MUMBAI: �Kisanvani 90.4', a community radio in Sironj, Madhya Pradesh an initiative by Delhi based NGO Indian Society for Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP) has signed the GOPA (Grant of Permission Agreement) this week with the Information and Broadcasting ministry. The NGO has already brought the transmitter from BEL (Bharat Electronics) and has submitted relevant documents to obtain the WOL (Wireless Operating License).

Having started the procedure of obtaining the license from the I&B Ministry in November 2007, the community radio obtained its SACFA – Standing Advisory Committee for Frequency Allocation  certificate on 15th September last year and plans to go operational in three months now.

Sironj being an agricultural region, ISAP believes timely availability of reliable information is the key to achieve sustainable food production and mitigate risks. Towards this, community radio station will act as an effective tool of communication and create platform to share experiences, perspectives and innovations to increase yield and reduce labour. Sironj has a literacy rate of 55 per cent, lower than the national average of 59.5 per cent with male literacy 62 per cent and female literacy at 47 per cent.

Kisanvaani 90.4 aims to instill economic security and stability among farming community particularly in the small and marginal farmers through holistic development of agriculture and rural sector. Referring to the content of the station, Indian Society for Agribusiness Professionals senior project Officer Gaurav Vats says, We mainly focus on the farming sector so our programmes would primarily focus on agro training, micro finance and farm advisory. Apart from agriculture we would also have programmes about health, education, women empowerment etc.... The community initially intends to have a broadcast of four hours, two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening.

Indian Society for Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP), New Delhi is a professional, not for profit... organisation with a wide network of agriculture & allied sector professionals in India and the SAARC countries. It has 15,000 members, including 1500 Agri-Experts, about 1700 Disseminators, 900 Partner NGOs, more than 1000 Researchers, and a large number of Agriculture Journalists amongst others.

According to the figures from the I&B Ministry, this brings the count of total Community Radio Stations sanctioned by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to 107 which include 34 NGOs, 45 Educational Institutions, nine State Agricultural Institutions and 19 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).