Village Information Center

VASAT remains neutral on the connectivity technology issue, and we work with the partners who make their own choices in this matter. In our partnership in India, a range of technologies is used, from WLL or direct satellite access to POTS with high error rate. In Niger, we have partnered with the First Voice Internatinonal to build new uses of the satellite digital radio, to deliver HTML pages to rural hubs.

We have adopted a hub-and-spokes model for knowledge and information exchange in the rural areas. The hub is where the more trained operators or managers work. This is where an active connection to the large information network exists (The internet or the satellite radio). Every hub has links to a cluster of villages in the neighborhood through means that are decided by the local partners, based on their priorities, practicalities and prices.

The hub is where considerable volume of local information is exchanged with the VASAT institutional actors (such as ICRISAT or ILRI). This is also the space where expert-derived information is converted into locally relevant modules. The mode of delivery to the actual user is highly varied : group meetings, conversation between trained activists and the users, or community radio broadcasts, posters/pamphlets, or audio announcements are among the methods we have noted.

The people at the hub are members of the local host organization. They are generally literate, educated to a level in a high school (to be able to write short pieces in the local language), articulate and enjoy the trust of the rural families. We help them acquire ICT-literacy over a period of time, and they take over as hub managers and network assistants in the smaller villages. Enhancing capacity for further learning is at the heart of our efforts.

Over the last two years, we noted that each trained individual is able to influence farm or livelihood-related decisions in their own villages, involving hundreds of families. An independent assessment carried out in one networked village indicated that one individual has been able to influence the decision of 230 farm households.

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Satellite-based Video Conferencing as a tool in rural learning

The cost of providing extension services to farmers has been increasing steadily in developing countries. As a result public investment in agricultural extension has been declining. For example India's 100,000-strong extension force is far too inadequate to serve over 600,000 villages. Besides, there are few experts available to provide timely advice to extension functionaries and farm families. As a result, communicating timely information related to better farming practices to needy farm families is getting tougher. This makes a perfect case to explore the possibilities of applying modern technologies to enhance the effectiveness of communication and improve the interaction between urban-based agricultural experts and farm families located in the hinterlands.

audio conferencing

Since March 2007, VASAT has been using a two-way video-conferencing facility provided by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) via the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) in Hyderabad to assess changes in the effectiveness of query-responses when a new digital medium is used. Initially the video conferencing was conducted for two hours per week, and from November 2008 we have increased the frequency to twice a week . During these VC sessions the Adarsha Mahila Samaikhya (AMS) volunteers are provided with query response service of different crops grown in their area. This is also the platform to help them and acquire technical literature in matters covered in VASAT learning materials. The interaction is conducted in local language (Telugu), slides ( MSPPT) and video clips.

The complex queries that arise in the video-conferencing are noted down and are uploaded to an online forum (www.aaqua.org), which has features to enable any registered expert to view the queries and answers. The response is then communicated to the AMS volunteers during subsequent sessions. In addition to this, experts from ICRISAT give special sessions on new technologies in agriculture

Video-conference on 7th August on the occasions of MSSRF Foundation Day

On 7th August 2009, our Village Resource Center at Moosapet had video-conference with M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai on the occasion of its Foundation Day. It was also Prof M S Swaminathan’s 84th birthday. Professor Swaminathan had interacted with members of Adarsha Mahila Samaikhya (AMS) during the videoconference session. In the interaction, Ms. Sujatha, President of AMS told him about the present drought scenario in their mandal and its implication on drinking water, irrigation and livestock. Mrs. Vimalamma had briefed him about drought maps and rainfall predictions for the season which were developed by ICRISAT

She said that these maps could help them understand the drought scenario. Even with the help of this map we were not able to take proper measures to cope up with drought. In this regard we would like to request the government to provide necessary inputs to support the farmers. If these maps were made available with district administration then it would be helpful for them to be prepared against drought. Lakshmamma, a member of AMS requested Dr. Swaminathan to link local bodies like panchayatraj with various research institutes, Universities and Government departments for developing watershed programs, seed banks and fodder banks in each mandal.

Prof. M S Swaminathan answered every question posted by the members of AMS. He mentioned that most of the questions raised by the members of AMS were addressing the current drought situation that was prevailing in India and especially in Andhra Pradesh. Deficiency of rainfall poses a great challenge to the Government to cope up with drought. M S Swaminathan predicted good rainfall in nexted10 days. He emphasized the importance of storing every drop of water and the importance of fodder for livestock. He has encourage the communities to prepare for water and food security by establishing water bank, seed bank and fodder bank in each village. He also said that we have to prepare our self for global climate change.

Professor was very much impressed by the drought maps shown by Ms Vimalamma and highlighted the importance of micro-level weather station in each village. He mentioned that the District Collector office should provide the necessary information related schemes that are available for drought management. MSSRF planning to start bio industrial watershed program with the support of Self help groups each village. He appreciated ICRISAT team for working with AMS in community development and drought preparedness.

First National Virtual Congress of Farmers Encouraged by the outcome of the VCs, an elaborate plan was drawn to connect some of the most remote and disaster-prone areas of the country with the centers of expertise like MSSRF and the ICRISAT. ISRO agreed to share the bandwidth of one of its most advanced satellites, the EDUSAT and provide video link facility to Koraput in Orissa, Pokhran in Rajasthan, Anandwan and Waifad in Maharashtra, and Addakal in Andhra Pradesh besides the already existing facility at Pudukottai and Nagapattinam in TamilNadu. These locations in the recent past have been affected by disasters such as the Tsunami while a number of locations have witnessed farmer suicides (apparently due to lack of proper counseling support). Once the facility was up and running, MSSRF and ICRISAT took the opportunity to launch the First National Virtual Congress of Farmers as part of the 93rd Indian Science Congress held between 3rd and 7th January 2006 at Hyderabad. President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam inaugurated the First National Virtual Congress of Farmers on 5 January from the Auditorium of Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University in Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. He also facilitated discussion between the experts assembled at ICRISAT Patancheru and MSSRF, Chennai who were remotely connected with farm families via video link.

It was a unique interaction between the head of state and the poor farm families in remote parts of the country. Besides the President of India, Governor and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Directors Generals of FAO and ICRISAT and Prof M S Swaminathan, Chairman, National Commission on Farmers, India also interacted with farm families

The farm families around Addakal information hub had a rare opportunity to be a part of this event and participate in the First National Virtual Congress of Farmers. The President of India inducted Ms Vimalamma and Ms Chandrakala the two network assistants of Kommireddipalli Janampeta, respectively, as fellows of National Virtual Academy on this occasion. Three network assistants, select farm women and men from the project villages interacted with the President of India and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh through the videoconference. They also interacted with expert centers of ICRISAT and MSSRF and discussed their problems particularly on rainwater management during drought. Simultaneously they watched the other village resource centers across India interacting with the President of India and experts at ICRISAT and MSSRF, Chennai. In all over 200 farm families participated in the conference form across India We are making use of this unique facility to maintain regular contacts with farm families to provide them with expert advice from time to time. It is proposed to use this facility to engage farm families that are prone to distress during disasters (droughts, floods, Tsunami etc). We also have been scheduling periodic discussions with farmers facilitated from experts and assess its impact after reasonable time gap.

There is a need for a more effective agricultural extension system. With the role of extension undergoing a profound change, ICT-based techologies are helping build better and more effective extension channels. The use of two-way videoconferencing is bringing encouraging results in this paradigm.