Rationale:

The NARES organizations in India have over the time developed content in English and regional languages in support of extension and education. The content in effect covers almost every aspect of practical agriculture in regions of India. However, its availability in the digital format or media is highly limited at present. There is thus a compelling need for content digitization and new creation in the digital mode. A significant amount of knowledge is generated in direct interactions among experts and with farmers and this is often not captured for analysis and codification for re-use. The extension system requires regular, dependable access to updated and accurate content for its personnel to provide effective services to the farmers. Many ICT –for-development partners require such a support as well. Contemporary knowledge management approaches when ingrained with advanced content organization and delivery and exchange methods based on ICT, can help stakeholders overcome this challenge.

The partners on this consortium propose to combine the learning from research and extension agencies and the experiences of various India-based ICT4D projects to build a viable knowledge organization (with appropriate framework and specifications that are global). This supports the requirements of reviving public sector and emerging private sector research and technology transfer processes.

The partners would also organize a demonstration of a wide range of information services for farmers, trained rural facilitators, extension personnel, agricultural experts and students. The emphasis will be on a seamless integration of digital back-ends, open architecture for knowledge delivery, and on delivery in multiple modes.

The scope of such an effort can be vast and it may not be practical for this consortium to cover. The scope will be limited to working with the extension system through the KVK’s in the primary regions where the project will operate. This will be the principal channel of interactions with farmers and extension stakeholders. A small number of rural information kiosks pre-existing with and hosted by reputed NGO’s and similar organizations will be engaged with in the course of the project as activities develop.