Techkriti: 28 States

Using Mobile Communications Technology to challenge a major social problem –

farmer suicides

Abhishek GuptaTECH51904 Final Year Undergraduate StudentMaterials Science and EngineeringIIT Kanpur

Alarming increase in suicides

• Exponential increase after the 1991 economic liberalization• Introduction of GM crops also affected suicides significantly• Most developing countries are faced with this issue

The largest wave of suicides in human history. - Citizens for Accountable Governance

284,694 farmer suicides in a decade (2000-2010)

GDP through agriculture: 20 pc Population into agriculture: 75 pc

Thousands of Shyam Rao’s all across India

Major causes of indebtedness

Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology –

• Withdrawal of government intervention from safety nets such as fair price shops – adverse role of middlemen

• Reduced price of agriculture produces

• Increasing dependence of small farmers on moneylenders, at rates of interest from 24 to 60 percent per annum, sometimes even more – lack of institutionalized credit system

• Cumulative crop loss

• Intermediaries in distributive trade

– APMC Acts of 1960’s licensed middlemen grew in number

– Hoarding food grains no food security food prices inflation

• Local moneylenders

– Sources required to get through the red-tape of banks

– Immediate repayment price is bargained

• Post-harvest losses

– one-fourth of the global agricultural produce by weight

– Transportation + produce rotting without buyer + other damages

– Damaged goods if fresh have a market still – small hotels

What the mobile does!• A platform between the government and our farmer

through –

– Application

– SMS

– Call center

– Videos

• Role of middlemen in scaring the farmer minimized –now he knows the equilibrium market price

• Any personalized information requested on crop production, pattern, soil, conservation policies, etc.

Information from Nodal center to farmer to be sent

periodically

Information the farmer is required to send after

harvest

Inclusion of Buyers – Direct marketing

• Reduces post-harvest losses

• Direct link between producer and consumer

• Registered trading

• Varied markets

A potential message from the farmer to a dealer in our mobile_Farming model

Information accessible directly• Lending rates at banks under targeted schemes

• Weather forecast updates

• Effective utilization of resources

• Updates on better performances and encouragement

• Social issues

Crucial technical know-how on effective pesticide spraying could be accessed by our farmer under our mobile_Farming model

Challenges• TV or Print media

• Trust Deficit – farmers have been exploited repeatedly

• Political mal-intent

• Soil conditions’ surveys are outdated

• Resources – Financial, Human (Experts)

‘‘ Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisaan, Jai Vigyaan’’

• Apt that the industrial and technological revolution pay back to the agrarian sector now

• Farmer should be enjoying the benefits of the technological era

• INCLUSIVE GROWTH

Jijeevishathe desire to hope to live

Thank you!