Agriculture Informatics "Ushering a New Revolution"

Agriculture Informatics "Ushering a New Revolution"

Information is critical to the social and economic activities that comprise the development process. Development economy has witnessed agricultural (Green, white, yellow, blue and now rainbow), bio-technological, Industrial and Information Technology revolutions. Good Communication System and Information System reinforce commitments to sustainable productivity. The Government of India is giving more thrust on Agriculture, food and Information Technology sectors towards achievement of economic reforms to achieve high growth rate in production in the years to come.

Agricultural Informatics Division of NIC has taken up various initiatives in bringing IT led development which includes Web enabled applications, GIS based applications, Multimedia applications, Database applications and e-Governance and training etc., in the Ministry of Agriculture.

NICNET Services to the Ministry of Agriculture

A high speed Local Area Network was established in the Ministry of Agriculture spread over various buildings viz. Krishi Bhawan (~500 nodes), Shastri Bhawan (~200 nodes), Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan (~100 nodes) etc. In addition, Agricultural Informatics Division has extended its full support (round the clock operation) to the Ministry of Agriculture at the time of super Cyclone in Orissa and Gujarat Earthquake. Shri Nitish Kumar, the Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture has mentioned in his letter "…..With the help of NIC, the information technology base has also been strengthened and a computerized database and software has been developed...". Video Conferencing facilities were used extensively from the krishi bhawan studio to Orissa and Gujarat on continuous basis. (see Page 8 for details on NIC's support during Gujarat Earthquake crisis)

Hon'ble Agriculture Minister taking keen interest in the info kiosk developed by NIC In order to keep pace with the state-of-the-art technologies, NIC has been conducting various training programmes on IT application on a regular basis from time to time for the user organisations of agriculture sector.

Infrastructural facilities and services provided by NIC to the Ministry of Agriculture INTRANET/INTERNET Telecommuting Programme Video Conferencing Information Kiosk In-house Training facilities Web site design and development Web enabled applications Information Bulletin Intranet applications Agriculture Portal NICNET based Public Information and Facilitation Centre

IT plan for Agriculture Sector

NIC has submitted an IT-Plan for the Agriculture Sector with an objective of establishing “NICNET based Agricultural Informatics and Communication Network (AGRISNET)” to facilitate higher and sustainable agriculture productivity and also putting “Indian Agriculture on-line” in the Country. Some of the National level Projects sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture include the following :

Computerisation of Agricultural Census 1995-96 & Input Survey 1996-97

Recognizing the predominance of the Agriculture Sector in the Indian economy, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation collects and maintains agricultural statistics such as number, area, tenancy, land utilisation, cropping pattern and irrigation particulars of different classes of operational holdings regularly and make it timely accessible to the planners and policy makers for decision making. This project was entrusted to NIC and it made significant headway in almost all the States/UTs except Bihar, where Census is yet to be conducted. The salient features are Creation of large database of about 8000 Million Bytes at National Level and 1 GB at state level Processing and tabulation of Agricultural Census and Input Survey database at District/State/National level Development and implementation of information retrieval system at micro and macro level for decision making at various levels. Selective information will be put on INTERNET/INTRANET for easy access of information to public to ensure transparency in the Government functioning. Training programs on Software implementation will be organized for about 200 officers of State/UTs and Central Government.

Market Information System for Horticulture

This project has been taken up by NIC on a turnkey basis. As part of the project, NICNET based internet/intranet facilities have been established at National Horticulture Board (NHB), Gurgaon. Computing facilities have been created at 33 market centres of the Board located all over the country. NIC has developed and implemented the necessary software for evolving a comprehensive database of the prices and arrivals of fruits and vegetables being received by NHB headquarters from 33 market centres on a daily basis. This information is being used by the Ministry of Agriculture, its related agencies and markets through National Bulletin on fruits and vegetables.

Plant Protection Informatics and Communication Network (PPIN)

The PPIN envisages to link the Directorate of Plant Protection quarantine and Storage (DPPQS), Faridabad, National Plant Protection Training Institute, Hyderabad, CIMPS (26), LCC (10), Central Pesticides Testing Laboratories (3), and State Pesticides Testing Laboratories (42) and to disseminate information related to plant protection and pesticides. As a part of project, the computerization of the CIB/RC of DPPQS has been taken up by NIC.

Agricultural Research Information System Network (ARISNET)

The ARISNET, a close user group of institutions in National Agricultural Research System of India (NARS) on NICNET, links ICAR Institutions (90) and their Regional Research Stations, Central Agricultural University, State Agricultural Universities (29) and their colleges, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (283), Zonal Research Centres (120) and Project implementing centers with the ICAR Headquarters. ARISNET has become an integral part of agricultural research, extension and education process.

Agricultural Extension Information System Network – VISTARNET

The Research, Education, Extension, and training are considered as four pillars of Sustainable Agriculture. Generation and Transfer of Technology have become very crucial the world over. As a step towards making technology reach the Small Holders (Resource-Poor-Farmers), efforts are being made to establish “VISTARNET – NICNET based Agricultural Extension Information System Network,” in India, linking extension functionaries at Central, State, and District level has been taken up. The required funds for implementing VISTARNET will be provided through the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP). As a part of VISTARNET, Informatics Development for the Directorate of Extension has been taken up by NIC.

Strengthening of Informatics in the offices and field units of The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) – DACNET

The Central sector scheme "DACNET" has been approved by the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation to be implemented by NIC. The project will commence in this financial year. The project proposal envisages establishment of NICNET based INTRANET linking Directorates, Attached offices, Subordinate offices, Autonomous bodies and Public Sector Undertakings and field units of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture. This project includes networking of field offices of DAC, connectivity, procurement of H/W, S/W tools, Application Software Development and training of officials.

Animal Production and Health Information Network (APHNET)

APHNET envisages building up of reliable databases and network based information systems for all activities of the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Sector at District, State and National level, using NICNET facilities. In view of importance of making technology reach the small holders through IT, the plan also suggests to establish APHNET nodes at about 42,000 veterinary Polyclinics, Hospitals, and dispensaries and veterinary aid centers for strengthening Animal Disease Surveillance & Advisory system in the country. As a part of APHNET, National Project on Rinderpest Eradication (NPRE) which aims at capturing animal disease related information from various State Animal Husbandry Departments has been entrusted to NIC.

MIS support to Food Processing Industries

To cater to the needs of the Department, NIC has developed various information systems viz. FPO & Licensing Monitoring, Plan Scheme Monitoring, Industrial approvals, processed food products, FPO on-line status, Industrial Entrepreneur’s Memoranda query information, Country profile and International Cooperation etc.

Agricultural Marketing Information Network (AGMARKNET)

NIC has taken up an ambitious project “Agricultural Marketing Information Network (AGMARKNET)” on turnkey basis for the Directorate of Marketing & Inspection(DMI), Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture. The project aims at improving the prevailing agricultural marketing information system by minimising the gap between generation and dissemination of market information. The major components of AGMARKNET are establishment of Computing Facilities and Networking, Development of Human Resource, Information Transmission, Development of Database and Portal on Market Information. NIC has tied up with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) to provide internet facilities at the AGMARKNET nodes.

National Workshop on Agmarknet in progress A one day National Workshop to deliberate on making the project operational, was jointly organised by DMI and NIC on Feb 9, 2001 at NIC headquarters.

Integrated Fertilizer Management Information System (FERMIS)

The Department of Fertilizers (DOF) in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC) has introduced computer-based methods for decision support with the major objective to evolve an evaluation system which ensures a uniform system of Planning and control mechanism with signalling system to highlight deviations from desired performance indicators by Plants/organisations for all the public sector fertilizer enterprises. Thus, an Integrated Fertilizer Management Information System (IFMIS) of worth Rs. 1.99 crores has been executed through NIC and various IT based systems developed covering Planning, Movement, Import, Handling-Payment, Project Monitoring, Performance Monitoring & Evaluation aspects to strengthen Fertilizer Informatics for decision support. Information exchange for decision support has been promoted through Fertilizer Informatics Network (FERTNET) extended to Department of Fertilizers and various Fertilizer Companies viz. IFFCO, NFL, MFL, GNFC, FCI and HFCL.

For further information, contact Agricultural Informatics Division, National Informatics Centre, A-block, CGO complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. E-mail: ydsharma@fert.delhi.nic.in