The \\\'Smart Farmer, Smart Future\\\' campaign

Bangladesh Institute of ICT in Development (BIID) in collaboration with Grameenphone and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) implemented a nationwide campaign titled "Smart Farmer: Smart Future" to empower farmers through using ICT enabled extension and market linkage services of e-Krishok. It was a project targeted at youth farmers to encourage them in adopting ICT based, especially mobile and internet enabled services, which has the potential to increase efficiency, productivity and improve their livelihood. The objectives of the project were engaging youth farmers and agri-businesses to use ICT services and building awareness on mobile and Internet based advisory services on extension and market linkage.
The widespread use of mobile phones, availability of shared access points and the constantly growing pace of high-speed internet, provides a huge opportunity to provide the much required services and smart solutions for empowering our farmers and relevant stakeholders. "Smart Farmer, Smart Future" facilitated the young farmers for understanding the value proposition (livelihood improvement) through positioning agriculture as a distinct profession highlighting the benefits of ICT enabled (Mobile & Internet) agricultural extension service. It might be mentioned that BIID has been working in the field of ICT4D since 2008. BIID launched the e-Krishok campaign in 2008 in 10 locations and transformed it into a service proposition in 2010. Later it was spread in 350 upazilas in collaboration with Grameenphone, Katalyst and ACI Limited. In 2012, BIID signed a MoU with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) to foster the effort to integrate ICT enabled services in extension service more efficiently. "Smart Farmer, Smart Future" was another initiative of BIID as its continuous effort to promote e-Krishok services, mainly 16250, the short code based solution. Farmers and extension information seekers can avail voice and text based solution via 16250.
 BIID launched the campaign on 17 June, 2014 at 10:00 am at the BARC Auditorium, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Farmgate, Dhaka. Mr Sunil Kanti Bose, Chairman, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), was present at the ceremony as the Chief Guest. Besides, Md Nazrul Islam Khan, Secretary, Information and Communication Technology Division, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology (MoPT&IT), Mr Mike Robson, Country Representative, FAO, Dr Anil Das, Director, ICT4D, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Anwar Faruque, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and Mr Erlend Prestgard, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), Grameenphone were present as special guests.
Integration of social media is another milestone in Smart Farmer, Smart Future campaign which is a very unusual agriculture based one. BIID also engaged a group of volunteers from different univerisities and ATIs. Students from both urban and rural areas showed equal enthusiasm on using ICT enabled solution for agriculture sector. Good number of ideas were submitted by the students which will be considered while developing new services of e-Krishok in coming days.
The "Smart Farmer, Smart Future" campaign included organizing haat and school/college based events and interactive sessions in 100 locations, engaging 100,000 youth farmers and agri-businesses through active participation in the competition with a bundle of incentives including prizes and recognition, inspiring and motivating the relevant stakeholders including the local information centres (GP CIC, UISC & Batighar), extension officers and input suppliers, building capacity of relevant stakeholders including extension officers and input suppliers through training and e-learning facility. More than 15,000 participants are directly engaged with the campaign and generated about 700 ideas. The best ideas will be selected and awarded attractive prizes. The winners will also be recognized through exchange visits and documentary. "Smart Farmer, Smart Future" will continue as a service through e-Krishok and will be expanded through "Smart Village" in the next phase.
The writer is Chief Executive Officer, Bangladesh Institute of ICT in Development (BIID). Email: shahid.akbar@biid.org.bd