(a) whether the Government proposes to start Kisan Television Channel and Kisan Radio
Station for providing latest agriculture related information to the farmers;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be commenced; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI C. M. JATUA)
(a) to (c): Ministry of Agriculture has outsourced an agency to study the feasibility of
launching a 24 hour Agriculture TV Channel. Its report is still awaited.
At present there is no proposal to start a separate Kisan Radio Station. However, 96
identified Stations of All India Radio are being utilized to broadcast 30 minutes Kisan Vani
programmes for farmers, 6 days a week. Besides, all AIR Stations broadcast their own
agriculture programmes and Ministry of Agriculture is implementing a scheme “Mass Media
Support to Agriculture Extension†by utilising existing infrastructure of Doordarshan and
AIR.