The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of Punjab, launched a Digital Village Initiative (DVI) pilot site, Wednesday , in a ceremony organized at the Food Security & Agriculture Centre of Excellency (FACE), Ahmadpur Lamma, Rahim Yar Khan.
Two sites: one in Rahim Yar Khan and another in Sargodha, were launched after detailed assessment conducted in 7 districts of Punjab and Sindh with the support of the provincial governments of both provinces. High government officials, community leaders, researchers, male and female farmers, the private sector and other key stakeholders were present at the launching event.
This pilot launch is the FAO’s global initiative under the 1000 Digital Village Initiate in Asia and the Pacific to bridge the technological divide and empower rural communities with access to digital resources, education, and opportunities.
During the ceremony, female lead farmers from the pilot site villages also received 10 tablets to use the agriculture-related applications on which they were already trained by FAO.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Hyper Localized Weather Station pilot site was also organized along with a briefing on the digital monitoring and forecasting function of the weather station. The stations were installed on both pilot sites along with the provision of necessary equipment installed at training halls of both sites for virtual training of farmers.
The stations will provide customised weather advisory, forecast pest & disease models and other information to farmers of 10 kilometres range from its vicinity. Both weather station facilities are also equipped to arrange online trainings for farmers on the latest innovations in agriculture.
