Mobile Networks and Indian Agricultural Sector

Introduction

Agriculture and its related functions are indisputably the largest source of livelihood to large number of Indian rural population. Agriculture sector accounts for approximately 14% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 11% of its export. 68.8% of Indian population lives in rural areas. Income of 31.55% of this rural population depends upon agriculture and its related activities. Also, agricultural produce is a source of raw material for a large number of industries. Average rate of agricultural growth in India was 2.38% during 10^th five year plan (2002-07) that rose to 3.6% per annum during 11^th five year plan (2007-12). In 2012-13, the first revised estimate of agricultural growth has been declared at 1.42% per annum. In advance estimates for India-Macro Economic survey for 2013-14 (Annonymous, 2014), 4.64% of agricultural growth has been expected to be contributed in Indian GDP. It is important to increase growth of agriculture production (Government of India, 2013) using technology to achieve targeted 8% GDP contribution during 12^th five year plan (2012-17) and to meet escalating demands for food due to high population growth, increase in per capita income etc. To improve the quality and quantity of agricultural produce, a tremendous amount of efforts are being put by various organizations like Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Central and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and their Regional Research Stations (RRSs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) along with other public and private organizations. It is very important for these organizations to disseminate appropriate, precise and latest information to farmers for timely action to improve the agricultural output. There is a greater need to lay emphasis on the dissemination of scientific information from laboratory and test fields to its actual stakeholders using latest technological tools. These institutions work dedicatedly for the welfare of agricultural community but their initiatives have been usually criticized for their limited coverage, sustainability and its effect on agricultural community. Therefore, it is required that agricultural inputs should be timely disseminated to its appropriate quarters using latest information technological tools provided relevant quarters are ready to adopt these tools required for information transfer. Improvement of agricultural and rural development is being focused through emerging field of E-Agriculture using improved information and communication processes. Print and electronic media such as news-papers, pamphlets, libraries, televisions and information centers (like Kissan Call Centers etc.) are playing very important role in providing information to the farmers. These information centers are basically providing information to farmers using the available resources to them. Improved data management for better decision-making can be achieved by the utilization of information with appropriate information and communication technology (ICT). Enhanced focus on research planning, monitoring and evaluation lead to better research and hence it can provide more benefits to farmers. For providing online information to distantly located stakeholders ICT can be used in breaking the blockades of these remote places, which is the major concern for information dissemination.