 |
K.
A Acharya
Each TKK is equipped with all kinds
of infrastructure utilities, which enable them to act as a comprehensive
resource centre to fulfil the needs of the franchisee TKK network.
Typically, this includes an administrative office, a training
hall, a crop clinic and a soil testing laboratory, a research
and development farm, a storage godown and an exhibition hall,
all under one common roof.
The kendras offer various sales and
support services, including agro inputs, guidance on cultivation
and crop management techniques and other post-harvest management
services. They also offer need-based farm machinery, location
and situation-specific farm technology solutions to farmers
at their doorsteps.
Recently, TKKs have taken on the challenge
of developing the concept of "precision farming",
which involves the use of information technology coupled with
satellite mapping techniques to maximise agricultural yields.
The kendras propose to offer this unique technology-enabled
service within the next two years.
The concept of precision farming involves
putting to use satellite imaging technology, to help the farmers
decide what kind of crops they should grow, by making the
best use of available information on soil conditions and other
key climatic factors.
Precision farming techniques will help
in estimation of likely crop yield, extent of pest-induced
damage and identify crippling crop diseases, using the geographical
data gathered by geo-stationary satellites.
TKKs have, in fact, commissioned a
project for digitisation of maps of nearly 12,000 villages,
which could be made available to all farmers under different
kendras.
To motivate and encourage farmers,
TKKs also organise crop competitions, with awards being presented
to farmers who are able to extract the best yields.
Farmers are often taken
on tours to agricultural universities and research stations,
so they become aware of scientific techniques. To encourage
education, awards are presented to deserving students of class
Vth and VIIIth in the TKKs command area.
The TKKs, with their credo of Gunvatta and Suvidha
ability and ease have been contributing
their might to encouraging farmers to achieve greater prosperity
and helping the social betterment of rural societies.
back
to page 1
|