Number Of Kisan Call Centres Increased, 1551 (toll-free) to get answers to farming-related queries
By sachiv, Section GN
Posted on Tue May 06, 2008 at 04:50:19 AM EST
The government has decided to increase the number of Kisan Call Centres (KCC) to 28. Farmers can dial 1551 (toll-free) to get answers to farming-related queries.
As many as 144 call centre agents are engaged in 14 KCCs, who answer farmers' queries in 21 local dialects. In case call centre agents at level I are not able to completely answer their queries, calls are escalated to level II (128 in number, nationwide), where experts from agricultural universities answer farmers queries directly.
Out of 128 level II experts, two are located in Jharkhand. As many as 20 nodal officers designated by the government are keeping liaison with the call centre agents for providing technical support for running the KCCs.
Besides, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation has also taken initiative to develop a data structure in the form of the Kisan Knowledge Management System (KKMS) and software is being developed to provide data bank on various packages of practices on crops, horticulture, poultry, fishery, animal husbandry and veterinary sciences.
In order to monitor the activities of the KCCs, a state-level monitoring committee (SLMC) has been constituted under the chairmanship of the agriculture secretary and allied departments, representatives of the local BSNL office and concerned nodal officer of the KCC as members to address the issues related with training programmes, publicity and connectivity.
Source: Tribune News Service, 06/05/2008
