E-Agro is a joint venture of Intel and Grameen Intel Social Business (Bangladesh). This is a model programme where an entrepreneur will be given charge of 2,000 farmers. He will be responsible for keeping database of production of last five years and provide the farmers know-how for better harvest. The database will be made in the local language so that the farmer will be able to access it. Gradually, the number of farmers assigned to each entrepreneur will be increased depending on his capacity. The entrepreneur will be backed by OUAT, Paradeep Phosphates and Intel.

"We are trying to find ways to bring technology to people. We had technology but did not have the knowledge about entrepreneurial needs. And Grameen helped us providing a complete solution," said Frank Martinez, director of Intel's World Ahead Programme.

The e-Agro initiative has been launched in 12 locations of the State as a pilot project.

"We are working on this for the last two and a half years and it is a learning process. Now is the time to scale up and expand," said K C Mishra, CEO, eKutir. De-risking is a crucial part of the programme where farmers are provided with best quality seeds, fertilisers and an advisory to minimise the chances of crop failure.

Jobs are being created at the macro level and the farmers are getting quality services for a fixed payment, said Frank.

"The e-Agro initiative is a big boon for us as it will help us gain know-how on how to grow crops better," said Charana Sasmal, a beneficiary of the programme.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/better-expertise-for-farmers-in-offing/186532-60-117.html

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Comments (1)

Yong Yee Chong  - Possibility to give this a try in Malaysia

September 27, 2011  

Hi, I have come to read about this article from Yunus Center Facebook page. Being an intern to Grameen Creative Lab, Mumbai now, I understand what social business can do to the poor and lifted them to non-poor state.

I actually come from Malaysia, and grew up in my hometown called Kedah, which is a called the Home to Paddy Growing. For generations the place are the home to farmers and lately i have heard from the locals that there was this "harvesting" problem which is problematic to the farmers as their income were badly impacted.

Hence I actually want to know if this same project in India (to help the farmers etc.) can be duplicated in Malaysia. I could provide further info if this actually interests you.

p/s: I am also an ex-Intellier. previously i worked with Intel Malaysia before resigning to further my study. Thank you!

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