The Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government should provide adequate infrastructure for the growth of digital media which the Odia farmers can use for getting connected with the local and global market to sell produce. This would fetch them remunerative price, experts said at a seminar here.
Titled RsUse of Web, Social Media and Mobile Technology in Agriculture Sector for Communication, Employment and livelihood Opportunities for Odia Farmers and Rural Youth,’ the one-day seminar was jointly organized on January 7 by Janata Vikas Manch (JVM) in association with Sahabhagi Vikash Abhiyaan (SVA) and Nirman.
National Farmer’s Commission former member Jagdish Pradhan said that the farmers can use the digital media to sell their produce in the urban areas. “Marketing is a major issue for the farmers. They should be organized and they should form farmers clubs through which they can get information on many things by using the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) effectively for selling their produce in the market,” he said.
An initiator of the on-line marketing for the agricultural produce, especially vegetables in India, e-Kuteer Rural Management Services founder KC Mishra said, “We should take ICT to the farmers. The IT module for the farmers can be designed by living in the field through soil and seed testing. The ICT can be a powerful tool for the Odia farmers to connect, converge and collaborate not only in Odisha, but also with the global market.”
While providing an expert comment, Agrometerologist, OUAT, Dr Surendranath Pasupalak said, “The rural youth and civil society should join hands with the Government to educate State farmers about the digital media which will help them in various ways.”
Stressing on the need of digital media in agriculture sector, Nilambar Rath, an expert in modern media communication, said that the Government should work to enhance mobile network and internet facility in Odisha.
Participating in the debate, Koshal Horizon Editor Baidyanath Mishra opined that a multi-pronged strategy should be adopted to address various issues related to the convergence of agriculture with the ICT in Odisha. Earlier, JVM founder member Sai Prasan introduced the subject to the gathering and chaired the deliberations.