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| [PHOTO: Joe Ravi] [License: CC-BY-SA 3.0] |
A day without the use of spices is unimaginable for Indians. What about a moment without your mobile phone? Can't even think of it these days. The idea of utilizing this changing life style of modern man, for the benefit of the spice farmers in India was simply an amazing idea put forward by Spices Board.
Every single person possesses a mobile
phone and carries it with him wherever he goes. Passing a message over mobile
phone is easily accessible for a farmer than referring a magazine or an article
for farming tips or market price. Moreover these devices can take the messages
to farmers in the quickest time possible. Embracing the mobile technology,
Spices Board India takes a new initiative to connect farmers country wide by
joining hands with IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL).
The
scheme provides free Green SIM card facility to spice farmers who have
registered for the programme. The provision helps to give first hand
information to farmers by way of five free voice messages on a daily basis. The
farmers also get an opportunity to be in touch with the authorities concerned
and get all the latest information regarding spices like market fluctuations in
prices, weather forecast, good agricultural practices, latest technological
aids etc. IKSL will start a 24 hours call centre for the purpose which would be
manned by people capable to answer the queries raised by farmers.
The
Pan-India mobile tele-network was launched in Coimbatore. Dr. A. Jayathilak,
Chairman, Spices Board India launched the programme in a farmers meet held at
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Around 300 farmers across the
state attended the programme where around 6000 farmers have already registered
in the Tamil Nadu spices community.
The purpose of the scheme is to get in
direct touch with the spice farmers of the state who are the core section of
the society. According to the scheme, the registered farmers of the spice
community will have to furnish a photo and his voter ID for connection.
There will be a provision for interactive
voice mail for the farmers to get their doubts clarified on various aspects
related to spice cultivation. For Tamil Nadu, the Spices Board Office at
Coimbatore will act as the central point from where the messages will be
transmitted to the main IKSL server situated in New Delhi (7am and 4pm daily).
The messages will be then broadcast to the farmers in voice mode, in their
regional language.
The mobile tele-network in association with
IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Ltd Kerala was launched in Kerala at Thodupuzha by Dr. A Jayathilak. The
programme started with the registration and subscriptions of mobile networks.
Farmers who registered for the programme will be able to enjoy the benefits of
the mobile tele network. Dr. A. Jayathilak expressed his hope that the farmers
will be more responsive to the idea of tele networking and for getting
information about Spices through mobile phones.
The Board will be launching the mobile tele
network for spice farmers soon across India covering the States of Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal besides South India. (PIB Features)
(*Jacob Abraham is the Deputy Director, Press Information Bureau, Thiruvananthapuram, India)
(*Jacob Abraham is the Deputy Director, Press Information Bureau, Thiruvananthapuram, India)