The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) has made a major step in strengthening the extension system of India by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Digital Green. The partnership aims to create a national-level digital platform that will provide a wealth of information and resources to farmers across the country.
A Hub of Agricultural Knowledge
The digital platform will serve as a digital library, offering a diverse range of content in multiple languages and formats. This will allow extension workers to access and share the information with farmers in a timely and effective manner. Moreover, the platform will provide online courses for extension workers to upskill themselves in various agriculture-related fields.
Connecting Farmers to the Digital Ecosystem
Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of MoA&FW, expressed his excitement about the new platform, stating, “The proposed national digital platform will help make our extension system more efficient and effective by connecting farmers to the strong foundation of digital agriculture ecosystem that is being built by the government.”
A Single Destination for Agricultural Outreach
With over 200,000 extension workers in India, the platform will bring together the outreach efforts of various departments, such as agriculture, horticulture, livestock, dairy, fisheries, and rural livelihoods. It will allow for decentralized content creation and targeted dissemination, ensuring that farmers receive the information they need.
Partnering with Digital Green
The MOU was signed with Digital Green, a social enterprise dedicated to supporting small and marginal farmers in enhancing their productivity and income. The organization has worked with governments in several states, serving over 25 lakh farmers and empowering over 4,000 front-line workers.
Technology for the Last Mile Farmer
Rikin Gandhi, founder of Digital Green, expressed his belief that technology must make a positive impact on the lives of farmers. He said, “The envisaged platform will contribute to and complement the national systems to emerge as a digital public good for the farm sector in India.”
A Brighter Future for Indian Agriculture
The platform is set to be launched within six months and will have the capability to serve the entire farming community in India. It will be a crucial component of the government’s efforts to modernize agriculture and make Indian farm systems future-ready. With this new digital platform, farmers will have access to the resources they need to thrive and prosper.
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