A VRC report by ISRO/NNRMS

Case Studies
Some initial results/ pointers, gathered through the activities of ISRO - MSSRF VRCs in Tamil Nadu have been examined. Some of the interesting outcomes include farmers’ motivation towards scientific advisories and consultations, school children getting enthused - resulting into improved performance, implementation of education and healthcare programmes of the Government, etc. On examining the Users' Registers at the VRCs, feedback from the respective regional coordinator and limited independent evaluation, the following outcomes are highlighted:

Portfolios of Services and Beneficiaries From January 2005 to June 2006, the portfolios of services from VRCs and number of beneficiaries are listed below:

Portfolio of services	No of beneficiaries
Awareness building	4,625
Micro enterprises	999
Health	368
Market	236
Weather	51
Livestock	741
Employment	5,430
Agriculture	554
Govt. Schemes	3,087
Fisheries	632
Education/ Results	2,712
SHG Accounting	3,399
Meetings	1,448
Trainings	5,535
Rural Library	3,546
General/Misc.	20,117
Total	53,477

ISRO-MSSRF VRCs, so far, have provided over 1500 programmes/ advisories to local people. The areas addressed include: agriculture, adult and computer literacy, alternate livelihood related vocational training, marketing of agro-products, micro-finance/ enterprises, livestock management, healthcare, etc. Around 75,000 people have availed the services of VRCs till recently. Employment, training, Self Help Group related activities, access to Governmental schemes and exam results etc have been found to have largers demands. Further, the observations could be summarized as: VRCs have functioned as the local hub for convergent activities - between the Jamshetji Tata National Virtual Academy (NVA) for Rural Prosperity; Microsoft Unlimited Potential Programme (MUPP); taken up earlier by MSSRF. As such, VRCs functioning not as stand-alone system have considerable impacts. VRCs have enabled community networking for empowerment and sharing of knowledge; this is an important step in creating the congenial environment for holistic development in rural areas. Videoconferencing between experts and the rural community - farmers, SHGs, local traders, etc. has been well received. Catalytic Effect VRCs catalyze the on-going activities. In Sempatti, the average consultations per month, has gone up from 134 to 399; in Thangachhimadam, it has moved from 122 to 415; and in Thiruvaiyaru it has improved marginally from 152 to 196 This analysis has covered the data from user’s registers up to April 2005 and in the recent months consultations has registered quantum jump to the extent touching 500 per month. Increasing usages of VRCs are among the good indicators on sustainability. The demand for VRC services match well with those arrived at through the prior PRA exercises; thus emphasizing the importance of need assessment surveys prior to designing of the VRC services. For example, the demand in Sempati has been for agriculture employment and micro-enterprise; in Thangatchimadam for computer training and fisheries; and in Thiruvaiyaru, farmer-to-farmer and farmer-to-expert consultations. Spatial database prepared for Thiruvaiyaru provided useful inputs for farmer-to-expert consultations on natural resources management. The information on fallow lands, sandy area, built-up land, brick kilns, water body, soil characteristics, water availability/ scarcity, etc., was useful in suggesting alternative crops. The farmers also look for information on fertilizer, water holding capacity, groundwater table/ decline, etc in their farms/ villages. In Sempatti and Thiruvaiyaru, VRC services pertaining to agriculture are converging on drought management and cultivation of high value, low water requiring crops like pulses and oilseeds. Catalytic effects of VRCs in improving the quality of services In Thangachhimadam, it is predominantly tele-fishery, computer training and education. Computer Aided Learning Programme (CALP): A unique effort of Azim Premji Foundation through VRCs has demonstrated motivational changes in school children, by way of increased interest in learning and reduced dropouts. The CALP package comprises a set of the educational CDs/ material, provided to schools in phases. A variety of topics viz., Choo Mantar, Chatur Char, A day with Kadooji, Majic Marbles, Our Dream Schools, How Things work - TV/ Fan, etc are covered. ISRO - MSSRF VRCs are implementing the CALP; wherein, after the students view the CDs/ educational material, the teacher - students’ interaction is facilitated by VRCs in virtual atmosphere. Once motivated, the children were found to take more interest in their regular studies, which otherwise was being treated by them as mundane. The CALP is found to attract the children in the age group of 5 to 14. In some villages, children of age group 18 to 20 also participated. The methodology of evaluation of CALP contained questionnaires representing different groups and profiles of the students, teachers and parents; and their analyzing their responses in the light of the performances of the students in their examinations, before and after CALP. It was seen that: (i) school dropouts wanted to continue their education; (ii) below average children had picked up higher levels of performances, scoring > 60-70%; children showed increased learning capacity of different types of subjects; and (iii) parents as well as teachers felt happy. Concurrent Monitoring An independent, concurrent monitoring and evaluation were carried out to assess the performance of VRCs. A questionnaire was conducted at every VRC, which could capture the following details: Attitude of people towards VRC Possible ways of making VRC self-sustainable/Revenue generation Possible reasons for many people not coming to VRC Expectations of beneficiaries/Usability of VRC for people Problems and challenges faced in managing VRCs RRequirements of individual VRCs http://www.nnrms.gov.in/

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VRC at Shillong,Meghalaya - 96th Indian Science Congress

Jan 2009Shillong:
Farmers in India’s Northeast can now interact with top scientists of the country and seek solutions to their problems related to farming, market, health and weather dynamics from their nearest Village Resource Centres (VRC).

The Shillong-based North Eastern Space Application Centre (Nesac) in association with Bangalore-based Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has set up 34 VRCs across the northeastern region and proposes to set up around 50 more to bring farmers closer to experts who can guide them in various fields.

Farmers across 10 VRCs of Assam interacted with agricultural experts who were stationed at Nesac during the Farmers Virtual Congress as part of the 96th Indian Science Congress Monday.
Nesac director P.P. Nageswara Rao said the VRC would serve as single window access to information for farmers across the region with respect to various problems faced by them during cultivation, marketing, health and weather dynamics.

Once the system comes up, the farmers would sit with a interpreter in front of a computer set in the VRC and would seek advise from the experts sited at the base in any part of the country.
Nesac has collaborated with many institutes including Assam Agricultural University, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Gauhati Medical College and other institutes to fructify the advisory system.

Isro has funded the entire hardware, transponder time and bandwidth in the VRCs, while local collaborators in each state would bear other costs like sponsoring a local coordinator.
Of the 34 VRC set up so far, 16 are in Sikkim, eight in Nagaland and 10 in Assam. The VRC are likely to be functional by June next year.

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Virtual Conference of farmers through VRC _Indian Science Congress

Jan 2008: MSSRF organises a satellite-based virtual conference of farmers from five States

UNIQUE EXPERIMENT: Women farmers of Pokhran, Rajasthan, speak through a video conference at the National Virtual Congress of the Mahila Kisan during the 95th Indian Science Congress in Andhra University in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. Minister of State for Women and Child Welfare Renuka Chowdhary and eminent scientist M.S. Swaminathan listen to them.

VISAKHAPATNAM: The 95th session of the Indian Science Congress, being held here, could well go down in history as a unique experiment, as it provided an opportunity for the farming community to voice its problems and aspirations directly to the annual gathering of policy-makers and scientists.

The Indian Space Research Organisation, the Andhra University, where the session is being held, and the Chennai-based M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) organised a satellite-based virtual conference of farmers from seven locations in five States — Thiruvaiyaru in Tamil Nadu, Moosapet in Andhra Pradesh, Jeypore in Koraput district of Orissa, Yavatmal and Waifad in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, and MSSRF.

The conference focused on the travails and dreams of women farmers as Indian agriculture is increasingly getting feminised because of migration of men to cities and towns in search of jobs. It is estimated that at present, women account for about 70 per cent of the farm workforce.

The problems voiced by the women farmers from the seven locations varied from lack of adequate credit to problems of security as they had to go to their farms at night for pumping water as power supply is erratic. A woman farm labourer also sought crèches to take care of their children when they go out to work and another sought medical and risk allowance.

There were demands for drought-resistant seeds and seed banks in the villages; government-run shelters for abandoned cattle so that they do not stray into fields; and women-friendly agricultural tools and tractors.

The conference was organised as part of the village resource centre scheme of ISRO.

Over the last two years, the space agency has set up 315 village resource centres (VRC) across the country, which are connected through satellite. ISRO has been using the network to disseminate farm-related information and as a discussion forum for the farming community. Every day, ISRO runs a four-hour programme under the scheme.

Empathising with the women farmers, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhary, who chaired the two-hour session, said her Ministry would also soon be a part of the network and use it extensively, with focus on aspects such as their health and nutrition security.

She also announced that she would convene a meeting of shoe manufacturers and discuss the possibility of producing affordable gum boots for use by women farmers while working in the fields and campaign strongly for joint title deed for agricultural land.

“It is highly atrocious that nutrition level among women was very low,” she said.

Later addressing a press conference, Dr. Swaminathan said a charter based on the points raised by the women farmers would be included in the final recommendations of the Science Congress. The nine-point charter, among other things, called for issue of joint title deeds as it was absolutely essential for the women farmers to get access to Kisan credit cards and institutional credit, and for special insurance schemes to cover them from occupational hazards like leptosporosis infection in paddy fields.

Support services

It would also urge for support services such as crèches, anganwadis to reduce their burden, and bring about changes in the curricula of agricultural universities to make students more gender sensitive.

V.S. Hegde, Head of the VRC programme of ISRO, said the number of VRCs in the country would be increased to 4,000 within two years.

http://www.cab.org.in/default.aspx

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Kiosk setup at Tirupathi VRC ,Hyderabad

April 2007 : Satellite imageries to help tillers on earth Ryots urged to make use of VRC concept TOUCH OF TECH: ISRO Chairman G.Madhavan Nair checking out the touchscreen information kiosk set up in Tirupati on Saturday. TIRUPATI: Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) G. Madhavan Nair has expressed concern over the fall in farm growth rate and problems faced by ryots. Speaking at a meet organised by the Federation of Farmers' Associations (FFA) here on Saturday, Dr. Nair said that doubling the growth rate (currently at 1.8 per cent) was the greatest challenge ahead of the scientific fraternity. Emphasis should be laid food processing, logistics and distribution to minimise farm wastage and at the same time maximise returns. Dr. Nair saw a greater need for a tie-up between space scientists and farmers to usher in an era of rational farming. With remote sensing emerging as a major partner in farming, he said that ryots who had effectively utilised the technology could gain 40-100 per cent increase in income levels in the last three years. Case of `Sujalam' Citing the example of `Sujalaam,' a Rs.600-crore watershed scheme in Karnataka that became a success with the use of remote sensing technology, Dr. Nair said: "This is where technology has a major role to play." On the village resource centre (VRC) concept, a plan to bring all technology-related services like tele-medicine, tele-education and a touchscreen kiosk to provide information to farmers under one roof, the ISRO chief advised farmers to make use of the 200 such centres established all over the country. National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) Director K. Radhakrishnan, SV University incharge Vice-Chancellor K. Sivasankar Reddy and FFA Scientific Adviser O.S. Reddy spoke. Dr. Nair was later felicitated by FFA general secretary P. Chengal Reddy.

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Kiosk donated to VRC in Pudukottai ,Tamil Nadu

April 2009: It facilitates farmers to understand the crop protection methods

HITECH: Operation of the kiosk being explained to farmers at Pullanviduthi near Pudukottai.

PUDUKOTTAI: The Indian Farmers’ Fertiliser Co-operative Limited (IFFCO) has donated a comprehensive kiosk containing all cultivation details to the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation’s Village Resource Centre (VRC) at Annavasal in the district.

The kiosk, with multi-purpose utilisation, facilitates farmers to understand the crop protection methods, the importance of soil conservation and irrigation practices suited to a specific crop and even vocational activities such as preparation of vermi-compost and bio-manures.

At the touch of a screen and with the aid of visual images, the farmers can log in to a specific crop such as paddy or sugarcane cultivated by them. Right from sowing the seeds up to ploughing the fields, every minute detail is available at the kiosk.

The salient feature of the kiosk is that it seeks to clarify the doubts, using the frequently asked queries. A special audio system has been incorprated in to it and the farmer, at the touch of the relevant question, can get the doubts clarified. A telephone-like equipment is attached to the kiosk for listening to the audio component of the kiosk.

The content of the kiosk can be printed, using a printer also donated by the IFFCO.

The Joint Director of Agriculture, Pudukottai, Siva. Chellappa inaugurated the kiosk at Pullanviduthi village near Alankudi recently, where the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation operates a Village Knowledge Centre. Speaking on the occasion, he appealed to the farmers to take maximum advantage of the kiosk.

The Foundation’s VRC Project Co-ordinator R. Rajkumar said that the content of the kiosk would be circulated to the leading farmers and the coconut-growers in and around Alankudi. Village-specific modifications, if needed, would be incorporated in to the kiosk.

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VRC - Mananthavady & Kalpetta ,Wayanad,Kerala Services

Mananthavadi

VRC Services offered include:

• Tele-medicine (with Kalpetta VRC)

• Tele-education*
• Programs conducted from Ettimadai Expert Centre
• Programs are mainly on agriculture and floriculture
• Main programs include:
• Ginger cultivation
• Mushroom cultivation
• Use of pesticides/pest control
• Productivity enhancement
• Storage of crops, irrigation and many more

• Programs on Banking (loan information etc.)*

• Programs on Tax*

• Lectures on floriculture

• Environmental projects

• Personality development classes

• Value development programs for youth

• Other programs include
  • Career counseling
  • Mass media education
  • Value education
  • Tele-quiz
  • Tribal workshop
  • Environment projects

* Programs broadcasted from Ettimadai Expert Centre

Use for the Beneficiaries:

• Improving their agricultural practices

• Getting consultation from expert doctors free of cost

• Gaining knowledge by attending training programs

• Finding new and scientific ways of farming

• Getting counseling on handling situations of drought (highest no. of suicides due to inability to repay loans after facing drought)

• Getting career counseling for higher education

Highlights:

• Out of every 10 visitors to VRC, at least 5 come back for more information

• People mainly spend their money mainly on agriculture (buying farming equipments and other products like seeds and pesticides) and payment of loans.

• People come to VRC when there is any lecture or any training program. Nearly 7-8 people come to VRC daily. This excludes the number of people coming to listen to any lecture.

Ettimadai Expert Centre

Activities:

• Conducting lectures by experts in respective fields

• Managing ISRO-Amrita VRC network

Kalpetta

VRC Services offered include:

• Tele-medicine
• Expert doctors in Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS)
• Conducted with the help of Amrita Kripa Charitable Hospital, Kalpetta

• Tele-education*
• Programs conducted from Ettimadai Expert Centre
• Programs are mainly on agriculture
• Main programs include:
• Ginger cultivation
• Mushroom cultivation
• Use of pesticides/pest control
• Productivity enhancement, storage of crops, irrigation etc.

• Agricultural market information

• Programs on Banking (loan information etc.)*

• Programs on Tax*

• Lectures on rain water harvesting

• Distribution of some government forms

• Career Counseling

* Programs broadcasted from Ettimadai Expert Centre

Use for the Beneficiaries: Improving their agricultural practices Getting consultation from expert doctors free of cost Gaining knowledge by attending training programs Finding new and scientific ways of farming Awareness about Satellite Technology and Information Technology Getting career counseling for higher education Receiving information on bank loans Highlights: Out of every 10 visitors to VRC, at least 5 come back for more information People spend their money mainly on agriculture (buying farming equipments and other products like seeds and pesticides) and health (fighting with malaria). People usually come to VRC for tele-medicine or when there is any lecture or training program. Nearly 5-6 people come to VRC daily. This excludes the number of people coming to listen to the lectures. Primary education is still a distant dream for many villagers..

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Sempatti & Tangatchimadom VRC,Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu

Services offered include:

• Tele-education*

• Agricultural market information

• Programs on Banking (loan information etc.)*

• Computer training

• Livelihood earning activities (Doll making, tailoring, fruit processing)

• Crop Protection Training for Vegetable & Flower crops
  

* Programs broadcasted from Chennai Expert Centre

Use for the Beneficiaries:

• Gaining knowledge through informal education

• Computer Education/Computer awareness

• Utilization of new Technology for poor villagers

• Personality and skill development

• Improving their agricultural practices/scientific method in crop management

• Personality and skill development for youth

• Getting consultation from expert doctors free of cost

• Getting career counseling for higher education

• Receiving information on bank loans.

Highlights:

• Out of every 10 visitors to VRC, at least 4 come back for more information. The daily frequency of people coming to VRC (including VKCs) is nearly 20-25.

• People spend their money mainly on education and health/sanitation.

• Village knowledge workers get training from time to time and receive information on the activities conducted by other Knowledge workers.

General Observations

Problems Faced

• Satellite connectivity continues to erratic.

• Less number of resource persons as many projects are handled by them at the same time (Average 5-6 persons per VRC).

• Financial sustainability is an issue because the operating cost of VRC is covered by other projects.

• Difficulty in mobilizing people for any event.

Shortcomings

• No provision for any incentive for working good.

• Timely availability of localized content is a big issue.

• No revenue generation activity at any VRC.

• All VRCs are cost centres rather than becoming self-sustainable.

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