 "Airtel, IFFCO To Help Farmers Through Mobile Tech")
In order to expand its reach to rural India, Bharti Airtel has announced a joint venture with the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative (IFFCO) and has launched the IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL). The new company will provide mobile services specifically to farmers in India through co-operative societies, with the help of Airtel. The company will help farmers get information related to agriculture with the help of communication technology.
While announcing the formation of the newly formed joint venture company, U S Awasthi, managing director, IFFCO said, “Our idea is to make information available to farmers through the best connectivity and technology. It is our constant endeavour to enrich the life of farmers through the best solutions that are available. Through this initiative we would be able to provide updated information. We also will assist them by making are our experts available whenever they need them.” IKSL will also provide helpline services and put a system in place, wherein it will send five voice based sms’ per day related to mandi (market) prices. The service has already been launched in eight Indian states.
By the end of this year the company is planning to provide services across the country. IKSL was conceptualised in April 2007 and an extensive pilot project was conducted in eastern UP for six months. The new platform was developed on the basis of the results of the pilot project.
Airtel will provide the infrastructure backbone for ISKL. Informing about the companys’s plan to expand its reach Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman and managing director, Bharti Airtel Limited said, “In order to increase the rural tele-density it is essential to unlock the key rural potential in India. The market share in the rural areas is going to be disproportionately high in the coming years. IFFCO already has its presence in 98% of the rural areas, which will help us expand our pan-India foot print.” He further added that mobile phones will also help farmers transfer money. The revenue will be shared between Airtel, IKSL and cooperative societies. IFFCO has 5.5 crore farmers as its members across India, out of which 48,000 have already opted for the IFFCO Kisan sim card.
ISKL will also introduce the concept of Green Energy within two months, which will help farmers charge their cell phones without the help of electricity. IFFCO will provide them with tools such as the hand charger and hand torch. Said S. C. Mittal, director, IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited, “The prime motive behind this initiative is to provide better communication services to the farmers. We are also looking at creating IT hubs in rural India. We are looking at more services from Airtel to empower our farmers. The infrastructure that will be provided by Airtel will help us create IT hubs.”