**Bhubaneswar:** Implementing the scheme ‘providing free mobile phones to the farmers to access market information” under the State Plan for the year 2018-19, Rs 300 lakhs has been sanctioned by the government to distribute free mobile phones to the farmers with the objective of empowering them with up-date date market information at the finger tips through voice call and SMS in Odia language though mobile phones for better price realization & production planning under the project Digital Mandi for the farmers of Odisha implemented by the RMCs in the State. Earlier in 2017-18, Rs 300 lakhs was sanctioned for the same cause.
For the implementation of the cause, Odisha State Agricultural Marketing Board shall call for tender to procure Smart Mobile Phones with android facilities suitable for the scheme centrally and finalise tender through a committee constituted for the purpose by the Director Agricurtural Marketing-cum-Member Secretary, OSAM Board.
After assessment of total number of smart mobile phones to be procured through tender process, the district wise beneficiaries target to be finalized in proportion to the number of farmers registered with the Regulated Market Committees functioning in the State. The number of beneficiaries will be divided among the RMCs in proportion to the registered farmers under each RMC in the district concerned and preference will be given to farmers having Rupay Cards / Kisan credit cards and also have availed credit and remained default free.
The list of farmers (beneficiaries) is to be finalized by a committee at the District level headed by the concerned District Collectors.
The farmers selected as beneficiaries under the project should process SIM Card for use in mobile phone. Farmers who have already earlier received free mobile phone under the above scheme will not be eligible for again. The distribution of the mobile phone will be made in function at the district level which will give a good message to the farmers.
**Also Read:** [Nearly 60,000 Mobile Phones Distributed To Farmers In Odisha](https://www.ommcomnews.com/public/nearly-60-000-mobile-phones-distributed-to-farmers-in-odisha?nearly-60-000-mobile-phones-distributed-to-farmers-in-odisha)