"Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you have seen, and ask yourself, if the steps you contemplate are going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore to him control over his own life and destiny?"

-M.K. Ghandhi, Father of the Nation


India’s North-East is endowed with rich natural resources for development. The average rainfall in the region is the highest in the country. However, the region has exhibited most backwardness. The economic upliftment of the entire region depends, to a large extent, on the progress of agriculture sector.  The non-income poverty in terms of inadequate information on advanced farm technologies, market intelligence and rural development schemes produces the income poverty in the region. The limited technical manpower, lack of transport and communication facilities, inadequate financial support to the technology transfer and less infrastructure facility creates huge technological gap among rural tribal farming community. Further, difficult terrain, mountainous periphery and frequent natural disasters hinder the development of the region. Due to non-availability of improved technological information to the tribal farmers, agriculture exhibits low unstable productivity, which makes agriculture become less remunerative and also creates food insecurity problem. In this existing scenario, it is expected that application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agricultural information provision to the tribal farming community of Arunachal Pradesh State of North –East India will helps to foster the socio economic empowerment of tribal farming community.

Hence, e-Arik (“Arik” means “Agriculture” in the Adi tribal dialect of Arunachal Pradesh State), a research project to experiment the application of  ICTs in agricultural extension services provision and also to measure  its impact on the tribal farmers  has been implemented in “Yagrung” village of East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh State. This two year research project is funded by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. The project proposes single window system for the improved agricultural information and technology delivery to the tribal farmers by using computer, internet, phone, radio and television. The project also aims to provide all time expert consultation on agriculture production, protection and marketing aspects through ICTs. The project also promises to provide the training on ICTs and capacity building among the rural tribal children, youth, women and others.

 

 

 

 

 

  • e-Arik :“Arik” means “Agriculture” in the Adi tribal dialect of Arunachal Pradesh State of North-East India

  • Project logo symbolizes the typical Adi tribal house setting with ICTs. Outer circle emphasizes the increasing the agricultural yield for the socio-economic empowerment of the tribal farming community.