Mobile-based advisory system launched

SHILLONG: With the intention of reaching farmers who are otherwise reluctant to discuss the hardship faced by them, the m4agriNEI project College of Post Graduate Studies conceived the idea of implementing the Mobile Agro Advisory Project by providing them correct information on farming practices.
The m4agriNEI project is a mobile-based agro-advisory system in North East India which is project collaboration with Media Lab Asia, an autonomous body under Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology, Government of India.
Speaking to reporters at the end of the inaugural function organised by the College of Post Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural University, Umiam, L. Devarani, Assistant Professor (Agricultural Extension), said, “The mobile agro advisory system was conceived way back in 2011. The basic idea is to develop an agro advisory lab in which level 1 advisory is provided to the farmers when they make a call to the advisory lab raising certain queries. Level 2 advisory is given by experts.”
Commenting on the differences between Kisan call center and the mobile based agro-advisory system, she said, “Any random person can call Kisan call center but only registered farmers can call the mobile based agro-advisory system.”
She further added that the lab maintained a database record of all the registered farmers and personalized details of the farmers are flashed on the screen when they call.