APMC, Nethotzone link up for internet kiosks

As part of its initiative to provide updated information to farmers, Vadodara Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) has joined hands with Ahmedabad-based Nethotzone to launch free internet kiosks in the APMC premises.

Nethotzone, which offers free internet access through its kiosks at various shopping malls, has for the first time taken its patented technology and services to mandies.

Apart from supplying such kiosks to APMC, the company will also maintain them. The company will also be responsible for generating data in Gujarati language to make it easier for farmers to understand, said Ravin Vyas, chief operating officer of Nethotzone in Ahmedabad while announcing the free internet kiosks at Vadodara APMC.

The farmers will be provided internet access through the kiosk while the company will earn revenues through advertisements.

Keeping in mind the needs of the farmers, the kiosks have been mainly designed to provide vital information such as daily price quotes and stock of commodities at Vadodara and nearby APMCs. The information will help farmers to select the right mandi for trading.

Moreover, farmers will get all details regarding price fluctuations and stocks, which will help them select the ideal APMC for selling agri-produce and get better returns. It will also increase the bargaining capacity of the farmers, said Shailesh Patel, chairman, Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee at Vadodara.

Apart from daily prices, the kiosk will also provide other essential details, including financial help provided by various institutions, seed technology and management and fertility reports.