Agricultural Resources Information System (AgRIS): An e ...

definite impact on farm investment. This Government initiative
(AGMARKNET) and Private initiatives (e-choubal by ITC Ltd.,
Agriventure, and Mahindra Krishi Vihar (MKV) 61 ) ushers in
“market-led extension” in the country, facilitating farmers to (i)
enhance farm productivity, (ii) improve farm gate price, and (iii)
cut transaction cost. Demonstrations of Mahindra Krishi Vihar
(MKV) at Madurai district in Tamilnadu have shown a significant
increase in productivity (as against an average paddy yield of 1.8 –
2 Tonnes per acre, farmers have achieved yield ranging from 3 –
3.6 Tonnes per acre). The consultancy and technical support
package was at a cost of about 10 % on the increase in
productivity achieved (Balaji, 2001) 62 . Community Agro-
biodiversity Centre (CAbC) of the M.S.Swaminathan Research
Foundation (Chennai) aims at protection of livelihood and
biodiversity in villages.
13.11 Agriculture if given the status of industry in post WTO era,
the literacy among farmers and training in ICT to extension
personnel, is essential. There are about 600 million farm workers,
60 http: www.agmarknet.nic.in
61 Mahindra Shublabh Services Limited (MSSL), which is a private sector initiative, have planned to open Mahindra
Krishi Vihar (MKV) in about 180 districts to facilitate bridging the lab-to-land gap in TOT for enhancing
productivity, and also by tapping the as-yet-unexploited-potential of available technologies. Each MKV would be
equipped with a VSAT for information exchange.
62 Balaji R (2001) : “Mahindras Foray into farm Consultancy”, Business Line, October 22, 2001
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