Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RD)

Mangalore, Dec 21: “Efforts are underway to provide mobile phones to the farmers at an affordable price in partnership with private manufacturers” stated Oscar Fernandes, union minister of state for labour and employment.

Speaking at a programme recently in the capital, he stated that efforts are being made to avail mobile phones with in-built digital technology to the farmers for less than Rs 500 per hand set.  

Union government has the prime objective of providing mobile phone to the farmers at lowest prices, by encouraging electronics sector in the country. Mobile phones will have internet facility which would enable the farmers to get due prices for their produce.  

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I & B) and other related departments are jointly working towards availing mobile phones to every farmer, which would bring about revolution in telecommunication.  Farmers would get the information on what type of crop to grow during the course of the year at varied climates across the nation, the proportion of chemical fertilizers to be used for depending on the variety of crop, with the in-built internet facility in their mobile sets. This would account for higher agricultural produce and significant growth in exports, stated Oscar Fernandes.