3.1. Introduction

E-Agriculture is an emerging field for enhancing sustainable agriculture and food security through improved processes for knowledge access and exchange using information and communication technologies (ICT).

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors in India, and could benefit tremendously with the applications of ICTs especially in bringing changes to socio-economic conditions of poor in backward areas. Agriculture constitutes a major livelihoods sector and most of the rural poor

depend on rain-fed agriculture and fragile forests for their livelihoods. Farmers in rural areas have to deal with failed crops and animal illness frequently and due to limited communication facilities, solutions to their problems remain out of reach.

The service role of ICTs can enhance rural community’s opportunities by improving their access to market information and lower transaction costs for poor farmers and traders. Though India has a strong and fast growing IT industry, access to ICTs remains very low particularly in rural areas. The present indicators of IT penetration in Indian society are far from satisfactory.

The National Policy for Farmers emphasizes the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at village level for reaching out to the farmers with the correct advisories and requisite information. The available satellite data relating to weather news, long-term and short-term weather forecast, production information, market prices policy developments pertaining to agriculture, apart from the number of advisory services in public or private domain that disseminate information should be utilized adequately.