Agricultural Informatics & CommunicationPerspective and prospective

M.V.S. SarmaM.V.S. SarmaAgricultural Informatics DivisionAgricultural Informatics Division

National Informatics CentreNational Informatics CentreDepartment of Information TechnologyDepartment of Information Technology

Agriculture Sector is changing the Agriculture Sector is changing the socio-economicsocio-economic environments of the environments of the population due to population due to liberalization and liberalization and globalizationglobalization

About 75% peopleAbout 75% people are living in rural areas and are living in rural areas and are still are still dependent on Agriculture. About 43% dependent on Agriculture. About 43% of India’s geographical area of India’s geographical area is used for is used for agricultural activityagricultural activity

Agriculture continues to play a major role in Agriculture continues to play a major role in Indian EconomyIndian Economy

Indian Agriculture

Indian Agriculture Provides about 65% of the livelihood Accounts for 27% of GDP Contributes 21% of Total Exports, and Supplies

Raw materials to Industries Growth Rate in production - 5.7% Food grains production – 211.17 mt mt

India’s position in world AgricultureIndia’s position in world Agriculture RankRank

Total Area SeventhTotal Area Seventh Irrigated Area FirstIrrigated Area First Population SecondPopulation Second Economically Active population SecondEconomically Active population Second Total Cereals ThirdTotal Cereals Third Wheat SecondWheat Second Rice SecondRice Second Coarse grains FourthCoarse grains Fourth Total Pulses FirstTotal Pulses First Oil Seeds SecondOil Seeds Second Fruits and Vegetables SecondFruits and Vegetables Second Implements (Tractors) Third Implements (Tractors) Third Milk FirstMilk First Live Stock (castles, Buffaloes) FirstLive Stock (castles, Buffaloes) First

Agricultural Resources

Total Geographical Area (TGA) - 329 M.H Potential for Biological Production - 265 M.H Net Sown Area (NSA) - 143 M.H Net Irrigated Area - 56 M.H Area threatened by land degradation - 50% of TGA Drought-prone Area - 190 M.H

Mile Stones in Agricultural Mile Stones in Agricultural DevelopmentDevelopment

Green Revolution (1968)Green Revolution (1968) Ever-Green Revolution (1996)Ever-Green Revolution (1996) Blue Revolution (water, fish)Blue Revolution (water, fish) White Revolution (Milk)White Revolution (Milk) Yellow Revolution (flower, edible)Yellow Revolution (flower, edible) Bio-Technology RevolutionBio-Technology Revolution ICT RevolutionICT Revolution

Development of Indian Agriculture : Basic Issues

Revitalization of Cooperative Institutions Improving Rural Credits Research, Education & Extension Human Resources Development Trade & Export Promotion Land Reforms Enabling Environment for higher

Agricultural Growth

The thrust areasThe thrust areas::

Diversification of Agriculture Inter-cropping Micro Management Water Management Organic Farming Agri-Clinics and Agri-business Centres Bio-Technology

Efforts on Policies, strategies and Efforts on Policies, strategies and FrameworksFrameworks

National Agriculture Policy (2000) National Seeds policy (2002) Cooperative Policy Agricultural Price policy Agricultural Extension Framework (2001) WTO/GATT agreement (1994) In addition to, various working groups, taskforces, In addition to, various working groups, taskforces,

mid-term appraisalsmid-term appraisals andand plan schemes (~68)plan schemes (~68) (for further details www.agricoop.nic.in)(for further details www.agricoop.nic.in)

ReportsReports Agriculture Credit, Cooperation and Crop Horticulture Development including Spices Aromatic and

Medicinal Plants and Plantation Crops Agriculture Infrastructure/Warehousing/Rural

Godowns/Marketing/Post Harvest Management, Processing and Cold Storage, Trade and Export Promotion.

Crop Husbandry, Demand and Supply Projections and Agricultural Inputs Agriculture Research and Education

Animal Husbandry & Dairying Agriculture Statistics Watershed Development, Rainfed Farming and Natural

Resources Management |Agriculture Development in Eastern and North-Eastern India Agriculture and Allied Sectors Organic and Biodynamic Farming(for further details www.planningcommission.nic.in)

Technologies for Sustainable Agricultural Technologies for Sustainable Agricultural DevelopmentDevelopment

BiotechnologyBiotechnology Pre & post harvesting technologyPre & post harvesting technology Energy saving technologyEnergy saving technology Environment protection technologyEnvironment protection technology Information and Communication technologyInformation and Communication technology GIS & RS technologyGIS & RS technology Internet/Intranet TechnologyInternet/Intranet Technology

Fusion of TechnologiesFusion of Technologies for Sustainable for Sustainable Development - A Synergy of Multiple Development - A Synergy of Multiple

DisciplinesDisciplines

Database TechnologyDatabase Technology Internet/Intranet TechnologyInternet/Intranet Technology GIS and Remote Sensing GIS and Remote Sensing Image Processing Image Processing GPSGPS Artificial IntelligenceArtificial Intelligence Modeling Modeling

IT led Agricultural Development

The beginning: (e-readiness)The beginning: (e-readiness) A two day conference (A two day conference (ISDA-1995 ISDA-1995 ) was held to ) was held to

assess IT Infrastructure and empowerment assess IT Infrastructure and empowerment needs for IT led development in Agriculture needs for IT led development in Agriculture Sector (one of the major recommendations Sector (one of the major recommendations was about 3% of the agriculture budget should was about 3% of the agriculture budget should be spent on Informatics Development)be spent on Informatics Development)

IT Plan for Agriculture SectorIT Plan for Agriculture Sector (AGRISNET) was (AGRISNET) was submitted to Ministry of Agriculture in submitted to Ministry of Agriculture in 19971997 to to establish establish ““Indian Agriculture on-lineIndian Agriculture on-line”” and and revised in revised in 2000.2000.

IT Applications for Agricultural Development IT Applications for Agricultural Development Requires Inter-Sectoral ApproachRequires Inter-Sectoral Approach

Agricultural Research Agro-Meteorology Agricultural Marketing Agricultural Engineering &

Food Processing Agricultural Extension and

Transfer of Technology Credit and Cooperation Crop production &

protection Environment & Forest

Fertilisers and Manure Fisheries Irrigation and Drainage

System Livestock, Dairy

Development & Animal Husbandry

Rural Development & Planning

Soil and Water Management Watershed Development Wasteland Development

Census Mach.Marketing

Coop.

Credit

Crops Exten. Fert

HortDMPPQ

PP

RFS

IRSTMOP

States / Uts / Districts

ICAR Institutes

Resource Information

Attached/subordinate offices

FARMER

Ministry of Agriculture

AGRISNET ARISNET

DACNET

DAC Portals

AgRIS

IT plan for AgricultureIT plan for Agriculture To strengthen IT in Agriculture and creation of

Databases & Information Network for Agriculture Sector :-

The plan was divided into three schemes by DAC

Central Sector Schemes proposed

DAC Hqrs

Networking of DAC Field Units (DACNET)

State & District and Sub-District level (AGRISNET)

Present Status of IT Scheme (s) of DAC:Present Status of IT Scheme (s) of DAC:

Various Components emerging as one scheme:Various Components emerging as one scheme:

IT apparatus in DAC Hqrs.IT apparatus in DAC Hqrs. IT apparatus in the Field offices and Directorates IT apparatus in the Field offices and Directorates

of DAC (DACNET) Phase IIof DAC (DACNET) Phase II Development of Agricultural Informatics and Development of Agricultural Informatics and

CommunicationCommunication Agricultural Resources Information Agricultural Resources Information SystemSystem IT apparatus for States/UTs (AGRISNET) andIT apparatus for States/UTs (AGRISNET) and Agricultural Marketing Information Network Agricultural Marketing Information Network

(AGMARKNET) Phase II(AGMARKNET) Phase II

Information Systems Requirement in Information Systems Requirement in AgricultureAgriculture

GIS/RS based SystemsGIS/RS based Systems:: Soil and Land useSoil and Land use Watershed developmentsWatershed developments Disaster managementDisaster management Cropping systemsCropping systems Agriculture Resources InformationAgriculture Resources Information Organic farming (bio-fertilisers)Organic farming (bio-fertilisers) Crop weather watch Crop weather watch

Decision Support SystemsDecision Support Systems Integrated Nutrient ManagementIntegrated Nutrient Management Integrated Pest ManagementIntegrated Pest Management Demand-Supply Projections Demand-Supply Projections Soil-Water balanceSoil-Water balance Credit Management Credit Management Inter-cropping systemsInter-cropping systems Bio-fertilizer managementBio-fertilizer management Early Warning SystemEarly Warning System

E-Commerce Applications Agri-Business (Agri-clinics and Agri-Business Centres) Agricultural Marketing Agricultural Trade Cooperatives Horticulture (horticulture, floriculture, sericulture, aquaculture etc,. ) Organic farming Agriculture Statistics

Ongoing ICT Projects of DACOngoing ICT Projects of DAC

DACNET (dacnet.nic.in) AGMARKNET (agmarknet.nic.in) PPIN (cib/rc) (cibrc.nic.in) VISTARNET AGRICULTURAL CENSUS NADAMS (National Agricultural Drought

Advisory and Management Systems) HORTNET

Projects Under Pipeline:

AGRISNET AgRIS (Resources Information System) Development of Agricultural Informatics DACNET (phase – II) AGMARKNET (Phase – II) Agricultural Census 2000-2001Agricultural Census 2000-2001

Other ICT projects of AgricultureOther ICT projects of Agriculture

APHNET (Animal Production and Health APHNET (Animal Production and Health Informatics Network)Informatics Network)

ARISNET (Agricultural Research and ARISNET (Agricultural Research and Information System)Information System)

Water Resources Informatics SystemWater Resources Informatics System APEDAAPEDA NPRE etc.,NPRE etc.,

Towards e-Government in DACTowards e-Government in DAC

A High Speed LAN established with more than 500 A High Speed LAN established with more than 500 nodes (round the clock services)nodes (round the clock services)

INTRANET/INTERNET applications are being INTRANET/INTERNET applications are being implemented as part of e-Governmentimplemented as part of e-Government

Regular use of VC for scheme monitoring and plansRegular use of VC for scheme monitoring and plans (X Five Year Plan proposals were discussed on VC(X Five Year Plan proposals were discussed on VC with all States)with all States) 7/24 Services provided during Orissa Super 7/24 Services provided during Orissa Super

cyclone, Gujarat Earth Quake, drought mitigation cyclone, Gujarat Earth Quake, drought mitigation Implementations of Minimum Agenda of e-Implementations of Minimum Agenda of e-

governancegovernance

Towards e-Government in DAC Towards e-Government in DAC (Contd.)(Contd.)

In-house Training Centre established In-house Training Centre established More than 800 officials trained in DACMore than 800 officials trained in DAC NICNET based Public Information and NICNET based Public Information and

facilitation Centre establishedfacilitation Centre established Information KioskInformation Kiosk Various paid projects implemented like Various paid projects implemented like

Integrated Crops MIS, LAN etc.Integrated Crops MIS, LAN etc. ISDA Conference conducted for IT ISDA Conference conducted for IT

assessment in Agriculture sectorassessment in Agriculture sector IT Plan submitted for IXth and Xth Five IT Plan submitted for IXth and Xth Five

plansplans

Portals developedPortals developed

AGMARKNETAGMARKNET DACNETDACNET CIB/RC (PPIN)CIB/RC (PPIN) VISTARNET*VISTARNET* Agricultural Census*Agricultural Census*

* * Under developmentUnder development

DACNET DACNET A Scheme for bringing E-GovernanceA Scheme for bringing E-Governance in the Directorates in the Directorates

and  Field Units of Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and  Field Units of Department of Agriculture & Cooperation ((DACDAC))

• Establish Functional Hardware/software tools • Provide training • Develop Application Software • Assist in further system enhancement, if required • Establish LAN / Network / Internet Service  

With a Mandate to

Information Flow from Field Units (DACNET)

Central Databases

Census Mach.Marketing

Coop.

Credit

Crops Exten. Fert

HortNDM

Plan-Co

PPQ

PP

RFS

SWCTMOP

IC&Trade

Field Offices

Directorates databases

Planners / Decision makers

AGRISNET envisagesAGRISNET envisages

AGRISNETAGRISNET – A NICNETNICNET Based Based Agricultural Informatics & Agricultural Informatics & CommunicationCommunication to facilitate Higher Sustainable Agricultural productivity and Establish “Indian Agriculture on-line” in the Country

Convergence of Core Technologies and e-Governance

AGRISNET envisagesAGRISNET envisages

IT Infrastructure (H/W, S/W tools and Networking) Information Networks (Web sites, portals, Vertical portals) Data Warehousing (Database, Data Mining and Mata Data) Web enabled applications GIS/RS based applications IT Empowerment (HRD)

AGRISNET componentsAGRISNET components

Internet/Intranet services E-Commerce & EDI Services National & International Video

Conferencing Networking (LAN, MAN, WAN) using

terrestrial, Satellite, & Wireless Communication

AGRISNET componentsAGRISNET components

IT Training Data Base, Knowledge Base, and

Analytical Model Base development for Decision Support

Disaster management

Sub-networks under AGRISNETSub-networks under AGRISNET

The following sub-networks will strengthen these portals:The following sub-networks will strengthen these portals: FERTNET: Fertilizer NetworkFERTNET: Fertilizer Network HORTNET: Horticulture NetworkHORTNET: Horticulture Network PPIN: Plant Protection NetworkPPIN: Plant Protection Network VISTERNET: Agricultural Extension NetworkVISTERNET: Agricultural Extension Network CROPSNET : Crops Information NetworkCROPSNET : Crops Information Network SEEDNET: Seeds Informatics NetworkSEEDNET: Seeds Informatics Network ACINET: Agricultural Credit Informatics NetworkACINET: Agricultural Credit Informatics Network AGMARKNRT:Agricultural Marketing NetworkAGMARKNRT:Agricultural Marketing Network ARISNET: Agricultural Research Information System NetworkARISNET: Agricultural Research Information System Network

To strengthen these sub-networks, To strengthen these sub-networks, AGRISNET nodes will be established at AGRISNET nodes will be established at National, State, District, and Block levelNational, State, District, and Block level with with Internet/Intranet gateway at National and Internet/Intranet gateway at National and regional level. regional level.

Agri-Clinic and Agri-business centresAgri-Clinic and Agri-business centres will be will be set up outside the Government set up to set up outside the Government set up to facilitate Un-employed agricultural graduates facilitate Un-employed agricultural graduates to generate income and employment through to generate income and employment through ““Knowledge services” for farmers.Knowledge services” for farmers. The The emerging technologies on “emerging technologies on “last milelast mile” ” problems provide required technology problems provide required technology solutions to establish Agri-clinic and Agri-solutions to establish Agri-clinic and Agri-business centres at sub district levelbusiness centres at sub district level

Hort. Division

INTRADAC

Attached , Subordinate, Autonomous, Field Offices

State, District & Block Agricultural Offices

Mail Server

Internet Server

Database Server

Data Ware housing

GIS Server

Workgroups

“Agriculture On-line”

DACNET

AGRISNET

NRM Division

Crops Division

Admn. Division

Finance Div.

Agricultural Resource InformationAgricultural Resource Information(core group – V on Agriculture and Soils (NNRMS-AC-AS)).

Arid Agro-Ecosystem, Coastal Agro-Arid Agro-Ecosystem, Coastal Agro-Ecosystem, Hill & Mountain Agro-Ecosystem, Hill & Mountain Agro-Ecosystem, Irrigated Agro-Ecosystem, Ecosystem, Irrigated Agro-Ecosystem, and Rainfed Agro-Ecosystem. and Rainfed Agro-Ecosystem. The The pilot project demonstration, one district pilot project demonstration, one district each with various typologies (13) using each with various typologies (13) using GIS/RS based Technology GIS/RS based Technology

In e-Governance, “electronic” means In e-Governance, “electronic” means supportsupport and and stimulatestimulate good governance. E-Governance good governance. E-Governance will mature according to the following four will mature according to the following four phases (Garter Report)phases (Garter Report)

Information Information Presence : Websites Presence : Websites Interaction Interaction Intake Process: Intake Process: e-mail, search engines,e-mail, search engines, download forms and documentsdownload forms and documents Transaction Transaction Complete Transactions: Network and Complete Transactions: Network and Information SecurityInformation Security TransformationTransformation Integration and Change: Virtual counter Integration and Change: Virtual counter

Accessibility Width of reach

Affordabilityby common man/ target customers

Accessibility Width of reach

Affordabilityby common man/ target customers

Communicability in People’s Language

Communicability in People’s Language

Availabilityof Information across

multiple delivery channels

Availabilityof Information across

multiple delivery channels

Reliability of transactions across multiple

delivery channels

Reliability of transactions across multiple

delivery channels

ViabilityEconomic and political returns

ViabilityEconomic and political returns

Re-engineering of Processes within

Government

Re-engineering of Processes within

Government

Collaboration among the servicing

departments

Collaboration among the servicing

departments

Trustworthy Adequate security

and auditability

e-Governance Imperativese-Governance Imperatives

Service related

Service related

ImplementationRelated

Creating stakeholders buy-in through internal/external communications

Accessibility Width of reach

Affordabilityby common man/ target customers

Communicability in People’s Language

Availabilityof Information across

multiple delivery channels

Reliability of transactions across multiple

delivery channels

ViabilityEconomic and political returns

Re-engineering of Processes within

Government

Collaboration among the servicing

departments

Trustworthy Adequate security

and auditability

Diversification for Sustainable Agriculture

Efficient use of resources (Example, crops in command area for rational sharing of water and also types of crops as per availability of water)

Crop diversification in dark and grey areas where groundwater exploitation is high (less water requiring crop)

For sustainable land use and in areas of depleting soil fertility (Example, Rice-wheat cropping)

For efficient natural resource management

Population and Food grains Needs

- The population as per latest census (2001-02), the estimated population is 1033.5 million

- Requirement of food grains for Human consumption is 174 m t (NIN, Hyderabad) and production requirement is 195 mt

Therefore, our production is expected to be higher

than the requirement calculated on normative method

We have 26 per cent population below poverty who have poor economic access to food grains. Their low purchasing power may not permit them to purchase 182.5 kg per capita per annum. If they can purchase only 70 per cent of their requirements, this would imply availability of additional 15 mt in the market

- Food Corporation has stocks of over 60 m t against the norm of about 24 m t

- Average pulse production during IXth Plan is 13 mt, the requirement of pulses is about 15 mt - Rate of growth of consumption of Rice and

Wheat is expected to decline. Therefore, the answer to first question is in affirmative. Then

we need to diversify our agriculture