This document discusses using mobile phones to provide voice and image-based advisory services to farmers and agribusinesses. It notes that traditional agriculture extension systems require extensive manpower and that phone-based services can provide technical expertise on an individual basis. The document outlines how such a system could work, with farmers, field staff, and coordinators interacting with agricultural experts via mobile phones to share information like weather data, field observations, and get advice. It provides examples of how this could help with seed production activities like trials, quality control, pest management, and more.

1. E-mail: dr.r.sridhar@gmail.com
Mobile-Phone
Voice & Image based Advisory Solution/Platform
for Farmers and Agribusiness
Current Application Topic:
Mobile-Phone Support for Field Quality Assurance
in Seed Production Chain
Beneficiaries:
Seed Companies & Contract Farmers
Illustrations for Agri -Application -- Sridhar Rudravarapu

2. Slide 2Mobile-Phone based Agro-Advisory Service
Seed Production: Farmer/Field Operators’ Requirements*
Traditional agriculture extension systems require extensive manpower for effective support .
Farmers in several regions of the globe lack basic literacy to understand modern technologies.
They essentially need skills and support for good seed production and processing activities.
Phone based agro-advisory services can provide technical expertise on a one to one basis for
agricultural practices, seeds, and other allied activities (Ref: S.M. Haider Rizvi & Andy Dearden, News
Letter: Information Technology in Developing Countries; Volume 20, No. 3, October 2010)
However several existing phone based platforms do not facilitate transfer of visual data along
with voice to seek the solutions. Limitations of these technologies result in low interactivity
between the users/farmers and the agri-experts. Another drawback is that the queries are not
answered instantaneously in an useful manner.
*The need of the hour is effective provision of audio visual information through SMS from
mobile phone costing lesser in this process. Latest availability of advanced voice & image based
mobile phone systems (eg., Agrifone, Vaudiofone Corp., USA) could address these aspects and
immensely benefit the agribusiness operations.

3. Slide 3Information and Communication Technologies
Support
Logistics of Contract Farming/Seed Production
Agribusiness operators can directly interact with groups of
technically-challenged farmers over mobile phones
Improve
Farm Productivity
By facilitating high-quality personalized, farm-specific agro-expert
advice in a timely manner--- if required instantaneously too!
The messages are typically a combination of voice record and an image/text.
At an individual level, the mobile phone platform makes it possible
for farmers to easily interact with each other, seek/share information,
get help and sell produce etc.
Voice
&
Image
based
Mobile Phone
Services

4. Farmers/Field Staff:
End users of the system
(may be illiterate)
(Each farmer gets proactive advice at required
stages/time starting from pre-sowing operations to
post-harvest precautions)
Coordinator:
An educated and experienced farmer stationed in the village/
Field officer deputed by the Company
(Collects details of weather, soil data, water resources,
entomology, pathology, agronomy, etc. and sends the
information to the advisory team)
Agricultural Experts
Qualified to provide
expert advice
Mechanism- Information transmit from farms to agricultural experts & vice versa
Communication System Slide 4

5. Application Benefits as envisaged in e-Sagu model; ICT (Ref: www.esagu.in)
Agro-advice following a proactive approach Two-way communication. The advice is comprehensive,
complete and regular in terms of diagnosis, analysis, advice delivery, follow-up and feedback.
Develops networks for information and knowledge exchange
Enhances farmers and producers’ information on farming techniques and practices. Advice can be
provided on a regular basis on everything from sowing to harvesting, which reduces the cost of
cultivation and increases farm productivity as well as quality of seeds.
Improves dissemination of and access to scientific and technical information
Averts problematic situations and enables quick deployment of services during times of crisis.
Cost-effective system.
Famers/Field Staff articulate their problems using participatory communication methods and also
share field observations recorded on mobile .
Significantly reduces the lag period between research efforts and field application.
Aids in successful implementation and validation of agriculture technology.
Add on!
Instant surveillance & monitoring; Decision support …...
Benefits of Application Slide 5
Voice & Image based Mobile-Phone Services

6. Seed Company Supply Chain-- Field Quality Assurance
Voice & Image based Mobile Phone Advisory Services *
Help in
•Research Trials/ Green-House trials/ Grow out trials
•Production - Foundation seed, Commercial seed
•Selection of compact areas with sufficient isolation
•Fertilizer application for proper synchronization and effective pollination
•Trail Lead- Land marks
•Ensuring grain filling and good seed size
•Implement effective Farming Practices
•Incorporating the latest developments in crop production and protection
•Assessment of Competitors’ field quality
•Bench marking
Areas for Application Slide 6
* Immensely help in communicating the basic knowledge and practical information required for
successful seed production. Advice from experts can be effectively passed on to the needy field staff in
identifying anther types, control of off-type plants/pollen shedders, planting date options to optimize
“nicking” ………etc.
Trust Build-Up
Cost Reduction
Value addition

7. Proper you sow - Profit you reap
Mr. Das: Follow the Instructions passed on to your
team for sowing. This picture guides you further
-Gowda, QC Manager
Sir: Here is the pic of GOT-trial for #CT242- along with
the poorly performing lot #CT150 by the side.
-Rupesh, Field Assistant
Re: Good Job Mary!
Weeds have been fully controlled now
-Pathak, Asst. Production Manager
Grow out trials
Illustrations for Application – Field Quality Slide 7

8. Hey! Was nicking done at the nick of the time?
Sir - Proof is in the Phone !
Guys ! Get your Morphology Right
Vegetative, pre-flowering and flowering stages
Illustrations for Application – Field Quality Slide 8

9. Tassels began Pollen Shedding
Checked
Pollen Shedders
Hybrid crop- Integrity maintenance
Illustrations for Application – Field Quality Slide 9

10. Somu Sir! I have noticed some spots on cotton
leaves in plot-1. I am sending its picture to you
-Nirmala, Field Helper
Sir! Some infection has been noticed in few cotton
plants at Sirpur location . Please see this picture and
guide us further steps.
-Soman, Field Coordinator
Dr. Modi: Please note the attached information.
I will be in your cabin in a few minutes with more
details for discussion.
-Gupta, Cotton Production Manager
Mr. Soman: I have discussed with Dr. Modi reg. your
message. Please follow the instructions being
forwarded to you. I am coming along with Dr. Gupta
to your site tomorrow for further follow up.
-Gupta, Cotton Production Manager
Crop Pathology
Illustrations for Application – Field Quality Slide 10

11. Crop Entomology
Illustrations for Application – Field Quality Slide 11
Sir: Need your attention and help
for control steps.
-

12. Mr. Syed: This is not a pathological issue. It is due
to nutritional deficiency specifically Zinc. Follow it
up with Soil Nutrition team
-Rama Rao, Production Manager
Sir: I am surprised with the poor pod content and fill up.
Please make a visit and suggest remedial measures.
-Alex, Farmer
Nutritional deficiencies
Illustrations for Application – Field Quality Slide 12

13. Seeing is believing
Trouble shooting
Illustrations for Application – Field Quality Slide 13
It has just Began
Serious Problem !

14. Sir: We have to urgently do some thing about the
bird damage. Could you please arrange extra help
for scaring away the birds?
-Durga, Field Coordinator
Illustrations for Application – Field Quality Slide 14
What’s this Doc ?
Trouble shooting

15. Field Unit-8: This is not the way to cover your
produce! We expect you to do a proper job.
Please ensure necessary care.
-QA team
Guys! Threshing this way is totally
unacceptable.
Trust this is not done by our farmers.
-QA team
Harvest / Post-Harvest operations
Illustrations for Application – Field Quality Slide 15

16. Thanks to
Voice & Image based Mobile Phones!
Field Quality can be assured better
with this technology support now.
Illustrations for Application – Field Quality Final Slide 16