Government owned telco BSNL has partnered with National Fertilizers Ltd (NFL) to launch a pilot project offering crop information services, weather forecasts, soil testing as well as health information in local languages. Economic Times reports the pilot project will be held at Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. Last year, BSNL launched a pilot with mobile VAS provider OnMobile to offer a 'Mandi On Mobile' service in Uttar Pradesh in association with the state government. This is the third such joint venture between an operator and a co-operative - Airtel launched Kisan Sanchar Ltd with Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) in 2008 and RCOM formed a JV in June with Krishak Bharti to retail customised telecom products and farmer specific value added services in rural India. Airtel's Kisan Sanchar now reaches 18 states and 15 lakh users. A List Of Rural Apps & Services In India So Far Tata Consultancy Services MKrishi used voice SMS to help illiterate farmers send queries and ask for advice or information. It was rolled out by TCS’ sister company Tata Indicom in April last year. RCOM partnered with BBC News to broadcast news and weather reports In Hindi, Tamil, Urdu & Bangla to rural India. RCOM also created solutions that would aid in water level monitoring, and data gathering for milk and agri-cooperatives, fisheries, poultry, and soil analysis. Tata partnered with Ossian to bring a service called Nano Ganesh that would automate agro and irrigation services for farmers in Sojitra village in Gujarat. Thomson Reuters entered…
