110,000 smartphones to be distributed among farmers

The initiative has been taken by the Punjab government under the banner of Khadim-e-Punjab Kisaan Package

MULTAN:  

An initiative has been taken by the Punjab government under the banner of Khadim-e-Punjab Kisaan Package in which 110,000 smartphones will be given to farmers under Connected Agriculture Platform Punjab (CAAP).

During the initial stage, 110,000 smartphones will be distributed among registered farmers of Kissan Package while in the next stage; all registered farmers will receive a smartphone that will be equipped with special apps to help them interact with agriculture experts.

The apps will provide advice on how to improve crops, show the weather conditions in real time and give a chance to watch videos of the latest production technology as well, said Agriculture Information Assistant Director Naveed Asmat Kahloon.



He further added that these phones will be provided on provision of Rs500 for a tenant and Rs1,000 for land owners. This phase of the scheme was designed due to lack of a systematic and efficient way to educate farmers. A man-based, slow flow of information was the norm, resulting in farmers making hasty and ill-informed decisions, which led to financial losses and the farmers not reaping maximum potential profit.

CAPP is all about digitising the smaller farmer communities to make them well connected, well aware, and in control of their farming workflow.

The Department of Agriculture, government of Punjab, in collaboration with Telenor and Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), has developed a carefully crafted mobile app service, keeping its unique target audience in mind as to enable technology and rapidly assist and cater the farmers.



With this new scheme, farmers will be able to apply for agri-loans through the PITB-led app that would eliminate Patwari and bank agent culture. It will create a technology-driven ecosystem that will give confidence to the farmers deciding what to sow; when & where to sell.

The agriculture department will also establish facilitation centres in collaboration with Telenor where farmers will be trained on how to use the smartphones or apps. This is a first step toward achieving a long-term goal of becoming self-sufficient about food security and make farming a profitable sector.

The Punjab government also distributed interest-free loans for the first time. The program proposed to dispense Rs100 billion in interest-free loans to the registered farmers of Kissan Package and within 11 months more than 220,000 farmers were granted loans.