The company, which has been offering
"e-choupal" network — an Internet-based forum for sharing agri-related
information - has now started a farm extension service.
Called 'Choupal Pradarshan Khet', the new
initiative will have agriculture scientists advising 7,500 farmers about good farm
practices across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra during the
Kharif season.
Helping hand
Senior scientists from the National
Research Centre for Soyabean (Indore) and University of Pant Nagar, as well as
post-graduates from agriculture universities will supervise farmers from pre-sowing until
the harvest.
They will also undertake demonstrations
about good farm practices in 7,500 plots measuring one acre each. While paddy is the main
focus in Uttar Pradesh, the emphasis would be on soya bean in the other States.
Mr S. Sivakumar, CEO, ITC-International
Business Division, said that a participative cluster model was being implemented, where
the registered farmer takes up the demonstration on one acre of his landholding and also
bears the cost of all recommended nutrients and protective inputs.
Farmers are being charged Rs 150 for
classroom training, product literature as well as around five visits from these
agriculture experts during the crop cycle.
For an extra price, farmers can also buy
foundation seed and weather insurance.
Hands-on training
Officials from ITC said that although only
one plot is chosen in every village, 8-10 farmers were invited to participate in the
training.
"The idea is to select an average
field that is representative of the village. We are not looking for the best field but the
most appropriate one for showing the value of adequate agri inputs and risk mitigation
techniques," said an official from the Agri Inputs division of ITC.
Of the 7,500 registered farmers, around
4,000 have opted for weather insurance. Officials at the Agriculture Insurance Company
said the weather insurance cover had been customised as per the requirements specified by
ITC.
This insurance would cover the crops
against excess rainfall during the sowing, vegetative and reproductive phase of the crop
at a premium of Rs 250.
Expertise is also being drawn in from
various agri input companies such as Khaitan Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, Bayer Crop
Science, Pro Agro, CLASS India, Tata Agrico and Sygenta India.
"The idea is that these progressive
farmers could become agri consultants in their village to create a ripple effect in
adoption of modern farming techniques to augment production," said Mr Sivakumar.
