• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Port Info

• Ships in Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• The Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

K.V. Kurmanath

Hyderabad , Aug. 28

PROVING sceptics wrong, farmers in Andhra Pradesh have utilised the recent advances in communications to get their doubts cleared.

They have not spent a rupee as they used a toll-free number set up by Andhra Pradesh Government and Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University.

Parishkaram, the farmers call centre — 1100, has so far answered 56,000 queries since its inception on July 1, 2003.

The Department of Agriculture has brought out a compilation of FAQs (frequently asked questions), comprising mostly asked and relevant questions received by the call centre administrator.

The 127-page book is divided into various sections to provide crop-wise and region-wise information.

"The call centre works round-the-clock. The farmers can get their doubts cleared instantaneously," a call centre official said.

Soon after receiving the call, the attendant would transfer the call to relevant scientist," he said.

The farmers have a variety of questions. For one, a farmer wanted to know whether he could mix zinc sulphate with a pesticide and spray.

Pat came the reply from the scientist, "No. You should not mix it with pesticides."

Another farmer wanted to know how to treat paddy seeds with Azotobacter. He was told that it was not recommended yet in Andhra Pradesh.

The problem of mice devouring crops, whether maize can be grown in coconut groves and a variety of doubts.

"These doubts being common, we have decided to bring out a FAQ book," an Agricultural Department official said.

"The call centre proved to be a great hit, thanks to the convenience. Even uneducated people can dial the four-digit number easily. Moreover, they can speak in their own language," the official said.

In the absence of good advice, they often followed others who might not have knowledge in scientific usage of fertilisers, treating seeds and other important milestones in raising crops. "They also suffer because of using fertilisers and pesticides indiscriminately," he said.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Futures trading programme at Mangalore

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line