AP farmers get `spiced' up mobile info network

In a farmer-friendly initiative, the Spices Board India today launched a mobile tele network which would give information to agriculturists on various aspects of cultivation of spices in Andhra Pradesh. State Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew inaugurated the network at an event organised by the Board here.

Under the network, the farmers in AP will get free SIM cards and receive first hand information on their cellphones about market fluctuation in price, weather forecasts, tips on good agri practices, new schemes of the Board and latest technological implements in spice cultivation, officials said. 

A retired professor from an agriculture institute would also answer the queries of farmers on all aspects of crop care for spices on a daily basis, they said. The aim of the initiative is to strengthen the spice farming community, especially chilli, turmeric and tamarind farmers, in AP with the help of latest technologies. 

The scope of the programme is large as it helps the farmers utilise the infrastructure facilities for both post harvest and processing operations of spices and related products at the spice park at Guntur, the officials said. The mobile network would cover 10,000 farmers in a phased manner in the districts of Warangal, Khammam, Guntur, Prakasam, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Kurnool. 

Similar mobile networks were earlier launched in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Andhra Pradesh contributes a major chunk of chillies and turmeric exported out of India. A wide variety of chillies are cultivated in the state contributing production to the extent of 6.3 lakh tonnes, the officials added. 

PTI