e-Arik & e-Village: A successful journey of CAU

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2010
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e-Arik & e-Village: A successful journey of CAU

PASIGHAT, Oct 23: The idea of e-Agriculture initiative (e-Arik project) of Central Agricultural University, Pasighat was first conceived by then Assistant Professor of Extension, Dr. R. Saravanan, during 2007 by the financial support from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
The e-Arik project was first implemented in the Yangrung village (“Arik” means “Agriculture” in the Adi tribal dialect). The project examined the application of ICTs in providing agricultural extension services and its socio-economic impact among rural tribal farming community in the “Yagrung” and near by 12 villages of East Siang district.
The project was successfully experimented in single window system for the improved agricultural information and technology delivery by using computer, internet, phone, radio and television. Project provided all time expert consultation on agriculture production, protection and marketing aspects through ICTs. The e-Arik research project staff regularly undertook field visits to observe crop condition, diagnosis the pest, diseases, and nutrient deficiency, physiological problems, and then field crop condition digitally documented and suggested solutions to the farmers. Further, farm scientists undertook need based field visits and provide expert advice to the farmers. Further, farmers training and demonstrations were conducted by the project staff, Subject Matter Specialists of KVK (East Siang District) and extension personnel from the developmental departments. Project portal (www.earik.in) provides information on crop cultivation, agriculture and rural developmental departments and their schemes, day to day market information and weather conditions, which was also displayed in the village knowledge centre notice board. Further, information on health, education, governance and other information for tribal farmers are available in the project portal.
The village agricultural library at the e-Arik-village knowledge centre is having the collection of farm publications, multimedia CDs and daily news papers for the ready reference of the farmers and others. Farm input display unit at e-Arik-village knowledge centre exhibits bio-fertilizers, organic pesticides and fungicide samples for the familiarization among the farmers. The ICT awareness lectures, regular trainings were conducted for the benefit of village children, students, village school teachers and villagers. The village advisory committee members, farmers and project team regularly reviewed the progress of the project.
Based on the successful performance of the project during 2007-08, the e-Arik project was awarded national level Best e-Governed Project – Special Jury Award for 2007-08 by the by the Computer Society of India (CSI) and Nihilent, for its significant contributions to the farming community of remote and rural areas of Arunachal Pradesh State of North-East India.
Considering success of the e-Arik project, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Hyderabad, a scientific society under Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India, joined with the Central Agricultural University, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Pasighat to implement the innovative e-Village Project in 10 villages of East Siang district to benefit the rural people, since 2008. Ten selected villages from East Siang district equipped with the computer facility and other ICT facility to provide reliable information services to the village people in the areas of agriculture, health, education, e-Governance and rural energy. Computer literacy was imparted for the school children, unemployed rural youth and other community members with a support of trained computer instructor from the village. Notably, this project is a first village level initiative from C-DAC, Hyderabad in the north-east region.
Prof. S.N. Puri, Vice-Chancellor, Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal Manipur visited “e-Village Centres” at Berung, Sikabamin and Sille villages during March 2009 and directed the College of Horticulture and Forestry to adopt all the ten e-Villages as a model villages to undertake research and extension activities (www.modelevillage.in). Because of his foresighted vision, extension and research activities of CHF and KVK activities were integrated and concentrated in the ten e-Villages. Notably, “Giriraja & Girirani”, a high yielding poultry breeds were distributed to the Berung villagers. To indicate few selected advanced farm training and technology transfer; Mushroom cultivation, vermi-compost, System of Rice Intensification, Rubber cultivation, Fisheries development, pest and diseases control in rice and khasi mandarin, Post Harvest Management techniques and Value addition in horticultural crops and paddy cum fish culture were integrated with farming systems. Further, technology week in e-Village centers in collaboration with KVK, East Siang District, Kissan mela at Berung along with Rural Horticultural Work Experience Students, Farmer-Scientists interface workshop, Tree plantation at Berung during world environmental day conducted to create awareness among the rural people. More than 750 children and village youth underwent computer education at the e_Arik & e-Village centres during May, 2007 to October, 2010.
The e-Village moves forward with the visionary leadership and guidance of Prof. S.N. Puri, who was recently honoured with “Academic Leadership Award” in Agriculture Leadership Summit, 2010 in New Delhi and Dr. V. K. Mishra, Dean of the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Pasighat.
A simple idea towards betterment, the e-Arik initiative proves, a small step slowly makes a big difference, if it is continued by the committed and hard working few individuals with the support of Prof. S. N. Puri, VC, CAU.
In the continuation of the e-Arik and e-Village, another innovative project sponsored by the NABARD titled e-Kiosk, touch screen kiosk for technology transfer to the farmers of East Siang district is also in offing and tries to integrate Adi language audio with the computer touch screen text.
To quote few examples of change by e-Village, a farmer from Nagorlung, viewed video on rubber seedling preparation by T budding at e-Village centre and practices in his rubber farm, a farmer from Sille adopts fisheries, System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was adopted by a farmer from Sikabamin, few Yagrung village women takes-up mushroom cultivation and this list goes big and grows day by day. Above all, in remote Detak village, no road connectivity during rainy season and electricity is a precious and scarce commodity, a primary school going child lays her little fingers in computer keyboard and slowly moves the mouse, and looks the monitor in the e-Village centre and she smiles, again smiles, that innocent and happy smile says lot about the impact of the e-Village project.

Source: The Arunachal Times, Published on 24th October, 2010

http://arunachaltimes.com/oct%2024%20.html#e-Arik

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