Hyderabad, June 14: In a novel application of information technology for benefit of farmers, Andhra Pradesh will soon put in place a seamless network linking villages to the state secretariat providing information and professional advice to farming community.
As part of the project, a toll-free central call centre would be set up here by July 1, enabling farmers across the state to call up and register their complaints which would automatically be sent to respective departments for follow-up action, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu told reporters today.

"We are in talks with ICICI Bank to set up and manage the call centre which will serve as a main hub to monitor the field situation," Naidu said.

At the district level, tele-clinics would be set up where agricultural experts would be available to provide guidance to farmers on all matters pertaining to crop patterns, use of pesticides and fertilisers, marketing potential and modern agricultural practices.
The farmers could call up these clinics on toll-free numbers and seek experts' advise, chief minister said adding that Outdoor Broadcasting Vans (OBVs) would also be deployed at district level to enable experts and agriculture department officials to visit the fields and interact with farmers.

"We will make extensive use of KU and C band technology so that the live interactions between farmers and the experts could be transmitted to rural homes through television network," Naidu said.
Bureau Report