Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), has come up with a special mobile service for farmers to help ensure that the country’s rice production will remain sustainable and stable.
Through the newly-launched Nutrient Manager for Rice Mobile (NMRiceMobile) toll-free text messaging service, rice farmers, even those in far-flung provinces, can now easily gain access to vital information on how to properly manage their fields.
NMRiceMobile is an ICT-based decision software that utilizes mobile phone capabilities to provide farmers and extension workers with a comprehensive site-specific fertilizer guideline for their rice fields. It capitalizes on the ubiquity of the mobile phone to reach the farmers especially those in remote areas.
Jeffrey O. Tarayao, Globe Head for Corporate Social Responsibility, said that by giving the farmers a fast and cheap way to get vital information on fertilizers using their mobile phones, the company is able to empower the farmers and aid them in getting greater yields on their crops and produce.
“More and more, mobile telecommunications services such as voice and SMS are getting more commoditized and our stakeholders are looking for value-added services that can meaningfully contribute to their work. This is the reason why Globe partnered with IRRI and the Department of Agriculture to bring the value of mobile telecommunications to our farmers in a way that is most meaningful to them,” he said.
Since farmers spend much on fertilizers, they need to determine the right fertilizer to apply at the proper time to maximize production and profit and at the same time, reduce waste.
According to Dr. Roland Buresh, IRRI nutrient management expert and lead developer of NMRiceMobile, crop management practices must be tailored to location-specific needs in order to produce sufficient food at affordable prices for consumers and with higher profitability for small-scale farmers.
“The same holds true for applying nutrients to cereal crops like rice. This is because optimal amounts and sources of nutrients to meet crop needs can vary even across short distances within or among fields. If the application of nutrients as fertilizers is inadequate, it can result in a loss in yield and profits. On the other hand, applications beyond the crop’s needs not only reduce profit but can also increase risks to our environment,” he explained.
Farmers, extension workers, crop advisors or anyone interested to learn more about farming, can simply dial or call 2378 toll free from their Globe or TM mobile phone. They can choose their preferred language such as Tagalog, Cebuano, Iluko or English. About 12-15 recorded questions will be asked such as the cropping season, the type of seed being used, growth duration of the rice variety, field size, water supply, field location, and weight of harvested palay. The questions may be answered by pressing the corresponding number on the cellphone keypad.
Once all the information are provided, the caller will receive a free fertilizer recommendation through text, an example of which goes like this: “NMRice: For 94-105 sacks of palay on 1 hectare in dry season with good management practices: Apply 3 bags 14-14-14 basal or within 10 days after transplanting (DAT), 1 bag urea at 21 to 25 DAT, 1 bag urea at 30 to 34 DAT. For queries, call DA toll-free at 1-800-10-982-2474 via landline or call/text 09209462474 from 8am-5pm, Mon-Fri.”
