ROLE OF E-AGRICULTURE FOR EMPOWERING FARMING COMMUNITIES IN INDIAN CONTEXT

The global development of information and technologies (ICT) has created a new agricultural development paradigm that promises to transform the performance of the agricultural sector and improve rural livelihood in developing countries like India. E-Agriculture focus on the enhancement of agricultural and rural development through improved information and communication processes. More specifically, e-Agriculture involves the conceptualization, design, development, evaluation and application of innovative ways to use information and communication technologies (ICT) in the rural domain, with a primary focus on agriculture. Indian Agriculture contributes to 18.6 per cent of India's GDP, and approximately 59 per cent Indians derive their livelihood from the agricultural sector. This paper explores the government initiatives so far been taken under the aegis of e-agriculture or Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to the livelihoods of farming community in India and also the role and the advantages of E- agriculture in India.