2008 A P P L I E D A N D N AT U R A L S C I E N C E F O U N D A T I O N   Journal of Applied and Natural Science 9 (3): 1808 -1814 (2017) Development of mobile phone based agro-advisory system through ICT mediated extension approach in North-eastern himalayan region of India Biswajit Lahiri 1* , Swapnali Borah 2 , Natasha R. Marak 3 and Thiruchirapalli Sudarshan Anurag 4 1 Department of Extension and Communication Management, College of Home Science, Central Agricultural University, Sangsanggre, PO- Dobasipara, Town-Tura, Dist-West Garo Hills- 794005 (Meghalaya), INDIA 2 Department of Family Resource Management, College of Home Science, Central Agricultural University, Tura, West Garo Hills- 794005 (Meghalaya), INDIA 3 Department of Foods and Nutrition, College of Home Science, Central Agricultural University, Tura, West Garo Hills- 794005 (Meghalaya), INDIA 4 Media Lab Asia, Devika Towers, 6 Nehru Place, New Delhi, INDIA *Corresponding author. E-mail: biswajit.lahiri@gmail.com Received: December 6, 2016; Revised received: March 22, 2017; Accepted: August 23, 2017 Abstract: To achieve gainful development in agriculture to ensure food security in the north-eastern Himalayan region of India, an initiative was taken to develop mobile phone based agro-advisory system with the objective to empower the farmers by providing right information at right time through Information and Communication Technol- ogy mediated extension approach. 2000 farmers and farm women were selected as beneficiaries through snowball sampling method based on certain criteria. The major features of the system to deliver the farm advices (Pull Based) and information services (Push Based) through toll free Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS), Smart Phone Application, Mobile phone and Web based agriculture advisory system. It was found that on an average almost 200 advisories were provided every month, which even shoot up to almost 300 calls per month in the peak Kharif seasons as bulk of the advisories were provided during the months of May to November as most number of calls from the farmers came during the period. Majority of the advisories were provided on fishery management practices (17.32%), source of seed (9.95%), livestock management (9.18%), disease and pest management of crops (8.75%), training information (9.35%), rural development schemes (7.76%) etc. Moreover, the inclusion of need based train- ing component and convergence with different extension functionaries helped to develop an ICT based Stakeholder Interface (Experts-Line Departments-Agripreneurs-Farmers) in the field of agriculture in the region. This alternate extension system also helped to develop better rapport with the farmers and can be replicated in other hilly region of the world. Keywords: Agricultural information, Agro-advisory system, Interactive information dissemination system, Mobile extension, North-eastern himalayan region INTRODUCTION In an era of liberalization of the economy, modern agriculture can thrive with the access to up to date information by the farming community. Access to the right information at the right time in the right format and from the right source may shift the balance between success and failure of the farmer (Opara, 2008). The information is also a critical input and as important as other key inputs such as credit, seeds, fertilizers and water. Different sources and channels of agriculture information can play important role to meet this requirement (Yadav et al., 2011). Agriculture and farming, information technology, government-all are in the process of change. These socioeconomic, politi- cal, and technical changes inevitably impact the insti- tution of agricultural extension and bring pressure on it ISSN : 0974-9411 (Print), 2231-5209 (Online) All Rights Reserved © Applied and Natural Science Foundation www.jans.ansfoundation.org also to change (Rivera, 2007). Modern agriculture is highly knowledge intensive and requires the support of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for planning, decision making and implementation. The internet, mobile phones, television and radio are providing opportunities to connect the people to obtain and disseminate information and to bring in a new revolution in agriculture. Being the second largest populated country in the world, the pressure of food insecurity is always a matter of great worry for the agriculturist in India. In this regard, the relatively less exploited hilly areas can be made a panacea to the problem and the north-eastern Himalayan regions of the country has the real potential to provide additional thrust to boost up the agricultural production in the country. The ever increasing demand for the resources of the population put the pressure on the biological