Nabard to offer SMS-based weather and crop data

PUNE: After private companies and state governments, it is now the turn of National Agricultural and Rural Development Bank ( Nabard) to offer SMS-based weather and crop advisory services. With the paid service hooking users in big numbers, the weather department is thinking of making it available free of cost and increasing its network.

Nabard plans to cover 50,000 farmers in 10 districts in Maharashtra on a pilot project. Nabard will fund the Rs 1-crore project spread over three years. "Farmers who are members of Nabard's farmers' clubs will be selected for the project to be implemented by 10 selected Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). The service will be provided free of cost to farmers," said PN Ghole, general manager, Nabard (farm development department), Pune regional office.

Nabard has recruited 10 development correspondents, who are agricultural graduates, for giving advisories for the 10 districts. It has also prepared a software for the project.