IFPRI-ICAAP project to provide global agricultural advisory services to small and marginal farmers

- By Senthil Kumar Govindararaja, Project Coordinator, IFPRI

International Food Policy Research institute (IFPRI), Washington DC and ICAAP (IKP Centre for Advancement in Agricultural practice) joined together to establish global agricultural knowledge facility through information and communication technology (ICT) in India. The project aims to establish an interactive internet-based platform for facilitating knowledge and experience sharing between the various agri-stakeholders (including men and women farmers, extension agents, agricultural scientists, agro-industries, agri-financing institutions, policymakers and planners).

To kick-start the project, being piloted in Thanjavur and Thiruvarur districts, we visited the locations to understand existing agricultural extension systems in the region, needs and demands of stakeholders in accessing scientific information through various channels. To explore the probable entry points to pilot IFPRI – ICAAP knowledge portal in the locality, we interacted with knowledge intermediaries like extension professionals, KVK (Farm science centre), agricultural research station, civil society organizations, KGFS, farmers associations and small and marginal farming community.

Agriculture scenario at Thanjavur and Thiruvarur districts

Rice and Rice fallow pulses i.e. black gram and green gram and oilseeds i.e. Gingelly, groundnut (Rainfed crop) are the dominant crops in Thanjavur and Thiruvarur districts. Most of the farmers depend on Cauvery water to meet their farming activities. In some of the areas, progressive farmers grow sugarcane and banana by using bore-well water as annual crop.

Recently, the stagnation in growth of rice productivity was noticed in the two districts, caused by various factors like imbalance in fertilizer application, labour scarcity etc. Similarly, even pulses cultivation faces various impediments not least of which would be the lack of scientific methods of production.

Small and marginal farmers are looking at alternate solutions like diversified agriculture, vegetable cultivation and allied activities for livelihood to improve their standard of living.

Few developments at Thanjavur and Thiruvarur districts by various stakeholders

State and central ministries (Agriculture) have launched various schemes to empower farmers in order to realize the profitability in farming. Recently, they launched ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency) in 591 districts in the country, including in Thanjavur and Thiruvarur districts. The agency, a decentralized model where farmers’ issues will be surfaced during meetings and ways to address them would be carved out, aims to integrate all the line departments, research community, farmers association, self-help group and farmers. Additionally, extension professionals organize tours for farmers to visit some of the successful models like organic farming, precision farming etc (Seeing is believing).

Also MSSRF has initiated village resource centre and village knowledge centre that helps rural communities to access information through ICT. They have also launched a mobile van, which travels across different villages to provide farming solutions by way of soil and water testing. In addition, Agricultural research stations i.e. Tamil Nadu Rice Research Station, Soil and Water Management Research Station and Coconut Research station and KVK (Farmers science centre) are trying to bridge gaps between research scientists and farmers.

Discussion at Villamangudi village with agricultural laborers who availed financial services at KGFS

A very unique model for delivery of financial services in rural areas is KGFS. Being at the grassroots level and in touch with the small and marginal farmers, its branches provide a platform for potentially disseminating agricultural scientific knowledge to the local farming community.

Stakeholders Need Assessment

Farmers

• The reality of the rural economy in the districts is one where farmers need not just technology, but information on prices, consumer preferences, markets and trade. They need access to credit and other agricultural market oriented scientific information.
• Their information needs change quickly and requires rapid responses and solutions. Information needs to be complemented by links to markets and other players in the local and global value chains.
• For the poorest households, they don’t necessarily need agricultural development support, but, rather, support for diversified livelihoods in the new rural economy.

Knowledge intermediaries

• Extension agents and subject matter specialist in an ideal world would resemble knowledge brokers. They need to articulate the demand of farmers for knowledge, facilitate linkages between stakeholders with ideas and resources and manage the knowledge process.
• Extension workers lack ability to handhold the stakeholders who are involved in the crop value chain and lack relationship skills with the farming community.

IFPRI-ICAAP will join with above local stakeholders to implement the project and bring the innovative and sustainable model to provide comprehensive advisory services to the small and marginal farmers and link them with the market for profit realization.

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Senthil can be reached at: s.govindarajan [at] cgiar.org