ABOUT “KISAN SEVA”
Kisan Seva is a service mainly used by the Farmers. This service helps the farmers to decide the right crop to grow for the season.
We have observed that price fluctuation is one of the major reason for the farmer’s sufferings.
Through this service we have addressed the problem by trying to regulate the supply based on the market demand.
A FARMER STORY
Chapter-1
Nandu is devastated today. All his hard work in the past months has gone in vain.
He could not recover even 50% of what he had invested to grow the crop, and is neck deep in debt.
He had to repay the loan borrowed from the money launders and also pay for his daughter’s education.
But today, it is hard for him to even arrange food for his family.
FIELD RESEARCH
We went to a nearby village in Hyderabad to do a field research.
Lot of facts were revealed through the research. We were overwhelmed with our
findings on:
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Farmer Finance / Agriculture Loan/ Krishi Loan
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Govt./private crop seed dealers
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Decision making factors on choosing a crop
-
Middlemans role in regulating market price
FARMER SUICIDE
Terrible trend of farmer suicides in India*
With low incomes and high costs of cultivation, the main source of capital for
farming is loan.
The price fluctuations pushes them into mounting debts and as a result, many
choose to end their lives.
In Punjab 449 farmer suicides in 2015.
Around 15,400 farmers ended their lives each year between 1995 and 2003.
Farmer count has fallen by 9 million since 2001.
*Published in: yourstory.com l 14 October 2016
FARM COSTS
Farm Costs and Returns in Andhra Pradesh in 2011-12*
*Published in: Scientific Journal of Agricultural Economics l 2015
FARM COSTS
Price Trend of Masur (Lentil)*
Price Trend of Moong (Green Gram)*
*Source: Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC), Agmarknet, and Agriwatch
KEY FINDINGS
Literacy rate: less than 5%
Smartphone usage: 80% approx
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Call
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Movies and Music (take help from the local cellphone shops to copy media)
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20% have mobile internet connection
Decides the crop based on the previous seasons market price
Price fluctuation of the crop is the primary concern
Loan from money launders are the primary source of capital for farming
They suffer loss for approximately 40% times
INTRODUCING KISAN SEVA
Chapter-2
On his way back Nandu met Ramdeen a fellow farmer.
Ramdeen was immensely happy. He got the expected price for his crop.
Nandu shared his story with Ramdeen and he shared his success story with Nandu.
Ramdeen told Nandu about Kisan Seva and how it helped him to choose
the right crop to grow and fetched him the price it predicted.
USING KISAN SEVA
Chapter-3
Next time before the cropping season, Nandu calls up Kisan Seva for
a guidance on selecting the right crop he can grow for the upcoming
season.
An automated IVR system guides him in his local language to decide the
right crop for that season.
