THE ICT IN AGRICUTTURE: BRIDGING BHARAT WITH INDIA
Anwesha Banerjee · 2011
Development Communication is relatively new in the study of mass communication, but the reach is much wider than its parent. In the end years of World War II, Development Communication emerged as a field as a combination of political and economic factors in Asia, Africa and South America namely the third world. From the '70s, however, development concept was refined and broadened through the addition of ecological dimensions and technology transfer. With the advent of globalization in 1990s, Development Communication has gone through a sea change; the effect was naturally felt in India, especially in the rural belt and more importantly in the agricultural sector. Never-seen-before initiatives were taken by governments, private players and in form of Public- Private Partnership to implement ICT model in interior areas. Sometimes, it is e-governance, sometimes e-commerce and sometimes e-education. Information and Communication Technology has played a significant role in developing the communication channels in the rural areas. Development Communication and its evolution in form of ICT have a positive impact on India. In my paper, I tend to focus on the state of rural development through ICT by way of examining ITC e-Choupal initiative, Kissan Kerala, Gyandoot and agropedia. How these initiatives transformed the agricultural scenario in the rural belt and what could be the way forward for ICT in giving shape to a new India would be discussed upon.