Initiative Name: Reliance Foundation – Information Services
Organization: Reliance Foundation
Website: www.reliancefoundation.org
App Link: NA
FARMERS’ HANDYMAN
Reliance Foundation’s Information Services programme has been empowering communities since January 2013 by providing reliable and robust information tailored to the local needs of farmers, fisher folks and livestock owners using modern information, communication and technologies. This bridges the gap between lab-derived knowledge and field-based skills. Information is disseminated though audio and dial-out conferences, local cable TV, All India Radio, print media, voice and text messages using Jio Chat and WhatsApp and through field-based programmes and trainings. These enable farmers to make better decisions in the areas of livelihood, health and disaster vigilance. Themes covered on broadcasts include agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, health, employment, micro-enterprises and skill building. The mobile-based advisories in different thematic areas have reached out to about 28 lakh people since their inception. As part of direct interventions, over 10,000 interactive programmes have been conducted at the community level on various issues such as health, agriculture, livelihood and livestock, reaching out to over 3.4 lakh people.
Reliance has partnered with over 619 information providers and 284 grassroots organisations, including research institutions, line departments, NGOs and knowledge providers. Through these partnerships, information services reach out to the most needy population sub-groups. The entire ecosystem is supported by a Cloud telephony-based toll-free helpline number (1800-419-8800) in the form of providing necessary clarifications.
Initiative Name: AgroStar Farmer Mobile Application
Organization: Ulink Agri Tech Pvt Ltd.
Website: www.agrostar.in
App Link: http://bit.ly/1SRNe1e
A STAR FACTOR
Founded in 2013, AgroStar is India’s leading direct-to-farmer digital platform where farmers can procure quality agri-nputs at fair prices just by using a mobile phone. Indian farmers face multiple challenges in procuring agri-inputs for their farming needs. The challenges farmers face vary from product unavailability, unfair pricing, substandard quality or spurious products to lack of right and timely information and poor service. AgroStar aims to simplify the whole agri-business experience for farmers in rural India by addressing the challenges of Indian farmers through smart and innovative uses of technology.
AgroStar works on an inventory-based model. A farmer expresses his interest to transact with AgroStar either through a missed call on a toll-free number or through the AgroStar Android app. AgroStar’s intelligent predictive dialler connects a qualified customer relations executive with the farmer. The executive understands the farmer’s query, provides him/her with personalised agronomy and product solutions based on his crop cycle, and places an order on behalf of the customer with the aid of a smart CRM. The products are then dispatched from the central warehouse through one of the delivery channels viz. India Post, local entrepreneurial logistics partners or through field sales executives.
AgroStar has seen a transformational journey from its first missed call to over three million missed calls so far, serving over 10 lakh farmers across Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Initiative Name: Mandi Trades
Organization: Farmobi Technologies Pvt Ltd.
Website: www.manditrades.com
App Link: http://bit.ly/2rHCHBM
MULTIPLYING CHOICES FOR FARMERS
Mandi Trades is a multi-lingual mobile application and Web portal aggregator, targeting farmers and bulk buyers — such as retailers, traders, exporters, hotels and caterers directly — through a business-to-business model.
On the portal, farmers can list agricultural commodities and post details of the crop by using a smartphone. The auto geo-tagging feature helps connect local traders to farmers. The app helps farmers set prices of farm commodities by referring to the data provided by government, rendering decision-making easier for farmers. Buyers can search for farmers, particular produce, or its particular variety. The app provides various advanced filters to narrow down options by geography, location, price, availability, yield, etc. To help buyers plan procurement, harvest information is also available in advance.
Mandi Trades provides farmers more choices of buyers, better rates, reduces last-minute rush sale and holds negotiations well ahead of time. The app is simple and has an interactive user-interface, which empowers farmers and eliminates middlemen who do not add value to the agriculture produce supply chain. The unorganised farming community gets access to better price realisation. Farmers can gauge average demand, peak/low-demand season, in-season and off-season needs from the data available on the app. This enables them to plan their farming activities better.