Market rates on phone to help farmers in Punjab
07 January 2009
Farmers in Punjab now have a facility to access real time market rates right on their phones so they can pick and choose the best market where to sell their produce.
HFCL Infotel Limited, a telecom solutions provider in Punjab, has launched a voice-based value added service called 'Mandi Bhav' (Market Rate) in the state.
- Image credits: CXO Today / Market rates on the phone
The service will allow subscribers to get rates of commodities like vegetables, fruits, food grains, pulses, fibre crops and spices from wholesale markets across the state.
Vijay Bainsla, GM (marketing), HFCL said, "The service will empower the farmers to find out the mandis (markets) where the rates are the best, and accordingly they can sell their produce (here)."
The service is available to both 'Connect' landline and 'Ping' mobile customers. Subscribers can have access to real-time commodity rates from the different mandis of Punjab now by simply dialing a number from their landlines or mobile phones and following some instructions thereafter.
At present HFCL Infotel covers 12 major markets of the state including Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala, Moga, Faridkot, Kapurthala, etc. and has plans to cover at least 40 top mandis of the region depending upon the response.
