Netafim India, a wholly owned subsidiary of global smart irrigation leader Netafim, has launched a suite of digital initiatives—Netafim Krishi Samvaad, Netafim Ki Paathshala, and Netafim Tip of the Day—to enhance farmer engagement and knowledge sharing through accessible digital platforms.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, these initiatives have bridged the gap between Netafim’s agronomists and farmers using audio, text, and video tools. So far, the company has reached approximately 8.5 million farmers nationwide with essential pre-sowing advisories. Within just 60 days of online engagement, Netafim’s social media following grew by 45%, adding 9,576 new members.
Speaking on the initiative, Randhir Chauhan, Managing Director of Netafim India, said,
"Netafim India has always acted as a cultural anthropologist for farmers. By understanding their digital habits, we tailored content that resonates with them in their local languages, ensuring timely, practical, and scientific agricultural knowledge."
Netafim Krishi Samvaad, a series of multilingual live webinars, has become a platform for farmers to learn from experts about improving crop yields using micro-irrigation systems. The sessions, conducted on platforms like Facebook, have covered crop cycles from land preparation to water management, specifically for cotton, turmeric, and banana.
Netafim Ki Paathshala, available on YouTube, offers in-depth video content to educate farmers on the advantages of modern drip irrigation techniques. These tools have proven especially valuable during times of restricted movement.
Farmers have responded positively to the initiatives. "This type of advice isn’t found in any book," said Mohanakrishna Nanneboina, a farmer from Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, after a session by Netafim Agronomist A.S. Subbarao.
Encouraged by the overwhelming response, Netafim India plans to expand the series, focusing on crops like Chilli, Groundnut, Paddy, Tomato, Sugarcane, Onion, Papaya, and Pomegranate between August and November. Farmers have also started suggesting topics and sharing their experiences for future sessions.