from illiterate, semiliterate and literate For those with limited literacy, we have developed IVRS technology and also provided voice features in our software to transfer voice messages to the farmer who makes a call .Our crop diagnostic service software has provision to detect plant pests and diseases to take timely control measures. We are also attempting to provide services to farmers on a sustainable basis. Participatory approach at every level from planning to implementation is ensured at every stage through focus group interactions, PRA exercises and dedicated institution Like Information and knowledge utilization groups (IKU groups) a grass root level. The project initiative also reveals innovative method of approaching the different stakeholders like farmers, women, rural youth etc. by designing clientele specific content based on prior information needs assessment of the different target groups. The information and knowledge resources are designed based on participatory content generation with prior needs assessment, Participatory rural appraisal. Dedicated content generating teams are there at Knowledge resource center which would regularly interact, evaluate content based on farmer’s feedback and modify the same according to user’s requirements.
Roadmap
In the present era of knowledge revolution there is a need to equip farmers with information on climate scenario and market. Knowledge resource management in rain fed agriculture integrates information, communication, dissemination, utilization for sustainable development leading to improved agricultural productivity .Use of ICT’s as a extension tool in knowledge management of the project exhibited multifaceted dimensions and multifarious roles for technology access.
Contact
Dr.B.Venkateswarlu
Central Research Institute for Dry land Agriculture CRIDA-ICAR
Saidabad P.O Santoshnagar, Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh, India
5000059
URL/Website – www.crida.ernet.inwww.naipsrl.org
