Odisha: Free Mobile Phone Scheme launched for Farmers

Now mobile phones will be seen at the hands of every farmer in Odisha as the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday launched the free mobile phone scheme for the farmers under Digital Mandi scheme. With the launch of the scheme, the farmers will be now updated with the latest market information related to agriculture through mobile phones.

The days are gone when using a mobile phone was a dream for poor farmers in the state. The CM kept his promise by introducing the scheme ahead of the polls. The government has allocated Rs 2 crore for the scheme in the last agriculture budget.

Inaugurating the Digital Mandi at Exhibition ground in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, Mr Patnaik distributed free mobile phones to 5000 farmers who were having Kisan Credit Cards. With the launch of the scheme, more than 15000 beneficiaries will get the phones at district levels within a month. The farmers will be shortlisted soon by the district level committee.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has been consulted to send free voice SMSes related to market prices of the fertilisers, agriculture produces. Even the farmers can get the information about weather condition.