Mobile Phone Used in Farming

Philippines being called as the texting capital of the world is using the phone mania in the field of agriculture as suggested by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

The IIRI which is located in Los Ba?os, Laguna is employing the use of cutting edge technology in efficient rice production.

From this month, a plan to use text messaging to send precise management advice and fertilizer recommendations to local farmers by Interactive Voice Response (IVR) was suggested by IIRI scientists.

How will it work? It is through the power of the fingertips that farmers can ask questions about farming whereabouts. By simply dialling number on his mobile phone for free, he will be asked a series of questions to which he should respond by pressing a number on the phone keypad.

He will receive a text message after answering the questions which states the recommendations on the amounts, sources and timings of fertilizer applications for his specific rice paddy.

Farmers need not to worry because the language could be Filipino or English. Or their daughter or son could help them in case that they cannot use cell phones.

Initial testing of the program gained positive feedbacks from the farmers. With the efficiency of mobile phones, it could easily and directly reach the farmers even in remote areas.