1Agriculture Communication, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, PANTNAGAR-263145, Uttarakhand, (India), E-mail: doctoransari@rediffmail.com
2Indian Science Communication Society, (www.iscos.org), Lucknow
Indian agriculture, driven by the forces of globalisation privatization and commercialisation, is at the crossroads. While on one hand it has to increase the agric production to meet the food requirements of billion-plus and still growing population; on the other hand, it has to cope-up with the progressively declining area under cultivation. The existing extension system is woefully inadequate and ill-equipped to measure up to this gigantic task. The challenges facing India agriculture requires fundamental changes in the rationale, set-up and delivery mechanism of agriculture extension services.
The rapid and unprecedented advances in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have completely changed the socio-political and techno-economic landscape of the contemporary society in India. Developments in modern communication technology and its ever-increasing availability and use by the public - in rural as well as urban areas - has completely transformed the patterns of social interactions, systems of governance and public policymaking. This has, though, undoubtedly enhanced the human capabilities of information trading, i.e. information reception, information processing and information dissemination. Recognising the potential of ICTs, to transform rural communities, both socially and economically, the Government of India is committed to extending the telecommunications infrastructure and expanding access to telecommunications services to all parts of the country.
The aim of this paper is to present an enabling framework of e-Extension that will attempt to harness the potential of ICTs and facilitate electronic delivering of agricultural information, advice and consultation for hightech agriculture and precision farming. Rural Knowledge Centre (RKC) being established under India's “Mission 2007: Every village a knowledge centre” will be the focal point of nationwide efforts to mobilise the private and public sectors to apply ICTs to cater the Information, Communication and Training needs of rural India. The prevailing technology environment can provide ample opportunities for skill upgradation of rural youth for possible diversification in agriculture sector and catalyse community based development initiatives through value addition in agricultural products supply chain and triggering entrepreneurial activities in villages through Self Help Groups SHGs.
