Kissan Kerala, an integrated, multi-modal agricultural information system of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Kerala, has bagged the South Asian Manthan Award 2008 for 'Best e-content for Development'. The award is instituted by Digital Empowerment Foundation, World Summit Award-Austria and Centre for E-governance, Government of India. The project was conceptualized and implemented by the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala (IIITM-K) for the Department of Agriculture. Kissan Kerala was selected by a 20- member jury from 264 nominations from eight south Asian countries. It bagged the award for its digital contents in agriculture and its multi-modal approach on e-education in the farming sector across Kerala. The project demonstrated the successful integration of various technologies like television, internet, telephone and mobile/SMS for delivering useful content and information to the farmers. It is the only project from Kerala selected for the award. R. Ajith Kumar, project Coordinator, Kissan Kerala, received the award at the South Asian Conclave held at New Delhi. The Kissan Kerala project was presented before the delegates from several South Asian countries. A priority project of the Department of Agriculture, Kissan Kerala has been providing useful information services to the farming community over the last 5 years. Kissan Krishideepam, a weekly television programme produced under the project, has completed 254 regular weeks of telecast through Asianet Channel. An interactive multi-lingual portal www.kissankerala.net provides various online advisory services on demand. Telephonic advisory (toll free call centre services), SMS based advisory and alert services are the major services offered by Kissan Kerala for the farming community.
The Hindu, 31st October 2008
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