Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently emphaised the need to replicate innovative experiments by public-private partnership to increase investment in the countrys agricultural sector, while speaking at the Agri Summit 2005 recently.
Citing ITCs e-chaupal initiative, Dr Singh underlined the need to scale up such interventions to reverse the current deceleration in farm productivity. He also recommends civil society-led initiatives like Baramati in Maharshtra.
Stressing the need for a multi-stakeholder approach for rural development, PM further said The task of managing agriculture in the future cannot be adequately addressed by the public sector alone, but will require the combined strength s of a multi-agency system in which the private corporate sector, farmers organisations, co-operatives, NGOs, para-professionals, small agri-business, self-help groups, input dealers and suppliers, media and information technology can reach contribute according to its own strengths and capabilities.
Note
E-chaupal Launched in June 2000 by ITC Limited, e-chaupal has become the largest internet-based interventions in rural India. E-chaupal reaches more than 3.1 million farmers in over 31000 villages through 5050 infokiosks empowering the Indian farmers gain competitive advantage in the market.
Baramati Initiative on ICT and Development An initiative for harnessing the enormous potential for digital technologies and the Digital Economy to help poor communities leapfrog out of poverty.
More: Economic Times.
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