It is not just college students. Even farmers in Karnataka will soon be empowered with tablets to keep abreast of the latest developments in the field of agriculture.
Information Technology Minister S R Patil, at the inauguration of the cultural and literary activities of Sarvajna Pre-University Science College here on Sunday, said that a pilot project will be launched in his home district Bagalkot. “Hundreds of farmers will be given tablet PCs in Bagalkot and the same scheme will be extended across the state if the project succeeds there,” he said. However, he did not clarify if the tablets would be given for free, subsidised or sold to the farmers.
Patil’s announcement came following writer Ramzan Dargah’s request that the minister use his good offices to help the agriculture sector. Patil said software engineers from North Karnataka, who reside in the US, contacted him and gave a presentation about a software that they have developed for agriculture activities.
“This software, along with two others for education and healthcare, will be installed in the tablets. Farmers can browse any information regarding agriculture and the latest technology apart from data on education and health,” he said.