They have done it again.
The Fruit Research Station (FRS) here has developed a ground-breaking Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform and a dedicated field device capable of two-way information exchange in real-time.
The device, named e-solutions for horticulture (e-Short), can be handled by technically-trained extension officers. It can instantly search for problems afflicting mango, banana, tomato and chilli in three categories – pest, disease and nutritional deficiency problem.
Supported by the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, the proposal received a funding of about Rs.50 lakh to develop the application in 2011. Under A. Kiran Kumar of FRS, the device was developed in a year, and the device – a tab loaded with ‘e-Short’ application – was handed over to 50 extension officers.
These were used for about a year after field tests commenced in November 2013. The device carries a voice facility and script in Telugu which can be easily understood by farmers. It also carries photographs that help farmers understand the common problems being faced in the cultivation of the aforesaid crops. The farmer can easily compare the pictures with the crop’s condition, and directly seek help at the FRS on how to save the crop.
The device was tested at Medak, Warangal, Adilabad, Mahabubnagar and Khammam (Telangana), Krishna, Chittoor, West Godavari, Kadapa, Vizianagaram, Guntur and Kurnool districts.
Once the field officer visits the farmer, his data would be saved in the system and it could be retrieved any time. Such data would serve the purpose of future research.
“We are able to address the problems of the farmer in these sectors in real-time, and now we are confident that it can be scaled up to the required level by training personnel,” Dr. Kiran told The Hindu .
