This document discusses cyber extension in agriculture. It defines cyber extension as an information exchange mechanism over cyber space through telecommunication means. It outlines some key milestones in cyber extension such as the establishment of ARIS in 1995 and Agrisnet in 1997 to provide agricultural information to farmers. The document also discusses various tools and approaches used in cyber extension like agriculture portals, email, video conferencing, expert systems, and call centers. It highlights advantages like lower costs and wider reach compared to traditional extension. However, it also notes challenges including information not being in local languages, lack of internet access in remote areas, and illiteracy among farmers.

1. Dr. Rajinder Kaur Kalra
Professor and Head (Retd.)
Department of Extension Education

3. Cyber space is the virtual space in
which computers are connected to
each other on networks, across the
globe.
Extension stand for “the action or
process of extending something”
oxford dictionary says cyber means
“Relating to information technology,
internet and the cyber space”
( Punjabi and Somani, 2012)

4. Cyber extension is an
information exchange mechanism
over cyber space, the imaginary
space behind the interconnected
computer networks through tele -
communication means.
(Wijekoon, 2003)
.

5.  Agricultural information
exchange mechanism over
cyber space through
telecommunication means.
(Singh and Singh 2011)

6.  At first during 1995, ARIS (Agricultural Research
Information System) was established to help students &
farmers to get immediate information regarding
agriculture
 During 1997, Agrisnet was started by GOI.
 MANAGE has established internet connectivity in 28
districts of 7 states viz., AP, Bihar, HP, Jharkhand,
Maharashtra, Orissa & Punjab under NATP.
(Anonymous 2013)
MILESTONES IN CYBER EXTENSION

7.  To develop the linkages among farmers, extension
agents and agriculture scientists
 To reduce the knowledge gap and increase
knowledge sharing to accelerate agricultural growth
 To train the farmer in producing quality products
 Quick dissemination of innovations
 E-commerce, direct linkages among local
producers, trader, retailers and suppliers
 To develop efficient feedback mechanism
 To empower small and marginal farmer
 To provide up to date information regarding market,
agricultural practices, weather etc.
( R Saravanan 2010)

8.  To develop Linkages
Farmers
Extension
workers
Agriculture
specialists
SAUs

9.  To provide up to date information regarding market, agricultural
practices, weather etc.

10.  To train the farmers in producing the quality products
 By providing Online information
 Through web portals
 Demonstration through video-conferencing

11. Direct linkages among local producers, trader,
retailers and suppliers:
E-commerce
Information transfer through E-mail
Supply chain management

12.  Through world wide web
 Through agricultural portals
Quick dissemination of innovations

13. Latest packages of practices
1. Best Agronomic practices
2. Insect/Pest management
3. Improved varieties
Post-harvest technology
1. Storage
2. processing
3. marketing
Market information
1. Price updates of inputs and outputs
2. Availability of inputs and outputs

14. Early warning and management of
Disease and pests:
Early warning in case of some crops
like sugarcane is important.
Weather forecasting
•Rainfall
•Temperature
•humidity
General agricultural news
1. Claim processing
2. Crop insurance scheme

15. Information about rural
development programs and
subsidies:
•detailed information on
Government initiatives
Information on latest techniques and
technologies:
Farm Machinery
Storage techniques
Soil testing and soil sampling
information :
testing of quality or nature of soil

16. Store house of
information
Information
available
24hours
More interactive
Information
available on any
part of globe
Communication
is dynamic

17. World Wide Web:
 a system of interlinked hypertext
documents accessed via the internet
 With the web browser, one can
view web pages that may contain
text, images, videos and other
multimedia.
Email:
system for sending and receiving
messages electronically over a
computer network
does not require the receiver of the
message to be online at the time the
message is sent or received

18. Call centres:
Telecommunication infrastructure,
computer support and human
resources organized to effectively
and efficiently manage queries
raised by farmers instantly in his
local language
Farmers can immediately get
answers to their problems in his
local language
KIOSKS:
 A multilingual online question and
answer forum
 Provides online answers to
questions asked by farmers and agri-
professionals over the internet, kiosks
 Almost all the questions have been
answered in the local language

19. Agriculture portals:
Refers to a catalogue of records of
related information of a particular area
organised systematically and made
available to the users on internet
AGRITECH
AGMARKNET
Expert System:
 intelligent computer programme that
uses the knowledge and inference
procedures to solve the problems that
are difficult enough to require human
expertise for their solutions

20. Video conferencing:
Uses telecommunication of
audio and video to bring people
at different sites together for
meeting.
Video conferencing uses
telecommunication of audio and
video to bring people at
different sites together for
meeting
Improve farm communication

21.  Warna wired village project
 Information village project
 Gyandoot project
 E-choupal
 E-Mitra
 Bhoomi
 FRIENDS
 E- Seva
 Lokmitra

22.  PEST FORCASTING
 By dept. of pathology
 In collaboration with school of information and
technology , P A U, Ludhiana
 On karnal bunt disease
 ONLINE EXPERT SERVICES BY DEPT. OF
HOME SCIENCE
• Establishment of boutique
• Home preservation of fruits and vegetables
• Nutritional recipes etc.

23.  WEATHER FORCASTING AND AGRO-
ADVISORY SERVICES
 By Dept of Agro metrology And Climatology
 Transfer proven technologies and agromet advisory
services to end-users.
 Weather forecasting units at Ludhiana and Bathinda.
• Information regarding weather is send to KVKs
through cyber extension tools

24. • Save money, time and effort
 Information rich and interactive
 Can be accessed from any place on the earth
 Widen the scope of extension
 Per unit cost is less as compared to traditional form of
extension
 Distortion of message is negligible
 Preserve the quality of message
 Experts can be contacted directly

25.  Sometimes information given is not in the local
language.
 Some information given may not hold good for local
conditions.
 Illiterate farmers cannot get the benefit of cyber
extension.
 Dissemination of technology through Cyber Extension
in highly remote areas is a difficult task
Disadvantages of Cyber Extension

26.  Poor updating of information and communication
technologies
 Slack broadband or wireless connections in internet
 High end user price of connections being available
 High prevalence of illiteracy in rural areas
 Low or negligible availability of services providers
for services such as internet ,software and hardware
experts

27.  Low modem availability
 Low level of awareness about ICT
 Slugged approach to the service for telephone
problems
 Radio and television though have a deep approach in
rural areas, but services providers have have a limited
coverage of issues
 Low economic purchasing power parity(PPP)
Conti....

28.  Hurdled and inconsistent availability of power
leading to transmission hitches
 Low motivational parameters among the rural people
 Inadequate and improper training to the extension
staff
 Lack of strong network for cyber extension
Conti....

29.  Each sector of cyber extension should form
partnership and coordination with each other
 Cost-recovery approaches should be introduced.
 Public-Private and NGO Partnership with the
collaboration of mass media and ICTs should be
promoted.
 Appropriate ICT models for agricultural extension
should be replicated and extensively used for farm
information dissemination.

30.  Extension agents should concentrate on wider role
including input supply, market intervention, and
linking farmers for farm credit.
 SHGs could play important roles in articulating the
needs of farmers to knowledge intermediaries
 Capacity building and development of leadership and
management skills should be promoted
Conti....