E-agriculture launched in Surkhet Updated At: 2014-02-15 - TopicsExpress

E-agriculture launched in Surkhet Updated At: 2014-02-15 10:02 PM HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE SURKHET: The Ministry of Agriculture has introduced ‘e-agriculture’ in Surkhet, the first of its kind initiative in the country. The facility helps farmers access information related to agriculture through computer software. The technology has been introduced at Sano Surkhet, Latikoili, Uttar Ganga, Pokharikanda and Mehalkuna VDCs of the district. The responsibility of handling the technology has been handed to agriculture cooperative of each VDC. Soil expert Chandra Risal of soil management office under the Ministry of Agriculture said that introduction of e-agro technology would help farmers solve minor problems from their own villages. “We have introduced the technology on experimental basis. We will see how effective it becomes and then will try to make this technology accessible to all,” he added. E-agriculture uses four types of software — Mritika, Ankur, Protikar and Vistar. According to Risal, farmers can take help of Mritika for soil examination and fertiliser selection. “Likewise, Ankur is useful for selecting seeds. Protikar is developed to help farmers to get information on insects and diseases and insecticides and pesticides. Vistar provides information about when to harvest the crops and how to search the market for their produce,” Risal informed.