‘Press – Release’

ISAP & SAWBO launch animated videos on farm practices, downloadable on even low-end cellphones!

The Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP) and Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO) officially released their first joint effort - a cell phone ready animation to help farmers in India to control pest insects that attack their crops.   The animation, produced by SAWBO and voice overlaid in Hindi by ISAP, is focused on the use of neem seed extracts for insect control.   The animation can be downloaded from a new online journal focused on practically applicable extension material that can be used on cell phones, the Sustainable Development Virtual Knowledge Interface (SusDeViKI).  Two file size versions of the animation are currently available on the SusDeViKI: a higher definition 3gp version (http://susdeviki.illinois.edu/SearchResultView.aspx?id=169&vid=1) and a light version (http://susdeviki.illinois.edu/SearchResultView.aspx?id=168&vid=1), which takes less memory and can be exchange more rapidly between cell phones using Bluetooth(R) technology. 

The Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals - a not-for-profit organization, has been working in the field of agriculture and extension services for over a decade in India.  Today, it is a large network of agriculture and allied professionals comprising 15,000 members, 10,000 experts across domains and over 500 partner NGOs in India. ISAP has 170+ staff members dedicated full time and working across 15 states in India.  At any given point in time, ISAP is working with more than 50,000 farmers directly on the ground.  ISAP also operates Community Radio Stations and Farmer Helplines (Call Centres) in India, leveraging ICT and impacting over half a million farmers and their families.

Scientific Animations Without Borders – a University of Illinois-based program, has been developing animations for international educational purposes for the past two years.  They have created a series of animations which can be voice overlaid in a diversity of languages from around the world and deployed locally on cell phones as well as other electronic video-capable devices.  The neem video was produced by SAWBO through funding provided by the Dry Grains Pulses CRSP and USAID.   Additionally, SAWBO is also supported by the ADM Institute for Postharvest Loss at the University of Illinois (http://postharvestinstitute.illinois.edu/).

Under this joint effort, ISAP and SAWBO propose to develop audio-visual content that will be delivered to farmers in rural India. It aims to deliver the latest scientific technology in crop management to farmers across rural India using low cost, audio clips and also high quality 3D animations. The voice over in Hindi language for the neem video was developed by ISAP.  Voice over in other Indian languages too shall be developed by ISAP.

The concept of using animation is unique and is culturally neutral; and, therefore, has a universal appeal besides being disseminated within shortest possible span of time. The animation has been successfully tested by ISAP professionals on even very low-end mobile sets commonly used in rural India. Farmers will be able to store these videos in their mobiles and show them to fellow farmers. These videos will incorporate voice-overs in local languages/dialects and will be disseminated via cellphones and other media as part of local campaigns.  It is envisaged that this will help in maximizing crop yields and addressing the challenges faced by small and marginal farmers in rural India.

New Delhi
6 March 2012