WHY 1917iTEAMS

Launched on 29th December 2017, 100 years after Gandhiji’s Champaran Satyagraha of 1917, iTEAMS stands for Integrated Technology Enabled Agri Management System.

Vision

To design and implement a platform that provides access to markets, consistent & complete response, resolution, knowledge & skills in a transparent convergent manner leading to improved efficiency & effectiveness of farmers in the areas of Agri and Allied sectors and also bring a change in attitude & behavior amongst all stakeholders.

Objective

  • First of its kind disruptive farmer centric, market oriented, cloud based platform linking buyers and sellers, liberating them from the clutches of middlemen and exploitative traders by directly connecting them with potential buyers across the globe
  • Offers advisory services, market intelligence, domain expertise and life skilling services in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Apiculture, Fishery, Sericulture and Weaving domains
  • Offers affordable evacuation and logistics services to farmers to transport their produce to markets of their choice
  • Accessible through a Single TOLL FREE Number – 1917

Functions

  • It operates through a cloud based technology driven call and dispatch Agri Response Center (ARC) and linked, through the cloud, to a fleet of dedicated customised entrepreneur owned Agri Response Vehicles (ARV) spread out across the state
  • Farmers call the ARC through 1917 and register. Post registration, they can access the Advisory Services which includes Subject Matter Specialist from the concerned department of Agriculture and all allied fields
  • For logistics support, farmers can call the ARC and the Agri Response Vehicles (ARVs) are dispatched under the direction and tracking of the ARC

Components

  1. Toll free number – 1917
  2. Agri Response Centre (ARC)

    3. Cloud based technology driven, call and dispatch center – Agri Response Canter (ARC) linked, through the cloud, to a fleet of dedicated customised entrepreneur owned Agri Response Vehicles (ARV) spread out across the State

  3. Agri Response Vehicles (ARV)
    • Entrepreneur owned and leased to iTEAMS on fixed monthly rental
    • 19 vehicles onboarded
    • Minimal freight charges of Rs.0.02/kg/km
    • Equipped with phones, dash camera, toolkit, weighing balances and GPS
    • Minimum of 2 trips/day
    • Integrated ARV pilot – multi tasker (Driving, pre load inspection, palletizing, on road fitness, record keeping, communicating with ARC, farmers, markets etc, mobilizing awareness / training
  4. Brand building
  5. Multilevel review
  6. IT infrastructure & systems
  7. Human resources
  8. Training
  9. Data analytics
  10. Leadership development
  11. Best practices sharing
  12. Public education, participation
  13. Collaboration – Departments, Institutions, NGOs, CBOs.

Infrastructure

  • Two ARCs (Shillong & Tura).
  • Equipped with IT infrastructure & equipment
  • 25 seater Training hall
  • 12 seater Conference room.
  • Farmer sale outlet
  • Cafe, lounge, ideation pods
  • Ideation space

Team Profle

  • Programme Manager
  • ARC Co-ordinator
  • Dispatch Officers: Handles ARV movement – Allocation, Tracking, Reporting
  • Farmer Coordinators
  • Incoming Communication Officers (Level I SMS) : Handles all 1st level interaction + Agro Advisories
  • Business Development Executives: Identifies, registers and co-ordinates with buyers – Local and National
  • Incoming Communication Officers (Buyer Seller Coordinator): Handles and drives the Market Mix, Buyer – Seller Connect and close looping
  • Administration Executive
  • Finance Executive
  • Human Resources Executive

Process Flow

Farmer calls 1917

  • Communication Officer (CO) picks up call & fills profile, requirements,
  • CO gives required info to caller or transfers call with voice to Dispatch Officer (DO) for transport requirements or escalates call with voice to experts for higher level enquiries
  • CO also dials callers for giving specific info – outgoing
  • DO identifies nearest ARV and dispatches with info to caller and transfers the caller info to ARV pilot.
  • DO tracks vehicle movement till the trip is completed.
  • Experts provides desired info and closes
  • ARV pilot starts vehicle and informs DO and Farmer about his movement and seeks additional info if required.
  • ARV pilot after reaching destination will check the load quality and quantity and accept load if suitable.
  • Farmer accompanies the load if he wishes
  • ARV after reaching buyer / market unloads, informs DO and returns to base upon instructions of DO.
  • Content Communication Officers (CCO) regularly sends out advisories, package of practices, market information, scheme information, buyer and seller information, market prices etc to registered farmers.