IFFCO launches Kisan Sanchar, a new info venture

New Delhi, Apr 16 (UNI)After an experiment of E-Choupal by ITC in soybean-growing areas of Madhya Pradesh,IFFCO, a fertilizer manufacturing major has launched a new subsidiary for providing agriculture and animal husbandry related information to the farmers through existing telecom network.

For this purpose, mobile phones will be used as personalised kiosks. And IFFCO is in the process of forging a tie-up with Airtel as its pilot project for IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL) has already started operating in Eastern UP- a tough terrain chosen for testing purpose.

In fact, IFFCO's business model is an exchange programme with Airtel.IKSL will identify the needs of telecom and communication products and services required by the farmers and retail them directly through the vast reach of co-operative societies, an IFFCO official said here today.

Under the scheme, IFFCO will supply its programmed SIM cards and handsets to the targeted farmers at easy instalments, which will regularly provide information to the farmers and also give expert advice on their queries.

IFFCO has already started using the existing wired communication technology to set up about 200 interactive kiosks at its cooperative societies.

Helplines will be created to address specific requirements of farmers relating to economic, social and legal issues of rural life.

The emerging model will be a 'win-win' situation for the farmers, besides it will strengthen cooperatives in the country.

UNI