I think the future is graduating from the information & advisory platform of the SMS into a transaction platform. Where in the farmers can use the info that is provided into a meaninfull transaction, which helps them realize the prices etc. I feel M-transactions is going to be a critical component. This would invovle creating a CUG ( closed user group) , a network of all the stake holders like, warehouse, transaport, buyers, logistic providers, traders etc. So that the entire transaction is concluded seemless. this i think would be essential specially given the difficulty of non avaliablity of proper roads in the indian scenario. Some effort in this direction is already under way in India. cheers

In india, there are three kinds being experiemented on this. 1. Creating a software ( mkrishi - initative by TCS) 2. using the SMS format 3.hand set manf ( nokia) creating an application. currently all the three are in early stages of experiment. pt. 2- we are working this, and some work which has been done by others, has shown some success. we would be providing information, GAP & weather advisory. accrodingly to our telecom partner ( with whom we are working) there seems to be good response. but to answer the question, have'nt come across anything conceret yet. small deviation: there was an experiment done by one of the framers who used the mobile to operate his pump set remotely ( he had one a national innovation award as well) rgds

Dear Luca We are working on this currently. One big thing which we feel is imporant, would be to provide economic decision making support. My personal belief, is that , today the farmers in india are becoming aware, but that awareness would have to be necessarily translate into an propoer economic decision making. else the service will be defunct for him.

It obviously is subjective , but what we are experimenting is pricing these services. Even if the farmer is taking first time, more due to curiosity , next time he will not subscribe to it, if the service offered is not valuable. this is a simple measure tape that we are using in our pilot work in India.