The Centre has sought the approval of the Planning Commission for the implementation of this scheme.

Out of the proposed outlay for the scheme, Rs 124.68 crore will be Centre's share and the remaining Rs 31.16 crore will be shared by the states.

It is proposed to link up state agriculture department up to district levels in the remaining years of the Ninth Plan period. In the Tenth Plan period the proposed Agrisnet will be extended to the block levels.

The scheme will be implemented through the states and in association with National Informatics Centre (NIC) and other central agencies.

It is also proposed to establish Agrisnet as an internet connecting the Union agriculture ministry and its field and supporting offices, concerned PSUs, autonomous organisations and national level cooperative organisations apart fromnetworking with the state agriculture departments down to district and block level functionaries. This will include installation of the state-of-the-art computer hardware, high speed VSATs, modems and software tools for transmission of agricultural related informations to enrich the existing agricultural information system (AGRIS) in the country.

The main reason for strengthening AGRIS is to give quick and accurate estimates and forecasts concerning crop production, crop situation, to give current informations about inputs availability and domestic and international prices of various agricultural commodities.

Already the Union agriculture ministry and the department of space are jointly associated in the Fasal scheme for estimating crop area coverage and likely output through use of remote sensing devices, satellite programming, agro-meteorology and land based observations.

In this context, the proposed Agrisnet will be able to store and disemminate informations to states, districts andblocks.

Besides there will be scope for the Centre to receive direct informations from states, districts and blocks on the current crop situation in the country.