Impact assessment of mobile app using the economic surplus model

Information communication and technology (ICT) has brought a paradigm shift in reducing transaction costs by enabling farmers to take timely decisions, and imparting the potential to disseminate information to a large number of farmers. We studied the economic benefits and impact of Mobile app abinitio developed by the ICAR-National Research Station for Grapes, Pune, Maharashtra; currently maintained by S K Crop Tech Company. The App provides complete information and decision support system to farmers to take appropriate decisions on crop diseases, pest, irrigation, soil and fertilizer management. Besides this, information and forecasting about weather is also given to farmers. Results of economic surplus method show that over a period of 16 years (2007 to 2022), 20% adoption of mobile app would generate a total surplus of Rs 9140.85 million and net present worth of Rs 9111.94 million. Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is 316%. At 50% level of adoption, it would generate a total surplus of Rs. 13271.42 million with an IRR of 317% The size of these returns implies that mobile based app for grapes has high potential in generating higher economic returns.