Farmers in India can get basic information on crops and cultivation from a slew of government websites. Here’s a list of the key web resources, call centres and some apps.

Weather

India Meteorological Department: www.imd.gov.in

Skymet : www.skymetweather.com

Sowing

Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare: www.agricoop.nic.in/all-india-crop-situation

Crop prices

Mandi rates: www.agmarknet.gov.in

Minimum Support Price information: http://cacp.dacnet.nic.in/

Kisan Call Centre

The Kisan Call Centre (KCC) answers queries of farmers via mobile or telephone in their own language. The call centres are in 14 locations across all States and Union Territories. A countrywide toll-free number for KCC (1800-180-1551) is accessible through mobile phones and landlines of all telecom networks. The replies to farmers’ queries can be made in 22 local languages. The service is available from 6 am to 10 pm, seven days of the week.

MKisan Portal

www.mkisan.gov.in

It is a mobile-based service under the Ministry of Agriculture. Through this portal, all Central and State Government organisations in agriculture and allied sectors (including State Agriculture Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Agromet Forecast Units of India Meteorological Department, ICAR institutes, organisations in animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries) are authorised to give out information/services/advisories to farmers by SMS in their language, pertinent to their agricultural practices and locations.

A farmer can register for services of MKisan portal by:

Calling the Kisan Call Centre on the toll-free number 1800-180-1551 and providing details of information sought.

Visiting the website http://mkisan.gov.in/wbreg.aspx and filling in details such as name, mobile number, state, district and block. To complete the registration, he has to enter a verification code sent to the mobile number entered on the web page.

Sending an SMS on 51969 or 7738299899. The text message should be typed in the following format: Type the text “KISAAN REG < NAME >, <STATE NAME >, <DISTRICT NAME> and <BLOCK NAME>” (only first three letters of State, District & Block names are needed)

Mobile apps

With the increase in internet penetration, the Centre has launched various mobile applications (apps) to help farmers do business. These are at very early stages, though:

Kisan Suvidha : This app provides information on five critical parameters – weather, input dealers, market price, plant protection and expert advisories. It is available for Android, iOS and Windows.

Pusha Krishi : This app has information on the latest technologies, such as development of new crop varieties by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), farm machinery and how its implementation will help boost productivity. Available for Android, iOS and Windows.

A list of other apps launched by the Government is available at: https://apps.mgov.gov.in/index.jsp

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