Kisan Call Centres (KCCs): Enhancing Farmer Access to Expert Advice Fact For Exams

Kisan Call Centres (KCCs): Enhancing Farmer Access to Expert Advice

Ministry of Agriculture launched the scheme “Kisan Call Centres (KCCs)” on 21st January 2004 to provide answer to farmers’ queries on agriculture and allied sectors through toll free telephone lines. A country wide common eleven digit number ‘1800-180-1551’ has been allocated for KCC. The replies to the queries of the farming community are given in 22 local languages. KCCs operate from 21 locations in the country covering all the Sates and UTs. It’s Comes Under Information Communication Technology (ICT)

Main aim of KCC is to answer farmers’ queries on a telephone call in their own dialect.

Feature	Current / Correct Fact
Scheme	Kisan Call Centres (KCCs)
Launched	21 January 2004
Ministry	Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India
Objective	Answer farmers’ queries through telephone in their own language/dialect
Toll-free number	1800-180-1551
Working hours	6:00 AM – 10:00 PM, all 7 days
Languages	22 languages
Technology area	ICT in Agriculture
Call-centre agents	Farm Tele Advisors (FTAs)
FTA qualification	Agriculture/allied-sector graduate or above
Higher-level experts	Subject Matter Specialists (SMSs)
Expert institutions	State Agriculture Departments, ICAR institutes, KVKs, SAUs
Knowledge system	Kisan Knowledge Management System (KKMS)
Call escalation	FTA → higher-level experts/SMS through call conferencing
Main subjects	Agriculture and allied sectors

📅 Launched

• Date: 21 January 2004

• By: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India

🎯 Objective

• To provide agricultural advice to farmers via toll-free calls, in local languages, using ICT tools.

• Focus: Solving issues related to crops, animal husbandry, fisheries, weather, market info, etc.

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📞 Toll-Free Helpline

• Number: 1800-180-1551

  • Also accessible via BSNL landlines on 1551

• Working Hours: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, all 7 days

• Languages Supported: 22 Indian languages/dialects

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🧑‍💼 Who Answers the Calls?

1. Level 1 – Farm Tele Advisors (FTAs)

• Agricultural graduates/postgraduates

• Answer most general questions

2. Level 2 – Subject Matter Specialists (SMS)

• For complex queries, calls are escalated via call conferencing

3. Level 3 – Research Institutions

• State Agriculture Universities (SAUs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and ICAR institutions

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🖥️ Technology Used

• IPPBX system (Internet-based phone system)

• Call recording, SMS alerts, voicemail, caller ID

• Kisan Knowledge Management System (KKMS): For storing and retrieving agricultural solutions

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🌍 Coverage

• 14 KCC locations across India

• Each centre handles specific states/UTs and local languages

  • Example: Hyderabad – for Andhra Pradesh & Telangana (Telugu),
    Patna – for Bihar & Jharkhand (Hindi),
    Guwahati – for Northeast (Assamese, Khasi, Mizo, etc.)

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📝 Registration for Services

Farmers can register:

• Via call to KCC

• Through SMS (e.g., KISAN REG <Name>, <State>, <District> to 51969 or 7738299899)

• Online at mkisan.gov.in

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✅ Quick Facts for Exams

✅ MCQs on Kisan Call Centres (KCCs)

1. When were the Kisan Call Centres (KCCs) launched in India?
A. 26 January 2001
B. 21 January 2004
C. 15 August 2005
D. 1 April 2003

Answer

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2. What is the toll-free number for Kisan Call Centres?
A. 1800-155-1801
B. 1900-111-1551
C. 1800-180-1551
D. 1551-1800-180

Answer

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3. KCCs provide assistance to farmers in how many languages?
A. 15
B. 18
C. 22
D. 25

Answer

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4. Who are the first level of agents answering calls at KCCs?
A. District Magistrates
B. Field Assistants
C. Farm Tele Advisors (FTAs)
D. Agricultural Extension Officers

Answer

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5. What are the working hours of Kisan Call Centres?
A. 10 AM – 5 PM
B. 8 AM – 8 PM
C. 24×7
D. 6 AM – 10 PM

Answer

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6. If a query cannot be resolved by the FTA, to whom is it escalated?
A. Local MLA
B. District Collector
C. Subject Matter Specialist (SMS)
D. Krishi Vigyan Kendra

Answer

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7. Which system is used to manage and document queries in KCCs?
A. e-Agriculture Portal
B. PM-KISAN Database
C. Kisan Knowledge Management System (KKMS)
D. Agri Help Desk

Answer

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8. Which organization supports the expert knowledge required at Level 3 of KCCs?
A. National Rural Health Mission
B. ICAR and State Agricultural Universities
C. Panchayati Raj Institutions
D. Ministry of Environment

Answer

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9. What is the SMS format for farmer registration via mobile?
A. KISAN JOIN <Name>
B. KISAN REG <Name>, <State>, <District>
C. REG KISAN <Mobile Number>
D. KCC START <Village>

Answer

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10. Which ministry is responsible for running the Kisan Call Centre scheme?
A. Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
B. Ministry of Electronics & IT
C. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
D. Ministry of Rural Development

Answer

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