This document summarizes Susmita Das's presentation on National Productivity Day about using information and communication technologies (ICT) to accelerate agricultural production in Bangladesh for sustainable development. It discusses how ICT interventions like information centers, mobile services, radio and TV programs have helped increase farmers' access to information and boosted productivity and incomes. While ICT has benefited farmers, issues around limited access to tools and knowledge need addressing to make ICT more effective. With continued ICT integration, sustainable agricultural development and goals like poverty reduction can be achieved.

1. National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
Susmita Das , BARC
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council
22ndnd
October 2016October 2016
National Productivity DAY 2016National Productivity DAY 2016
Higher productivity forHigher productivity for
Sustainable GrowthSustainable Growth
Picture Source: Tamzid/YPARD

2. Intervention of ICT in Accelerating AgriculturalIntervention of ICT in Accelerating Agricultural
Production for Sustainable Development inProduction for Sustainable Development in
BangladeshBangladesh
Susmita Das
Senior Documentation Officer
AIC, BARCNational Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
Susmita Das , BARC
Picture Source: ITU News

3. National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
Susmita Das , BARC
Contribution of
Agriculture

4. Susmita Das , BARCNational Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
Food Production Growth
Self Sufficiency in
Food Production;
383.43 lakh ton
food Production in
2013-2014
Source: Yearbook of Agricultural
Statistics, 2014

5. National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
Rice production increased @ 0.34
MT year-1
during 2010-14. We need
to maintain the momentum
Rice Production Trend

6. Susmita Das , BARCNational Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
Source: Yearbook of Agricultural Statistics, 2014

7. Susmita Das , BARCNational Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016

8. Susmita Das , BARCNational Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016

9. Susmita Das , BARCNational Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
Field Crops production (Current status)
Crop Production
(MT)
Status
(+ surplus; deficit in MT)
Clean rice 34.99 + 2.18
Wheat 1.30 - 1.88
Pulses 0.35 - 2.55
Oilseeds 0.85 - 0.56
Maize 2.12 - 1.19
Source :Yearbook of Agricultural Statistics, 2014

10. Susmita Das , BARC
National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
Current Yield Gap in Rice

11. National Productivity Day,
02 October, 2016
Susmita Das , BARC
Why ICT in Agriculture

12. National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016 Susmita Das , BARC
Why ICT in Agriculture
ICT
Directly
contribute
agriculture
production
Indirectly contribute
empowering
capacity
& right
decisions on
farming

13. National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016 Susmita Das , BARC
Different Uses of ICT in Agriculture
obtaining
technology about
pesticide
learning about post harvest
technology & nutrition from
documentary film
Modernizing of cultivation Utilizing IPM technology
Fish cultivation
Technology

14. Susmita Das , BARC
Benefits of ICT in Agriculture

15. Susmita Das , BARC
National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
ICT based Rural Information centers
Mobile based services
Web-based services
Radio programs
Television programs
Agriculture call centers

16. Susmita Das , BARCNational Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
Government Private
• TV program
• Radio Program (Green Hour )
• Community Information Centers (CIC)
• Mobile based problem&
• www.ruralinfobd.com
• InfoLady
• Cell Bazaar (Market
• knowledge bazaars in Bangladesh
• Practical Action’s Bengali knowledge
website
• Bathighor, Farmbook (BIID)
• Community Radio
• Fair Price International
• Farmer query System –mobile based/web
based tool (mPower initiatives)
• Miaki call centre
• Plant doctor (Susilon NGO)

17. UISC
Some Successful ICT based Innovations In BangladeshSome Successful ICT based Innovations In Bangladesh
Agricultural Radio
e-Purjee
Agricultural
TV. Program
Krishi call Centre
AICC

18. Susmita Das , BARC
Innovator AIS, Ministry of Agriculture
Aims to increase farmers’ access to
demand-led timely information
499 AICC all over the country
 equipped with ICT tools & provide Computer training,
Provide services like e-mailing, composing, printing,
Agriculture problem based solution by documentary films
Internet service, enquiry answers
 Video conference through Skype
Expert opinion by skype &phone calls
introducing income generating activities by renting
multimedia and agricultural tools and machineries
Agricultural Information & Communication Centre (AICC)Agricultural Information & Communication Centre (AICC)
National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016

19.  Initiated by( NATP ), MoA
 Sub-Assistant Ag Officer (SAAO)-3, LEAF-1, CEAL-
1
 732 FIAC (100 operated by computer)
 Manual prescribed services
 Hand-on trainings
 Display board for quick information,
 Pest & seed museum
 Spot advice to farmers daily
 Coordinated services for 15-54 farmers by turns
 Initiated by( NATP ), MoA
 Sub-Assistant Ag Officer (SAAO)-3, LEAF-1, CEAL-
1
 732 FIAC (100 operated by computer)
 Manual prescribed services
 Hand-on trainings
 Display board for quick information,
 Pest & seed museum
 Spot advice to farmers daily
 Coordinated services for 15-54 farmers by turns
Farmer’s Information and Advice Centre's (FIAC)Farmer’s Information and Advice Centre's (FIAC)
Susmita Das , BARC
National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016

20. Union Information & Service
Centre (UISC)
Main Observations
One stop service
outlet at 4501
Union Parishad
Year of Est. 2010 • Good for citizen services
• Web based agri
information with limited
agri- knowledge
• Printed agricultural
information with small
fee
• No instant agricultural
services
• No direct
communication with
expert
• Tend to be commercial
Sponsor Govt.
Entreprene
ur
2
Male 1
Female 1
Internet
Speed
20 -64
kbps
ICT tools- desktop,
computer, scanner,
digital camera, color
printer , modem

21. Susmita Das , BARC
 started in 1998 in Bangladesh
 16 Community Radio
 programs on Information,
education, agriculture ,
entertainment and development
motivation
 Emphasize on question-answer
based agricultural programs
 Encourage farmers through
season-wise advisory programs
 Motivate young farmers through
local cultural programs
 Agro climatic advice-cyclone in
coast al areas for fish farmers
Community Radio in Bangladesh
National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016

22. Details of Main observations
Year of Est. 2011 Slogan - (My Radio, My Voice)
 32 listener clubs with 600
farmers
Broadcast news, agriculture &
recreation program
 Affected by load shedding
 Lack of skilled manpower
Trainings on special radio
equipments with program
producing, trouble shooting
and equip. maintenance
Initiated by AIS, MoA, FAO CR Radio
Project,
Staff 6 Male-5 , Female-1
Airing time 9 am - 11am & 3pm - 5 pm
ICT Facilities- 3 Desktop computer, 1
laptop ,Modem, Internet Speed-10 kbps-
Community Krishi Radio (Agricultural Radio) at 98.8
(Amtoli, Borguna)
Community Krishi Radio (Agricultural Radio) at 98.8
(Amtoli, Borguna)
Susmita Das , BARC

23. Agricultural Call
Centre -16123
 Initiated by MoA and Practical Action Bangladesh
 Better access to agricultural information
 Huge clients across the country.
 previously it was Toll free but now every call costs .25 po
 Quick service
Susmita Das , BARC
National Productivity Day, 02 October,
2016

24. Susmita Das , BARC
National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016

25. Susmita Das , BARC
 ICT farmers use mobile more than non ICT farmers. So
the relationship between mobile user and service area is
significant
Status of Mobile Use of Respondents

26. Reasons for Using MobileReasons for Using Mobile
 In family communication mobile is used in both group. In
obtaining agricultural information mobile is more used by ICT
Farmers
ICT Respondents Non ICT Respondents

27. Susmita Das , BARCNational Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
 Most of the respondents want to get their information from
mobile and television
ICT Media for Information SourceICT Media for Information Source

28. Baseline and Follow-up Rice (Boro) Production between ICT & Non-ICTBaseline and Follow-up Rice (Boro) Production between ICT & Non-ICT
Susmita Das , BARC
National Productivity Day,
02 October, 2016
The follow-up production of both groups has gradually increased but the
increase rate of ICT is higher than that of Non-ICT as it is more than
counterfactual (5.07-4.59= 0.48)

29. Susmita Das , BARC
National Productivity Day,
02 October, 2016
Baseline and Follow-up Production of Potato between ICT and Non-ICT
The follow-up production of both groups has gradually increased but the
increase rate of ICT is higher than that of Non-ICT as it is more than
counterfactual (19.35-19.19= 0.16)

30. Susmita Das , BARC
National Productivity Day,
02 October, 2016
Baseline and Follow-up Production of Wheat between ICT and Non-ICT
The follow-up production of both groups has gradually increased but the
increase rate of ICT is higher than that of Non-ICT as it is more than
counterfactual (2.98-2.62= 0.37)

31. Susmita Das , BARC
National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
Earning
Sources
Average Income (Tk.)
t-test for
Equality
of Means
ICT Non-ICT t df Sig.
Crops 143174 98424 3.27 1988 0.001
Poultry 29161 14828 2.94 1088 0.003
Fishery 106818 37333 9.57 718 0.000
Annual
Income 278288 215632 3.41 1988 0.001
Test of Significance of Income Difference (ICT & Non-ICT Farmers)
The income between ICT & non-ICT is significantly different
(P-value is less than 0.05),

32. Susmita Das , BARC
National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016
About 26% of the total (ICT & non-ICT) respondents demand information on pest
management like IPM and ICM and then 18.03% on weather forecast and about 17% on
market price because most of the farmers are anxious about pesticide attack, natural
calamities and fluctuation flow of market price.
Most Demand-led Agricultural Information

33. Susmita Das , BARC
Key Observation
Modern technologies are more used in ICT based service area
ICT farmers are more aware of agricultural information
Mobile & Television are mostly preferred as information source
of agricultural technologies to ICT oriented farmer
Proper fertilizer selection in ICT Area than in non-ICT area
Mobile Phone makes easy marketing for ICT based farmers
ICT oriented farmers are more appropriate to adopt technology
Women in ICT based area play important role in farm decision
Female farmers in ICT based area are conscious of nutrition and
social status
ICT Based farmer’s production & Income is higher than that of
Non-ICT based farmers
Modern technologies are more used in ICT based service area
ICT farmers are more aware of agricultural information
Mobile & Television are mostly preferred as information source
of agricultural technologies to ICT oriented farmer
Proper fertilizer selection in ICT Area than in non-ICT area
Mobile Phone makes easy marketing for ICT based farmers
ICT oriented farmers are more appropriate to adopt technology
Women in ICT based area play important role in farm decision
Female farmers in ICT based area are conscious of nutrition and
social status
ICT Based farmer’s production & Income is higher than that of
Non-ICT based farmers
National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016

34. Barriers of ICT Integration to FarmersBarriers of ICT Integration to Farmers
Susmita Das , BARC
Most of the respondents think that ICT services are not useful to them
because shortage of ICT tools & they have little knowledge about ICT

35. National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016 Susmita Das , BARC
Issues to be Addressed for making ICT more Effective

36.  Approved ICT Policy in 2015
 Implementing ICT Policy with infrastructural
development
 Achieved self-sufficiency in food-grain
 Attained food surplus
 Scored 4rth
position in rice production
 Attained 3rd
position in vegetable production
 5th
in fish production
 Making ICT enabling connected society by 2021
 Recently achieved ICT for Development Award
Susmita Das , BARC
Recent Achievements Ahead to Achieving
SDGs
National Productivity Day, 02 October,
2016

37. National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016 Susmita Das , BARC
Needs For Sustainable Agricultural Development

38. National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016 Susmita Das , BARC
Sustainable Development Goals

39. National Productivity Day, 02 October, 2016 Susmita Das , BARC
• With ICT interventions in agriculture,
productivity can be increased and
with good market intelligence,
farmers would get good
remunerative price & thus
profitability and poverty reduction
• With higher productivity and
increase in purchase power, there’d
be No poverty, Zero hunger and
Good health & well-being.
Conclusion

40. Thank you all