Information and communication technology in agriculture (ICT in agriculture), also known as e-agriculture, focuses on the enhancement of agricultural and rural development through improved information and communication processes.

1. ICT based solutions for Smart Agriculture -
Role of Corporates and Opportunities for Startups, FPOs etc.
Presented By: Sanjib Kumar Parida
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa

2. Project Brief
 ICT is the right tool to revolutionize the agriculture.
 In India, 60% population is still dependent on agriculture while its contribution in
GDP is 16% only.
 By the end of 2019 the “Digital India” programme envisages that 2,50,000 Indian
villages will enjoy broadband connectivity and universal phone connectivity.
 Different ICT initiatives for Agriculture and performance measures.
 Efficient dissemination of relevant information to the farming sector could help
towards ‘Doubling the farmers’ Income by 2022’.

3. Objectives
To study the socioeconomic profile of the farmers utilizing the ICT based
services.
To determine the level of access and analyze the usage pattern to ICT as
source of information on smart agriculture by farmers.
To study the perception of various stakeholders involved in the application
of ICT in Agriculture and analyze the role of corporates on ICT in
Agriculture.
To trace the constraints faced by respondents in the use of ICT tools in
agriculture and seek their suggestions to overcome the constraints.
To suggest the ICT based opportunities/avenues for startups and FPOs in
the state.

4. Research Methodology
Research Design Descriptive research design
Locale of the study Balangir, Kalahandi, Khurda, Koraput and Rayagada
Sampling method Purposive, multi-stage and random sampling
Respondents
Sampling techniques
Sources of Data and
Collection Methods
Structured Schedule
Primary and Secondary data collection
Personal interview method and Mailed questionnaire method
Analytical Tools And
Techniques
Various tools of Descriptive Statistics
No. of
Respondents
Farmers FPOs Start Ups Corporates ICT
Experts
127 100 10 5 10 2
State District Block Village Respondents

5. Key Findings (Socio-economic Profile)
Agricul
ture
90%
Agribu
siness
9% Service
1%
Occupation
Member
in 1 Org
66%Member
in > 1 org
33%
No
Memeber
ship
1%
Social Participation
Pucca
42%
Mixed
39%
Kutcha
16%
Hut
3%
House Type

6. Key Findings (Socio-economic Profile)
Up to 4
Member
s
67%
Above 4
Memb
33%
Family Size
Nuclear
76%
Joint
24%
Family Type
1-2 draft
animal
54%
3-4 draft
nimal
5%
No draft
animal
41%
Farm Power/Mechanization
Low
5%
Medium
70%
High
25%
Possession of assets
High
5%
Low
36%
Mediu
m
59%
Land holding
3.5 (I) 3.27 (II)
2.86 (III)
0
1
2
3
4
NGOs Input
Dealer
Bank
personnel
Extension Contacts
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
Organic
Farming
Animal
Husbandry
Mushroom
0.62 (I)
0.41 (II) 0.4 (III)
Farming System

7. Key Findings (Access and Usage pattern)
3.91 (I)
3.9 (II)
3.49 (III)
2.18 (XI)
1.86 (XII)
0 2 4 6
Mobile
TV
FM/Radio
E-Mail
E-Newspaper
Awareness
0.98 (I)
0.78 (II)
0.62 (III)
0.07 (XI)
0.02 (XII)
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Mobile
TV
Internet
GIS/GPS
CD/DVD
Availability/Accessibility
3.74 (I)
3.35 (II)
2.4 (III)
1.36 (X)
1.19 (XI)
0 1 2 3 4
Mobile
TV
Internet
E-Mail
E-Newsletter
Frequency
1.09 (I)
0.94 (II)
0.93 (III)
0.54 (IX)
0.41 (X)
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
Plant Protection Measures
Variety
Land preparation & Sowing
Irrigation Management
Marketing
Usage Pattern

8. Key Findings (Perception and Constraints/Challenges)
4.82 (I)
4.34 (II)
4.31 (III)
4.3 (IV)
4 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8 5
Helps facilitation of access to land…
Provide the Warning system on…
Provides Facility of online trading…
Improves traceability and quality…
Perception of farmers and FPOs
5 (I)
4.94 (II)
4.88 (III)
4.76 (IV)
4.6 4.65 4.7 4.75 4.8 4.85 4.9 4.95 5 5.05
Reduces the cost of cultivation and…
Provide timely information on…
Provide information on crops related…
Question and answer service to…
Perception of corporates, startups and ICT experts
2.65 (I)
2.56 (II)
2.26 (III)
2.23 (IV)
2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7
Poor internet connectivity
Lack of confidence in operating of…
Lack of updated agriculture…
Lack of awareness benefits of ICTs
Constraints faced by farmers and FPOs during access and
usage pattern of ICTs
2.67 (I)
2.6 (II)
2.53 (III)
2.47 (IV)
2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8
Ownership issues of the public and…
Lack of credit subsidies on ICT…
Agricultural content development…
Inadequate use of public-private…
Challenges faced by corporates/startups for providing
services on ICTs in Agriculture

9. Key Findings (Suggestions)
2.63 (I)
2.58 (II)
2.47 (III)
2.44 (IV)
2.3 2.35 2.4 2.45 2.5 2.55 2.6 2.65
Information should in regional language
Training programme related to ICT for farmers
Marketing information should be through ICT tools
Improve internet connection
Suggestion to improve the access and usage of ICTs

10. Recommendations
Opportunities for FPOs Opportunities for StartUps