SRINAGAR: With smartphone penetration among farmers in Jammu and Kashmir crossing 70 per cent in 2023, a quiet digital transformation was already underway in the countryside. What remained missing, however, was a structured system to convert connectivity into capability. That gap is now being filled by Daksh Kisan, a pioneering digital learning platform that is rapidly redefining how farmers acquire knowledge and skills.
Conceived by the JK Administration following insights from the Kisan Sampark Abhiyan survey, Daksh Kisan repositioned the smartphone from a simple communication tool into a powerful medium for continuous agricultural learning. Developed by the Agriculture Production Department in collaboration with SKUAST-Jammu and SKUAST-Kashmir, the platform has evolved into India’s first dedicated Learning Management System (LMS) exclusively designed for farmers—and possibly the first of its kind in Asia.
Launched amid cautious expectations, Daksh Kisan has, within just two years, emerged as one of the country’s most successful digital capacity-building initiatives in agriculture. Departing from conventional extension models, it embeds structured, outcome-based learning within a digital ecosystem tailored to farmers’ realities, including low bandwidth, local relevance and ease of use.
A key strength of the platform lies in its agro-climatic customisation. Courses are designed according to specific agro-climatic zones, ensuring that farmers receive location-specific guidance relevant to their crops, soil profiles and weather conditions—from temperate horticulture belts to subtropical farming plains.
Language inclusivity has further driven adoption. Daksh Kisan offers content in Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi and Urdu, enabling farmers from diverse linguistic backgrounds to engage confidently with digital learning. This has proved particularly significant for first-generation digital learners in rural and remote areas.
Currently, the platform hosts 171 structured courses spanning agriculture, horticulture and livestock sectors. Of these, 97 courses focus on agriculture, 28 on horticulture and 46 on livestock, alongside cross-sectoral modules on integrated pest management, post-harvest practices, value addition, agribusiness development and farm economics. Courses combine expert-led video lectures, practical demonstrations and short assessments, with options for farmers to interact digitally with faculty members for clarifications.
Importantly, Daksh Kisan integrates business and financial planning modules, encouraging a shift from subsistence farming to enterprise-oriented agriculture, and fostering entrepreneurship and economic sustainability at the farm level.
Initial concerns around digital literacy and participation have been decisively dispelled. Official data shows that over 3.47 lakh farmers have registered on the platform, with 2.59 lakh enrolling in courses. Total course enrolments have crossed 4.15 lakh, indicating strong interest in skill diversification. Completion levels remain high, with nearly 2.98 lakh courses completed and over 2.11 lakh farmers successfully clearing assessments.
The platform’s impact has extended well beyond Jammu and Kashmir. Verification calls by the department have revealed participation from agricultural faculty in Lucknow and Kerala, as well as farmers and agri-preneurs from Rajasthan, underscoring Daksh Kisan’s academic credibility and national relevance.
Rather than replacing traditional extension services, Daksh Kisan complements them by offering round-the-clock, on-demand learning that reinforces field-level interventions with scientific and economic understanding. At a time when agriculture faces mounting pressures from climate change, market volatility and rising input costs, the platform is equipping farmers with both technical knowledge and decision-making confidence.
Officials describe Daksh Kisan as only the beginning, with advanced modules under development and growing interest from outside the region. As adaptability becomes central to agricultural survival, the initiative stands out as a compelling example of how technology—rooted in trust, inclusivity and local relevance—can reshape the future of farm education in India.
