Title eSagu: Web-based Agricultural Expert Advice Dissemination System (2004-05): Final Project Report 2005 AUTHORS P.Krishna Reddy, A.Sudarshan Reddy, B.Venkateswar Rao, G. Shyamasundar Reddy, eSagu: Web-based Agricultural Expert Adivice Dissemination System (2004-05), Final Completion Report of Research Project, Submitted to Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, 2005. Research Project Executed by International Institute of Information Technology, HYDERABAD (AP) – INDIA Funded by: Ministry of Communication & Information Technology (MC&IT), Department of Information Technology, New Delhi Chief Investigator: P.Krishna Reddy Associate Professor International Institute of Information Technology, HYDERABAD (AP) – INDIA, PIN: 500032 ABSTRCAT In spite of tremendous achievement in Indian agriculture since independence, more particularly, during Green Revolution (GR) period since Mid-sixties, development of irrigation, greater input supplies like power, High Yield Variety seeds, fertilisers and pesticides and free public extension with huge subsidies. The net result has been an increase in food grains from around 50ml tons in 1950 to about 200ml tons by 2000. However, this achievement is not without some costs to the society. The post GR period witnessed shift in the agricultural policy orientation, particularly in the direction of withdrawal of public investment in agriculture, withdrawal of subsidies etc. The shift in the cropping pattern towards commercial crops particularly some new crops in new areas has resulted in crises among these crops and farmers committed suicides in distress in not less than seven major states including that of Punjab, the heart belt of GR in this country. One of the major factors for such a sorry state of affairs is that while crops like cotton, chilli, tobacco, groundnut etc., are increasingly becoming input and knowledge intensive, in practice, farmers are not geared up to the task, rather they are indiscriminately using without reference to its ill effects on the quality of the product, the soil, and environment. The frequent changes in agricultural technology are resulting in a new process like deskilling. This, coupled with inadequate extension mechanism is likely to lead to a wide knowledge gap. Thus, there is a great need to update the knowledge and skills of the farming community. In view of the present methods of extension becoming limited and costly, there is also a need to develop an alternative to enhance access, provision of adequate, timely and cheap extension system. The fast growing Information Technology when applied to agriculture, is expected to provide relevant information to the farming community with wider coverage and with cost effectiveness. IIIT, Hyderabad, has devised a model of extension using ICTs and is implementing it as Web-based Agricultural Expert Advice Dissemination System, since April 2004 in three villages of Oorugonda, Gudeppad and Oglapur in Warangal district covering all the farmers. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MC&IT), New Delhi has funded this project for the period 01-04-2004 to 30-06-2005. While the total sanctioned amount being Rs. 62.11 lakhs, it has spent Rs.21.69 lakhs on Fixed Assets and the remaining amount of Rs. 40.42 lakhs as working expenses. The implementation of this project has shown positive response and evoked keen interest in the project and looked as a great promise for cheap and widely accessible extension service. The final evaluation report amply testifies this. The workshop conducted after implementation of the project has further brought out the critique of it – mostly seen as a potential tool for mass extension in the future. The Summary of the Administrative Report The administrative report is presented with details regarding preparatory, stage wise activity profiles, personnel and financial administration. The major findings of this report comprise: 1. The prototype has been organized in such a way that all the activities have been implemented as per the schedule provided in the project formulation. 2. Adequate infrastructural facilities like building, computers, air conditioners, UPS, digital cameras have been procured on time with in the budget framework. 3. Right people have been chosen at different levels and an effective coordination has been ensured in the execution of the project. 4. The web-based system has been developed to move the information to and fro between the village system and the main system. 5. The system was able to produce the desired information at right time and ensured provision of advice to the farmer with in 24-36 hours. 6. The technology mix with digital photographs has helped appropriate advice making. 7. The sanctioned amount is fully utilized. With marginal adjustments here and there, the expenditure incurred is in tune with the budgetary provisions. 8. The project ultimately ended with a positive note from every angle. Findings of the Evaluation Study 1. The evaluation study clearly brings out the feasibility and acceptability of ICT based model of eSagu. The crop status, the zooming facility of digital photographs, weather data, crop history, soil data, all have enabled the scientists in effective advice making, early detection of pests and diseases and predictions. The advices were provided to the farmers in 24-36 hours. 2. The prototype operation has clearly established its technical efficiency in dissipation of information and knowledge when compared to the trivial system of extension. 3. eSagu operation has improved the access, knowledge and technology adoption rate as compared to their counter parts in non-project area. 4. It established that the acquired technology has been quite useful and reflected in increased yield by 1.5 quintals per acre, saved fertilizers by 0.76 bags, pesticides by 2.3 sprays per acre. This has resulted in a net gain of Rs. 3820.0 per acre. The differential gain is Rs. 4115.0 per acre in project area as compared to non-project area. 5. Farmer’s response to the utility of the project is quite positive and they want the project to continue in the future. The details of final evaluation report are presented at part II of this report. 6. As about the 70 percent advices are repetitive, remodeling of the system by following cluster-based approach has a potential of further cost effectiveness, which may be tested. The National Workshop The national workshop on eSagu has been organized on 06-05-2005 and is attended by 123 participants. The workshop represented a cross section of society such as ANGRAU, Other agriculture research stations like ICRISAT, CRIDA, NAARM, MANAGE etc., IT based organizations, Govt. Departments, NGOs, Farmers and Farmers associations and Media. This facilitated inter-disciplinary interactions to elicit varied opinions. Prof.Raj Reddy, an IT luminary from Carnegie Mellon University, USA has addressed the gathering from USA through Internet using skype. Outcome: 1. It is generally felt that the proposed system provides opportunity to provide personalized agricultural expert advice to the farmers in a cost effective manner. 2. Almost all the participants have convinced that delivering expert advice by getting the crop status through photographs and other data is viable. It is also very effective and more useful to the farmers. 3. Discussions with farmers made it clear that input savings and yield increments among the project area made the farmers confidant about the new technology. 4. Registered farmers participated from project villages felt that the technique has convinced them by providing personalized advice every week. Recommendations 1. The system should be more interactive. The project should also make use the multimedia technologies to disseminate the contents. 2. The database developed over a period of time is made available for all institutions especially credit institutions; insurance companies and other input providers and output handlers. 3. The information like access to Internet and e-mail facility should be made available in the village also. 4. It should be an integrated project for weather information, soil strengths, crop patterns, inputs, pest control, pre and post harvest technologies and if possible to see and plan the needs of a farmer. 5. eSagu advises should be extended to all the crops and agricultural allied aspects viz., animal husbandry, poultry etc for effective farming. 6. Advices should be given in local language i.e. Telugu for easy understanding and adoption. 7. More training need to be given on continuous basis to the farmers and the coordinators with increased involvement of the scientists. 8. Farmers’ success stories may be published in leading news papers to bring the motivation and awareness among farmers of other regions 9. Pre-season interactive meetings to be conducted in the villages involving the agricultural experts, coordinators for providing comprehensive information on the package of practices of the selected crops. 10. Funds that are already available with the Agriculture department can be used to provide advice at a low cost to the farmers using this system. The PRSG meetings, which were held in the past, have made several suggestions from time to time and the project acknowledges their valuable advice in the implementation of the project. A final report is placed before the PRSG Meeting held on 10-12-2005. The report is presented in four parts. First part presents the Administrative, Technical and Financial Report. The final evaluation report is presented in the Second part. The third part presents the report on national workshop on eSagu together with its deliberation and recommendations. The fourth part deals with the follow up, summary, conclusion and recommendations.