This document summarizes BAIF's experience using mobile technology in their agricultural extension programs. It discusses their initial attempts using bulky devices with limited functionality. Subsequently, they tried using Palm OS devices which had issues with displays, batteries, and storage capacity. In 2008, they developed a custom mobile application using Windows OS smartphones which allowed for real-time data entry, monitoring, and reporting across hundreds of livestock centers. The mobile system provided benefits like time savings, improved data quality, and monitoring metrics. Moving forward, BAIF aims to explore web-based and online systems, while addressing issues like connectivity, security, and cost-effectiveness.

1. Use of
modern information technology tool
(mobile)
in
agriculture extension program
BAIF’s experience
Dr.R.L.Bhagat

2. Our mission:
To create opportunities of gainful self-
employment for the rural families,
especially disadvantaged sections,
ensuring sustainable livelihood, enriched
environment, improved quality of life and
good human values.
This is being achieved through development
research, effective use of local resources, extension of
appropriate technologies and up-gradation of skills and
capabilities with community participation.
1920-1993

3. Program coverage:
 States: 16
 Villages: 88,000
 Families: 5.26 million

4. Livestock program coverage
State Dist. CDC
No.
Total
Family
Total A.I.
M.S. 19 285 94054 218701
Guj 23 219 384568 146177
Kar 21 226 466082 180586
Raj 18 422 596646 414643
M.P. 19 120 40452 42506
A.P. 11 152 100728 118504
U.P. 75 1043 2788022 1053583
U. Khand 12 120 246435 66517
Bihar 15 252 175000 233826
Jh. Khand 24 710 303345 169251
Odisha 10 100 24964 29120
Punjab 5 100 42815 107038
Total 252 3,749 52,63,111 27,80,452

5. Data captured at each CDC
 At the time of Artificial Insemination (A.I.):-
Farmer name, address
Animal name/ tag no.
Date of A.I.,
Name sire used for A.I.,
Semen Mfg. date,
A.I. charges,
Milk given on A.I. date,
distance covered,
Heat symptoms.
 On Pregnancy Diagnosis :-
Follow up date and result
 After Calving :-
Calving date, calf sex, calving type, calf status
 Semen stock per month

6. Need of automation :
Catering varying reporting requirements of
sponsors
Quicker and accurate data compilation
Reduction in CDC expenses in long run
Monitor CDC performance
Test technical interventions
Generate data for new technology testing
Effective implementation of field research

7. First Model 2006
• Bulky device
• Code based entry and display
• Limited scope of operation
• Not found user friendly
• Battery back up period was short
• Battery being outside, handling was
difficult
• Difficulty was faced in carrying the unit.
• Improvements were tried the next unit
Experience:

8. Second Model
◦ Problems in display.
◦ Battery problem could not
be sorted out completely
◦ Smaller data storage
capacity due to weak
internal battery.
◦ As a solution
◦ Simputer developed by
C-DAC was also tried
Experience

9. After 2 years: 1st time mobile use
 Decided to use PALM for data capture
• An I. T. professional was hired
• as consultant
 Satellite Form as a developing tool
 Smart phone Palm Treo 680
 Development of software
Software Testing & Implementation
 Software testing done
 After extensive testing
implemented at 4 centers

10. Features
 Uploading facility
 Down loading facility
 Handling more convenient
 More enthusiasm noted at
field technicians
Limitations:
 Requires specific type of software (Palm OS)
 Inclination to use entertainment facilities
 Frequent failure of power adaptors (chargers)
 Shortage of memories
 Difficulty in getting spare parts
 switching from Palm to window OS based devices

11. Prerequisites for software
Mobile
Touch screen c Window 6.5
PC with
Min. 1 GB of RAM &
Windows XP or
later version operating system
Dot Net framework
2.0 or later version.
SQL Server
Express edition with service pack 3.

12. CDC
(Unique ID & separate mobile)
Village-1
Farmer-1
Animal-1
Animal-2
Animal…. n
Farmer-2 Farmer …. n
Village-2 Village …n
Master tables on mobile at CDC:
Animal name / Tag No., Species,
Breed, DOB, Lact. No., Last calving
date, Calving type, Dam, Sire,
Farmer name, Sex, Contact No., Cast,
Economic status, Land Holding
Master
Lists
Master Lists
Master
Lists

13. Networking of mobile & data transfer:
State Office
CDC
Area Office
CDC
CDC
CDC
Area Office
CDC
CDC
CDC
Area Office
CDC
CDC
State Office
Central Office

14. Information flow:
CDC
• Information captured at time of each
A.I. & follow-ups on Mobile
Area Office
• The information imported Monthly on
PC
State Office
• The information imported Monthly on
Server
Central
Warehouse
• The information imported Monthly on
Server
14

15. Advantages:
 Once master lists
 entry takes hardly one minute.
 Almost 80% master lists
 3 to 4 months .
 First hand data entry
 Saves data entry errors
 collected through paper work.
 Pending list of follow-up
 Pregnancy diagnosis & calving
 automatically generate & alarmed to I/c. CDC
 Monitoring
 AFC, Open period, Ser. period, Inter calv.
period,
 Required data available all the time

16. Advantage:
 Being Mobile
 Used getting A.I. calls from farmers
 Centre in charge is able to avoid
inbreeding
 as he can see sire of progeny
 Before A.I.
 Elimination of paper is possible
 CDC in-charge get on the spot information
of
 A.I. done during any given period
 Progeny born during any period
 Bull wise/ species wise A.I.
 Bull wise/species wise semen used
 Bull wise/species wise pregnancy

17.  Number of villages covered within a centre
 Village wise number of farmers availing breeding services
 Economical status wise number of families (APL/BPL)
 Social strata-wise number of families (Caste, Tribe etc)
 Number of landless and land holder families
 Breed wise number of breed-able cattle / buffaloes
 Average distance covered per AI
 Number of AI required per pregnancy
 Number of AI required for getting one female calf
 Disposal status of animals (Sold/died/Transfer) and reasons like fodder shortage,
better price for animal, surplus animal, problem breeder, low yield etc.
 Calving type (Normal, Assisted, etc.)
 Centre performance i.e. Number of AI, PD, calving / month / year ,
 Breed-able population covered within centre jurisdiction etc.
 Efficiency of centre in charge i.e. number of pregnancies per 100 AI .
 Breed-wise/ Sire wise number of semen doses used.
 Semen wastage and reason of semen dose wastage like leakage, empty straw, half
filled straw, bursting at the time of thawing. Etc.
 Sire evaluation i.e. number of progenies born, disposal of progeny and their reasons
like sudden death, still birth twin birth, natural deformity etc.
 AI and other charges ( sale of mineral mixture, de-worming vaccination etc. collected
 Technical information of heat symptoms at the time of AI which helps advising farmers
regarding animal status.
Output generated:

18.  Once master list is prepared further entry takes hardly one minute.
 Almost 80 % master lists are generated within 3 to 4 months
 First hand data entry saves mistakes / errors while entering data in PC
 collected through paper work.
 Pending task automatically generate
 Reminds to user
 Tracing of progeny of sire is possible.
 Monitoring in terms
 open period, service period, Inter calving period is possible
 User able to avoid inbreeding
 as he can see the sire of progeny before the time of AI.
 The centre in-charge is able to get instant ( On the spot) information on
 Number of AI done during any given period
 Number of pregnancies
 Bull wise/ species wise AI
 Bull wise/species wise semen used
 Bull wise/species wise pregnancy
 Amount /Levy collected.
 List of Registered / Unregistered farmers.
Benefits to User

19. Data captured through mobile (Jan 06 to Dec 12)
Project name States No. of Mobiles Total A.I.
Godhan U.P. , Bihar, M. S. 160 2,92,000
Govt. of India Bihar & U.P. 200 5,98,905
State Govt. Jharkhand 400 2,07,118
PALM (old) Maharashtra 25 1,20,000
Total 785 12,18, 023
Receiving A. I.
call
Animal herd Data entry transactions

20. Future Scope
 Trying to use web based real time system.
 Cost effective comparison among different
technologies
◦ On line, offline, web based etc
 Long term durability.
 Explore to use motor cycle mounted
chargers
 Project specific data capturing.

21. CPC
Semen Collection
details
R&D Team
Field Officer
AI Details
AI Appointment
Livestock Info
Farmer Info
Village Info
Pending Task
Revenue Details
Web based mobile process flow chart
Web Server /
Database
Bull Details
Semen
Inventory
Alerts
Calf Info
Top Management
Farmer
Veterinary
Doctor
SM
S

22.  Real time updates, available online & on mobiles
 Secured access from anywhere, anytime.
 Easy to plan, track & report on schedule.
 can be added notes, email alerts and priorities
 can track resources, risks, changes and issues
 Graphical charts provides reports at a glance
 help to manage people, materials and equipment
 can be created customized project reports
Features of new mobile application

23. Internet connectivity and mobile range
In rural & remote areas
Cost effectiveness
Recurring cost like
server rant, net charges etc
Being other’s server data security?
 Data retrieve time and time require
Complete the transactions
Data handling capacity
Issues need to address: