E-Saayam – An ICT-Based Initiative to Provide Timely Technical Support to Farmers through AEOs in Karimnagar District of Telangana State, India

Telangana's government has recruited many Agricultural Extension Officers (AEOs) for the Department of Agriculture. A single AEO was appointed for every 2000 Ha. The newly recruited AEOs do not have enough practical knowledge & confidence to provide technical support to the experienced farmers. At the same time, there is lack of timely technical support to farmers, leading to increased costs of cultivation, resulting in lesser net returns. To overcome this problem and provide continuous technical support & also to increase the confidence among the AEOs in the Department of Agriculture, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jammikunta has initiated ICT based e-Saayam project which in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture to deliver credible advice to the farmers & keep updated by disseminating specific Agricultural Extension Services without time lapses in coordination with FARMER-AEO-SCIENTIST in a regular smart cyclic mode. Both the Agriculture Department and KVK, Jammikunta are jointly implementing the programme in December 2017. As part of the programme, AEOs would visit agricultural fields and identify standing crops. If they find any problem (Pest & diseases), they would take pictures of the affected crop using tablets supplied to them and post the picture on the e-Saayam WhatsApp group. Scientists who are part of the group would advise to overcome the particular problem. After getting a reply from scientists, AEOs would suggest to farmers the steps to be taken to overcome the problem. e-Saayam influences building enough practical knowledge & confidence in (76) Agricultural Extension Officers in the District to provide technical support to experienced farmers (18,131) were benefitted.