Deepender Singla, Trader

Prabhat Kumar, Farmer

Sai Krishna, CA

Setu Saxena, Engineer

Sreshtha Mullick, Writer

Increasing Agricultural Productivity Krishidhan

• Low Risk appetite among farmers

• 80% of farmers are characterised by fragmented land

holding pattern

• Restricted access to Finance

• Agriculture perceived and practised as a ‘Hereditary

Tradition’ rather than a profitable profession

• Lack of transparency and accountability in the use of

agricultural inputs

• Labour crisis – seasonal unemployment and labour

migration

Issues being addressed

Problems /Issues

Low Risk Appetite

Fragmented Land

Holdings

Restricted access to Finance

Lack of Transparenc

y & Accountabili

ty

Traditional/Unscientific Practice of Agriculture

Labour Crisis

Structure of KSK- 7 Member Governing Body 1) Elected/Nominated through Gram Panchayat

2) 5 members to be small/marginalised farmers

Appointed on following terms

1) Salary Rs. 2000 pm

2) 3 year Tenure

3) Caveat/Mandate of doubling agricultural output(compared to current output) in 3 years, Failing which action will be taken

Employ 1-2 Krishi Sevaks

Pay scale Rs. 8000-10000 pm

Functions : Liaison/advise/data management

Use of pre-existing infrastructure like Consumer service Centres (CSCs)/ Post Offices (Pos)/ Gram Panchayats (GPs)/Producer Companies/ NGOs/Farmers’ Club

Solution

Establishment of Krishi Sewa Kendras (KSK)

across villages of India

• Procurement & Distribution of agricultural inputs with Quality Checks to be routed through KSK

• Mass Ploughing, Harvesting and allied Land Treatments of agricultural lands at no cost to farmers

• Creation of Model Agricultural fields to showcase increased productivity due to new/scientific methods– Farmers in the governing body to use government owned fallow lands to employ scientific methods of agriculture and employ technical assistance of Agricultural universities/ scientists

• Use of inputs from farmers and developing a two way flow of information

Functions of the KSK

KSK

Agricultural Universities

Farmers

NGOs/Pvt. Players

Government

Land for Experiment Farmer Feedback

Technical Knowledge and Assistance

Feedback Data

Produce

Agricultural Inputs Seed Capital Manpower

Land

Feedback

Grassroots Innovation

Produce

Market News Agricultural Inputs

Technical Assistance Machinery/Technology [ITES]

Awareness Publicity Capacity building

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Crop Information

• Use KSK as a pilot model for 3 years by which time we aim to include all farmers into KSK

• Integrate animal husbandry and other forms to green

economy systems (like zero wastage system, generation of bio gas, electricity etc) into KSK

• Leverage technology through the use of internet, IVRS,

SMS, Web Apps etc. • Partner and Promote scheme through Government

agencies, Private players, NGOs etc

Solution – stage ll

Land/Soil condition/budget/details of last 2

years crops

Farmer + KSK

Passes advise to KSK +

Farmers via online

system and IVRS

Central Server

Farmers + KSK

Meteorol

ogical

Departm

ent

FCI/CII/Planning

Commission

Cost-Benefit Analysis Benefits in a year in rupees (considering rice

production)

Costs in a year in rupees

Income from production on Fallow Land 84000 Establishment Costs

Computing Devices 70000

Savings on Agriculture Inputs including Govt. Subsisdy Furniture 10000

Seeds +Fertilizers+Pesticide 700000 Misc 5000

Machinery 150000 Total 85000

Sale of agri data +Savings from wastage of storage 150000

Administrative Costs

Income from zero waste system ie Bio-gas, slurry etc.

- Stipend to farmers 168000

Salary of staffs 240000

Misc 10000

Total 418000

Cost of outsourcing/Contracting Machines for one crop

Tractors for ploughing 100000

Transplanter 100000

Harvestor 100000

Misc 100000

Total 400000

So, Grand Total 903000 So, Total Saving+Income 1084000

In three years – 1. KSK profit will reach 1 Million rupees. 2.Farmers income will be doubled and input cost will be reduced by 50%.

Here, we have assumed

1.Village is producer of rice and has 1000 acre of land . Village has also 7 acre of fallow land, which will be taken care by KSK.

2. Government provides subsidy of at-least 30% on agricultural inputs like fertilizer, seeds and machinery.

3.Average production of rice/acre=10 quintal 4. Minimum Support price of rice=1200 rupees

• Integrating KSK it into the existing framework and infrastructure for agricultural advisory services in the villages

• Bringing all the stakeholders and shareholders of Agriculture eco-system on same platform

• Data Management

• Convincing and securing cooperation of farmers to enroll with KSK

Challenges

• Food Security concerns are addressed through the use of reliable, accurate, real time data which can be used by government to plan production, distribution and storage

• Accountability and Transparency is fixed in the system • Possibility of Sustainable and Adapted Agricultural

Modelling based on information available in the database • Water & Energy Conservation and Development of Green

Economy • Increment in Income and reduction in agricultural

expenditure of Farmers • Promotion of Grassroots Innovation & Farmer Education

Impact