Wednesday 28 June 2023

Connecting Farmers - The Agriculture Portal for Networking and Collaboration

 


Smallholder farmers like Saravanan and Prabhu, who account for 86% of India's agrarian economy, depend on middlemen to reach buyers, and they frequently struggle to make a living wage from their carrots, beets, and other produce.


Farmers have little room to haggle prices at local markets because crop brokers take a sizable cut of the profits. Even worse, they lack the funds and credit necessary to purchase high-quality pesticides and fertilisers to increase their harvest. To maintain their farms and provide for their families, they fight every day. Since farming no longer provides a stable source of income, many of their children are moving away from their communities to pursue other careers.


Though this pattern might be reversed by new technologies that give these farmers access to better prices, Let us learn more about the Agriculture Portal for Networking and Collaboration and how it helps our farmers gain knowledge to increase their efficiency.


Current agricultural connectivity


In recent years, many farmers have started using data about critical elements like soil, crops, livestock, and weather. However, very few people, if any, have had access to cutting-edge digital tools that could aid in transforming this data into worthwhile, actionable insights. In less developed areas, almost all farm work is done by hand and requires little to no modern technology.


Even in the United States, a forerunner in connectivity, only about 25% of farms currently use any connected tools or devices to access data, and that tech isn't exactly cutting edge, running on 2G or 3G networks that telcos plan to decommission or on very low-band IoT networks that are difficult and expensive to set up.


Nevertheless, many simpler use cases, like advanced crop and livestock monitoring, can be enabled by current IoT technologies running on 3G and 4G cellular networks. However, in the past, the business case for implementing IoT in farming did not hold up due to the high cost of hardware. Costs for hardware and devices are currently falling quickly, and several providers are now offering solutions at a price that, in our opinion, will pay for itself within the first year of investment.


However, to fully realise the potential value that connectivity holds for agriculture, these more basic tools are insufficient.


How do networking and collaboration in agriculture benefit from an online portal?


An agriculture portal can help people and organizations involved in the agricultural sector network and collaborate in a number of ways. An agriculture portal can facilitate networking and collaboration in the following ways:


1. Connecting Stakeholders: Stakeholders can be connected through an agriculture portal, which can act as a hub for the interaction of farmers, researchers, agricultural specialists, policymakers, suppliers, buyers, and other interested parties. It offers a platform for these people and groups to connect and communicate with one another.


2. Sharing of Knowledge: The portal can serve as a focal point for the exchange of knowledge, resources, and information about agriculture. Articles, research papers, case studies, recommendations for best practices, and other instructional materials may be included. By providing a venue for knowledge exchange, the portal encourages collaboration and learning among its users.


3. Communities and Discussion Forums: Agriculture portals frequently feature community or discussion forum sections where users can post queries, seek advice, and converse with other members. These forums enable the sharing of concepts, insights, and experiences. Users can work together by exchanging knowledge, tackling problems, and offering solutions.


4. Opportunities for Collaboration: The portal may offer a special area where users can locate and work together on initiatives, projects, or research projects. Users can list their skills, interests, and areas of expertise in profiles or listings, making it simpler for others to find potential partners. This encourages collaboration and networking between people or groups with similar objectives or areas of expertise.


5. Event and Workshop Listings: Calendars of industry events, conferences, workshops, and training sessions are frequently included in agriculture portals. These gatherings offer chances for networking, encountering subject-matter experts, and working with like-minded people. Users can take part in activities that promote collaboration and stay informed about upcoming events.


6. Business Connections: An agriculture portal can act as a marketplace or directory where farmers and agribusinesses can advertise their goods and services. This promotes business partnerships by enabling potential customers, suppliers, distributors, or partners to find and connect with them.


7. Data Sharing and Analysis: Tools for data collection, analysis, and visualization may be included in agriculture portals. Users can spot trends, make knowledgeable decisions, and work together on research or policy initiatives that benefit the sector as a whole by sharing and analyzing agricultural data.


Concerning the Kisaan Helpline


Kisaan Helpline, one of India's top portals for agricultural service providers, helps rural communities improve the productivity and sustainability of their agricultural operations. We support farmers in becoming more integrated, connected, and knowledgeable than ever. From land preparation, seeding, and sowing to plant nutrition and protection, we provide you with specialised knowledge that lasts through post-harvesting. We are the top agricultural service provider in India, assisting you in decision-making on the farm, enhancing performance, forecasting future events, and acting more successfully as predicted.


What are the services offered by Kisaan Helpline and how does it help in networking and collaboration in agriculture?


1. Agri-Advisory: Farmers can get professional guidance on a range of topics related to agriculture, such as crop selection, crop cultivation methods, pest and disease management, enhancing soil health, irrigation methods, post-harvest management, and more. To assist farmers in making wise decisions, agricultural experts offer advice based on scientific knowledge and best practices.


2. Weather Data: Farmers have access to weather forecasts that detail local meteorological data such as temperature variations, rainfall patterns, and other factors. They can use this information to better organize their farming operations and make decisions about crop protection, irrigation, and sowing.


3. Market Information: Farmers can obtain market-related information from the Kisaan Helpline, such as crop prices, market trends, demand-supply dynamics, and details on government procurement programmes. This enables farmers to decide on crop sales, find potential markets, and comprehend price fluctuations with knowledge.


4. Government Schemes and Subsidies: Government Programmes and Subsidies: Farmers can learn more about the various government initiatives, financial aid options, and assistance programmes that are available to them. The helpline offers information on the requirements, the application process, and the required paperwork for utilizing these programmes and benefits.


5. Livestock Management: Farmers can get advice on raising livestock, caring for animals, choosing breeds, managing feed, and other aspects of animal husbandry. Information on vaccination schedules, measures to prevent disease, and general management techniques for livestock is provided by experts.


6. Horticulture and floriculture: Farmers working in these fields can receive guidance on plant selection, cultivation methods, nursery management, greenhouse operations, and produce marketing plans.


7. Agricultural Equipment: Farmers can research the tools, equipment, and machinery best suited to their individual needs. The helpline offers suggestions for choosing, using, maintaining, and obtaining machinery.


8. Plant Protection: Farmers can receive help locating pests, diseases, and weeds that are affecting their crops. The use of safe pesticides, integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, and effective control measures are all advised by experts.


9. Crop Insurance: Farmers can learn more about crop insurance policies, coverage, and claim procedures. The helpline helps people comprehend the advantages of crop insurance and how to protect their crops from unforeseeable occurrences like natural disasters or crop failures.


With the help of these services offered by Kisaan Helpline, farmers will be better equipped to improve agricultural productivity, adopt best practices, reduce risks, and generally improve their standard of living.

No comments:

Post a Comment