Information and Communication Technologies for Integrated Pest Management- Some Experiences

Singh, Pushpa and Singh, K M and Shahi, Brajesh (2018): Information and Communication Technologies for Integrated Pest Management- Some Experiences.

Abstract

In this transitory and challenging phase of agriculture development and extension, quick and easy transfer of technological information from the research system to end client farmer as well as feedback from farmers to the research system back is very critical and this gap can be easily achieved by the outright and expanding penetration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Information that is need-based, demand driven, location-specific as well as in local language can be easily provided by internet services and mobile phones. In extension system ICTs can help in emergence of knowledge workers resulting in the realization of a bottom-up, demand-driven paradigm for technology generation, assessment, refinement and transfer ICTs can make significant contribution in increasing the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of small farmers by providing early warning system regarding pest and disease control, new varieties, soil health, water management and weather. Computers, internet, geographical information systems, mobile phones, as well as traditional media such as radio or TV can bring about awareness of up-to-date market information on prices of commodities, inputs and consumer trends which will improve farmers’ livelihoods substantially and have a dramatic impact on their negotiating position and marketing prospects. A number of internet sites have come up to support agricultural development in India. Websites like ikisan.com, krishivihar.com, agriwatch.com and commodityindia.com provides information to farmers on production and marketing of agricultural commodities. In the current changing scenario of emerging pest management problems, ICTs can play an important role in analyzing data regarding pest identification, dissemination and sharing of IPM information, internet based decision support tools, training and spread of scientific documents to other scientists, researchers, extension agencies, farmers as well as for public viewing. Internet and other ICT tools like mobile phones are very fast, persistent, detailed, open and interactive so are much suitable. Internet based services are presently being used for IPM based pest surveillance and advisory projects in management of insects pests of paddy, chickpea as well as pigeon pea. ICTs can provide the farmers with all the necessary information they require their decision regarding pest identification, life cycle, sampling, economic threshold decision, pest distribution, eco-friendly bio-control management tactics, pesticides availability as well as their environmental impact and safety risks. With growing popularity of smart mobile phones, hand held computers and global positioning systems IPM extension professionals and farmers are able to access relevant information anywhere anytime as well as inspiring insect pest informatics experts to create and standardize IPM information relevant to pest of specific area and time.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Agricultural Extension, Information and Communication Technologies, Integrated Pest Management
• Subjects: O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O33 - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences ; Diffusion Processes; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q13 - Agricultural Markets and Marketing ; Cooperatives ; Agribusiness; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q16 - R&D ; Agricultural Technology ; Biofuels ; Agricultural Extension Services

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