Question

Which among the following states is first to introduce tele-agriculture to enable the state's farmers to refer their problems to experts on phone without paying any charge?

• A. Karnataka
• B. Andhra Pradesh
• C. Orissa
• D. Haryana

Hint:

Look for the agrarian state that set up a toll free phone line connecting farmers directly to agriculture experts.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks which state was the first to launch tele-agriculture, a toll free telephone service that lets a farmer call up and describe a crop problem directly to an agriculture expert, without paying any charge for the call or the advice.

Step 2: Key Facts:
In the early 2000s several states tried e-governance ideas to bring government services closer to citizens without them having to travel to an office. A free farmer helpline connecting callers straight to subject experts was one such idea aimed specifically at agriculture.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Haryana, a largely agrarian state, was the first to set up such a toll free tele-agriculture helpline. A farmer anywhere in the state could call in, describe an issue such as a pest attack, a disease in the crop, or a soil problem, and get expert advice on the spot at no cost. Karnataka is remembered for its Bhoomi project, which computerised land records, and Andhra Pradesh ran a wide network of e-Seva centres for bill payments and certificates, but neither state was first with this specific free agriculture advisory phone line. Orissa's rural technology efforts in this period leaned more towards disaster warning systems, given its history of cyclones, rather than a farmer helpline of this kind.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Haryana was the first state to introduce this free tele-agriculture service, so the answer is option (4).