IIT Roorkee launched ‘KISAN’ mobile app in Uttarakhand

Context

The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee has organized a regional farmers’ awareness programme as part of the ‘Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa’ (GKMS) project and launched KISAN mobile application for the farmers.

Key-points

• A farmer’s awareness program was organized by IIT Roorkee under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) project. 
• Farmers from Dehradun, Haridwar, and Pauri Garhwal districts took part in this program.
• The participating farmers were taught about the Agromet Advisory Services which is jointly provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and AMFU Roorkee.
• The Agrometeorological Advisory Services are offered jointly by the AMFU (Agromet Field Unit Roorkee) IIT Roorkee and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Agromet Advisory Services are already being provided twice a week to the farmers of six blocks of Haridwar. 

About the app

• KISAN app provides farmers with easy access to weather forecasts and weather-based Agrometeorological Advisory Bulletins for all six blocks of Haridwar district through phones.
• The app was developed by Dr Khushboo Mirza, Senior Scientist, Regional Remote Sensing Center (RRSC), National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), New Delhi under the guidance of Dr C S Jha, an Outstanding Scientist and Chief General Manager at RRSC, NRSC, ISRO, Hyderabad.
• Through this KISAN app, the bulletins can be accessed via mobile phone.
• One unique feature of this app is that advisory bulletin and weather forecasts will be displayed only for that particular block that has been selected by the farmers.
• The farmers can share feedback regarding the bulletins that they are receiving, which will in turn help in providing better services.
• Under the supervision of Dr. C S Jha, at Regional Remote Sensing Centre (RRSC), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO, Hyderabad, Dr. Khushboo Mirza, Senior Scientist, RRSC, NRSC, ISRO developed the ‘KISAN’ app.
• As per the requirements of the farmers, this app will be updated.

About Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa

• The Ministry of Earth Sciences launched Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa to provide farmers with crop-specific information twice a week via print, visual, radio, and IT such as SMS. 
• GKMS has been implemented by the Indian Meteorological Department in association with different state agriculture universities and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.