ICT terms & Need for ICT in Agricultural Extension

1. ICT terms & Need for
ICT in Agril. Extn.

2. ICTs
 Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) are diverse set of
technological tools & resources used to
communicate, to create, disseminate, store
& manage information.
 These technologies include computers,
internet, network hardware & software,
satellites, broadcasting medias (Radio & TV)
& telephony (landlines & cellular). As well as
the various services & applications
associated with them, such as web portals,
email, SMS, video-conferencing, DSS, MIS &
Expert system etc.

3.  E-Agriculture
Refers to the use of ICTs by the farmers, rural people
& farm stakeholders for information exchange,
communication & learning processes, which is
useful for the better management of their
agricultural systems & livelihoods.
 e- Extension/ Cyber Extension
It means using the power of online networks,
computer communications & digital interactive
multimedia to facilitate agricultural extension.
Cyber Extension includes effective use of
information & communication technology, national
& international information networks, internet,
expert systems, multimedia learning systems &
computer based training systems to improve
information access to the farmers, rural people &
farm stakeholders.

4.  Mobile Telephony
A mobile phone (also known as a wireless phone, cell
phone or cellular phone) is a long range, electronic
device used for mobile voice or data communication
over a network. In addition current mobile phones
support many additional services & accessories such
as SMS for text messaging, email, packet switching
for access to internet, gaming, Bluetooth, infrared,
camera with video recorder & MMS for sending &
receiving photos & video, MP3 player, radio & GPS.
 Innovative Radio
Innovative Radio broadcasting refers to the community
radio, digital radio broadcasting & mobile radio
broadcasting handset initiatives for the agricultural
extension services provision.

5.  Decision Support System (DSS)
DSS is a computer based system designed to
help decision-makers using data, knowledge
& communication technology to identify
problems & make decisions to solve those
problems.
 Management Information System (MIS)
MIS is basically concerned with processing data into
information & that information is communicated for
appropriate decision making. Data collection &
processing involves the use of ICTs comprising;
computers & telecommunications networks (e-mail,
voice mail, internet, telephone etc.)

6.  Expert system
An expert system is an intelligent computer program
that uses knowledge & inference procedures for
solving specific problems requiring human
expertise for their solution. An expert system is a
software system that attempts to reproduce the
performance of one or more human experts.
 e-Learning
e-Learning encompasses learning at all levels, both
formal & non-formal, that uses an information
network-the internet, an intranet (LAN) or
extranet (WAN)- for course delivery, interaction,
evaluation & for facilitation. Others prefer the term
online learning. Web-based learning is a subset of
e-learning & refers to learning using an internet.

7.  Open Distance Learning (ODL)
ODL refers to the approaches of learning
that focus on freeing learners from
constraints of time and place while
offering flexible learning opportunities.
ODL is delivered using a variety of print &
electronic systems either through
synchronous communication or through
asynchronous communication. It is
mediated either by correspondence, A-V
means (TV & Radio), multimedia &
internet.

8. Need for ICT in Agril. Extn.
1. To accelerate Agril. Growth
2. To expand knowledge resource
3. To facilitate better information access
4. To supplement inadequate technical manpower
5. For stronger research-extension-farmer linkage
6. To develop efficient feedback mechanism
7. For cost-effective extension delivery
8. To develop knowledge managers
9. To ensure gender equity in technology transfer
process
10. To empower Small & marginal farmers
11. To serve the farm stakeholders beyond
technology transfer role

9. ICT infrastructure scenario
 Telephone subscribers (wireless & landline): 900 million
 Landlines: 34.29 million
 Cell phones: 851.70 million
 Monthly cell phone addition: 11.41 million
 Broadband subscribers: 12.32 million
 Tele density: 74
 Projected Tele density: 1 billion, 84% of population by
2012
 Huge gap b/n urban (64) & rural (9) tele density
 Total internet users: 100 million Rural 1.2 % & urban 12
%.
 Mobile penetration in Urban (44 %) & Rural (5 %)

10. Next generation networks
 Multiple access networks can connect customers to a
core network based on IP technology. These access
networks include fibre optics or coaxial cable networks
connected to fixed locations or customers connected
through wi-fi as well as to 3G networks connected to
mobile users.
 As a result, in the future, it would be impossible to
identify whether the next generation network is a fixed
or mobile network and the wireless access broadband
would be used both for fixed and mobile services.
 It would then be futile to differentiate between fixed
and mobile networks – both fixed and mobile users will
access services through a single core network.

11.  Indian telecom networks are not so intensive as developed
country’s telecom networks and India's teledensity is low
only in rural areas. 670,000 route kilometers (419,000
miles) of optical fibres has been laid in India by the major
operators, even in remote areas and the process continues.
BSNL alone, has laid optical fibre to 30,000 Telephone
Exchanges out of their 36 Exchanges. Keeping in mind the
viability of providing services in rural areas, an attractive
solution appears to be one which offers multiple service
facility at low costs.
 A rural network based on the extensive optical fibre
network, using Internet Protocol and offering a variety of
services and the availability of open platforms for service
development, viz. the Next Generation Network, appears to
be an attractive proposition. Fibre network can be easily
converted to Next Generation network and then used for
delivering multiple services at cheap cost.

12. Good Luck