Organization : Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and Farmers Welfare
Service Name : Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Application
Website : https://mkisan.gov.in/
Register Here : https://www.mkisan.gov.in/
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data :
** Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) – This is a service as old as mobile telephony itself. This can be accessed through any GSM handset – even good old Nokia 3115. There is no special application or internet access required on mobile handset to access USSD.
Related : mKisan Push SMS Service For Farmers : www.statusin.in/20423.html
** A user dials a short code from his/her handset and chooses among various options provided in a set of response menus during a session of up to 3 minutes in case of mKisan.
** The progress of one session into the next depends on the user’s response. USSD messages in English are 150 alphanumeric characters in length and up to 45 to 60 characters in Unicode (for local language). Local language support depends on type of handset.
| USSD | SMS |
| Session Based | Store and Forward |
| Displays directly on phone screen | Access SMS through phone menu |
| Shorter Response Time (60sec) | Longer Response Time |
| Is not stored in the handset – mobile home environment | Present in the handset, can be stored and forwarded |
| Menu driven interface facilitates interactivity | Interactivity requires user to send a response SMS |
USSD Application:
** This technology enables access to databases and information on the Web and also to carry out data entry in web based applications in databases on the Internet by simple interactive messaging without having any Internet on the handset.
** For instance, the farmers can access information about input dealers, farm machinery along with its prices, where all extension related activities are being run in his/her area, list of beneficiaries etc.
** Similarly, persons from APMCs/Mandis, fertilizer and other dealers would be able to enter price and sales/stock details even from the areas where internet availability is still not available.
** A typical illustration of USSD Session has been given in the following slide in which a farmer selects appropriate kind of machine for the crop sown by him / her and gets contact details of dealers and product prices.
** This service is currently available on BSNL, Vodafone, Airtel, Idea and Tata Docomo GSM service. However, USSD is not supported on CDMA technology phones.
** Farmers can register for this service by submitting their details at mkisan.gov.in/wbreg.aspx either directly on the web or through the nearest Common Services Centre. There are user charges of Rs. 6 per month for unlimited USSD sessions.
** To start with, first 10 lac farmers (with appropriate State-wise distribution) over a period of next 6 months will be registered free of cost and the Government of India will pay for their USSD charges for the next 2 years.
** After expiry of this time limit and ceiling of 10 lac farmers, the farmers may need to pay a small sum of Rs. 6 per month for unlimited sessions of interactive messaging.
** The farmers can be registered through Common Services Centres by paying one time registration fee of Rs. 5 in addition to monthly charges.
** In order to be among the free registrants, farmers already registered for SMS Portal (with their District, Block and priorities of crop / agricultural practices) can simply send a text message Kisaan USSD Yes to 51969 or 7738299899.