Farmers queue up for CTC ‘info-farming’ helpline

The Tobacco Farmers Information Helpline, “info-farming” was launched last year at Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) by CEO Mustanser Ali Khan in order to capture tobacco farmer inquiries and information in real-time.

After 3 months of going live the farmer helpline has received 63 queries, with all of these being attended to within 24 hours. This helpline has undoubtedly bridged the gap of communication among farmers and CTC.

Tobacco is a unique crop due to its dynamic growing pattern and sensitive behaviour towards agronomic practices and weather. Therefore farmers with the assistance of the leaf extension staff need to closely monitor the crop performance. The info helpline will act as an enabler for farmer emergency situations where technical assistance is required at short notice. The helpline number 0094 11 461 3434 will provide tobacco farmers with immediate assistance with any crop related information.

Farmers’ technical inquiries and information related to tobacco and other crops will be recorded in a database and attended to by the relevant person with the necessary expertise. The helpline will ensure that the farmers receive quick responses for their queries and the company can effectively allocate resources to help drive productivity in the department.

With this new communication breakthrough, tobacco farming in Sri Lanka will step into a new era. This farmer information helpline is the first of its kind in the country among the private sector companies adding value to business excellence in Sri Lanka.