India celebrated its 78th Independence Day this year- 78 years of freedom, embracing a future of self-determination, unity, and growth and enjoying the burgeoning economy of the nation. Over the years, India has progressed and taken significant steps in various fields, including education, industry, science and technology, among others, which is witnessed by the advancement from the urban to rural areas. Moreover, the country’s growth and progress would be incomplete without acknowledging the significance of agriculture, which has been standing strong as the backbone of the nation, feeding and nurturing us, since time immemorial.

According to Indiastat agri, India holds the second position worldwide in terms of farm output, and the agricultural sector accounts to 18.3% of the GDP during 2020.

Yes, India is developing, adapting to technological advancements in urban areas, while rural areas still keep alive the agricultural richness and primary source of livelihood for a vast population, the farmers. However, while agriculture has been the cornerstone of the nation, it is also facing the most vulnerability today from among all other sectors. Though the Government has implemented several initiatives, and schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Pradhan Mantri Kisan MaanDhan Yojana (PM-KMY), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Market Intervention Scheme and Price support Scheme (MIS-PSS) among numerous others, to boost agriculture and support Indian farmers, they are not able to benefit from them due to various reasons. Also, there are numerous products and equipment available in the market today that could be beneficial to the farming sector, which farmers might not be aware of. So, on this Independence Day, let’s delve deeper into our nation’s strongest pillar, and address the challenges faced by farmers along with the solutions that could be beneficial to overcome them.

As per Statista, Agricultural land in India amounted to over 1.78 million square kilometers in 2021.

What are the Challenges faced by the Farmers in Today’s Technological Era?

1. Cultural and Language Difference
   First in the list is the diversity of culture and languages. India is a diverse country, and the languages spoken, especially in regional and rural areas, have become the first and most significant challenge for farmers. Though there are various modern equipment and products in the market, due to differences in language and culture, they often tend to overlook them. The language may be the universal one, used widely in the country, but coming to farmers, not understanding the language and hence not trusting the products often becomes the reasons to keep them away from using them. Moreover, due to the issue of language difference, they often face limited access to training materials and product demos, having a limited accessibility to technological literacy, and complexity in understanding any new methods or products being introduced in the market, which further hinders the effective adoption of innovations and schemes.
2. Knowledge and Awareness
   Not only about the technological innovations in the field but also about the initiatives and schemes of the government, the farmers living in the rural areas are not aware of, which becomes another major reason for this setback. Living in the internal rural areas of the nation and not getting exposure to the policies and advancements might be the reasons that hamper their reachability and accessibility to the farmers, holding them back from using and enjoying their benefits.
3. Cost and Affordability
   Undoubtedly, cost and affordability of the technological solutions could be on the list of the reasons causing disconnectivity between the industries and the small marginal farmers. However, they can use government schemes’ subsidies to lighten their financial burden.
4. Technological Literacy
   In rural areas, being not so developed and technologically sound, the farmers face this issue of digital divide. This often limits the effectiveness of training and educational resources for farmers, mostly living in the internal and underprivileged areas of society, and keeping them away from the various benefits that they could enjoy by boosting their productivity and knowledge.
5. Complexity of New Methods and Products
   Grasping complex, lengthy instructions and information related to any particular product or service is another big challenge for farmers. Moreover, the difference in the language used by them adds more to their difficulty in understanding the same.
6. Infrastructure Challenges
   Another reason is the infrastructure challenges in the rural areas of the nation. Issues like limited accessibility to modern equipment, poor internet connectivity, and inadequate power supply could be some of the barriers to the reachability of agri-tech products.

The Role of Localized Content in Helping the Farmers

 Assume, if a farmer living in any internal area of Karnataka is presented with a set of instructions about any new product launch in the Canadian language, what do you think he would be able to comprehend? Or will that set of information be able to benefit him in any way? No, right! Here we take a look at some of the vital factors in which localized content could help the farmers in bridging the barriers.

1. Bringing Clarity and Relevance
   That is the power of localized content. With this, the information about any significant service, product, or instruction could be translated into the native language of the farmer, bringing clarity and relevance to it. This further helps in enhancing the understanding of the new product or technique to help them in boosting their productivity and knowledge.
2. Building Trust through Communication
   As mentioned in the two important ways above, localized content could be a big game changer in the agri field. By bridging this communication, comprehension and relevance gap in the form of small learning modules, and videos and to reach the farmers in the best and most convenient and beneficial way possible. Therefore, investing in localized educational resources plays a pivotal role here in spreading information and creating awareness about anything relevant in agribusinesses. Yes, if you need any assistance for localized content, there are professionals available to assist you in achieving your goal by helping you with overcoming the language, cultural and thus communication barrier with the farmers.

Conclusion

So, as India continues to embrace its freedom, harmony, and diversity as a nation, it is also essential to take adequate measures to overcome the mentioned existing issues to meet and fulfill the needs and demands of Indian farmers by empowering them. And, to reach rural India, and the farmers in such underprivileged places, localized content should be incorporated into the information distribution processes about any essential and beneficial product, service, or instruction to facilitate better outreach to farmers and create awareness. Moreover, overcoming such language and communication barriers can lead to greater adoption of innovations, ultimately benefiting the entire agricultural sector. Remember, to build and maintain relationships with any nation, and their people, their diversity in culture, thought, and language also needs to be respected, which helps in not just succeeding in achieving your target or vision but also in obtaining their trust.

So, as we celebrate our past victories as a nation, and the diversity of our land, let’s continue to develop a better future by adapting to new technologies and advancement.