Odisha, Iffco in pact for mobile advisory services to fishermen

Total cost of implementing this scheme has been worked out at Rs 3.5 crore for 2013-14

The state fisheries & animal resources department today inked an agreement with Iffco (Indian Farmers’ Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd) Kisan Sanchar Ltd to implement a new scheme, ‘Empowering fishermen through mobile advisory services and establishment of toll free call centre for fisheries extension service’.

In the first year of the scheme, 100,000 out of 1,200,000 fishermen in both coastal and interior areas will be provided with SIM cards to receive 4-5 voice messages every day in Odia.

The scheme is aimed at providing quick and timely access to communication on latest information on weather, potential fishing zones, fishing conservation and cultivation.

The total cost of implementing this scheme has been worked out at Rs 3.48 crore for 2013-14. The partnering agency would recharge the SIM regularly as per the approved expression of interest (EoI).

The pact was signed by P Krishna Mohan, director (fisheries), Odisha and S Srinivasan, chief executive officer of Iffco Kisan Sanchar Ltd in the presence of state agriculture minister Debi Prasad Mishra and Bishnupada Sethi, secretary, fisheries and animal resources department. Under the scheme, the fishermen are not required to pay any additional cost towards services offered by the partnering agency.

The scheme is expected to benefit illiterate and semi-literate fishermen who would get automated calls. Information and advisories would be provided to fishermen in the form of brief one minute capsules focusing on area of local and contextual importance.

Each voice message would offer information on areas like potential fishing zone, weather alerts, ocean state forecast, fish market price, fish conservation, government credit, kisan credit cards and financial literacy, eco-tourism, fish feed and alternate livelihoods.

The enrolled fishermen will have access to a helpline. This helpline would provide a facility to clarify on the voice messages and get expert help.

After six months of launch of the scheme, an impact study will be conducted on sample fishermen who have actively availed the services.