Use of Mobile Apps in Agriculture & Rural Development

• As of 2024, India has over 1.1 billion mobile phone users and more than 750 million smartphone users.
• Over 500+ agriculture-specific apps are available in India (e.g., Kisan Suvidha, Pusa Krishi, mKisan).
• Mobile apps have shown to increase farmers’ income by 15–25% through timely information and decision support.

Uses:

1. Weather Forecasting – Apps provide real-time weather updates to farmers.
2. Market Information – Farmers get daily mandi prices of crops.
3. Pest & Disease Management – Apps give guidance for crop protection.
4. Financial Services – Mobile banking & insurance facilities.
5. E-learning & Advisory – Access to expert advice, tutorials, and training.
6. Smart Farming – Precision agriculture with data collection, sensors & GPS.
7. Government Schemes – Awareness about subsidies, schemes, and policies.

Key Facts about Mobile Apps

First Mobile App: Early mobile apps were built-in utilities like calculators, calendars, and games on Nokia phones (1990s).

App Stores:

• Apple App Store launched in 2008 (iPhone).
• Google Play Store (originally Android Market) launched in 2008.

Types of Mobile Apps:

• Native Apps → Built for one platform (e.g., Instagram for iOS/Android).
• Web Apps → Accessed via browsers (e.g., Gmail web app).
• Hybrid Apps → Mix of web & native, built with frameworks like Flutter or React Native.

Uses of Mobile Apps:

• Communication → WhatsApp, Telegram.
• Social Networking → Facebook, Instagram.
• E-commerce → Amazon, Flipkart.
• Education → Byju’s, IndianAgriExam App.
• Banking → Paytm, Google Pay.
• Entertainment → Netflix, Spotify.
• Health → Practo, Fittr.

Current Stats (2025):

• More than 6 million apps are available on Google Play and Apple App Store combined.
• Average person uses 9 apps daily and 30 apps monthly.

Fact for Exams:

• Mobile apps are categorized into Utility Apps, Lifestyle Apps, Productivity Apps, and Educational Apps.
• They are part of ICT tools in extension for delivering information (e.g., mKisan App by Govt. of India for farmers).

Examples of Mobile Apps

• Agriculture → mKisan, Kisan Suvidha, IFFCO Kisan App
• Education → Byju’s, Coursera, IndianAgriExam App
• E-commerce → Flipkart, Amazon
• Social Media → Instagram, Twitter (X)
• Finance → Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe

Video and Teleconferencing

Uses:

1. Education & Training – Helps conduct online classes, farmer training programs, and workshops.
2. Business & Meetings – Saves time and money by avoiding travel.
3. Telemedicine – Doctors can provide healthcare advice remotely.
4. Government & Extension Services – Officials connect with farmers for awareness programs.
5. Collaboration – Real-time sharing of documents, presentations, and screens.
6. Global Connectivity – Brings together people from different regions/countries.

Facts:

• The first video call was demonstrated in 1964 by AT&T at the New York World’s Fair.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), apps like Zoom, Google Meet, and MS Teams saw a 400% rise in daily usage worldwide.
• In India, video conferencing saved nearly ₹1,500 crores annually in government travel expenses (as per NIC report, 2023).
• Teleconferencing can reduce carbon emissions by up to 40%, as it cuts down the need for transportation.
• Cost Saving → Video conferencing reduces operational costs by 30–50% for businesses.
• Eco-Friendly → Saves fuel and reduces CO₂ emissions by ~40% compared to physical travel.
• Supreme Court of India → Conducts virtual hearings through video conferencing since 2020.