Call to reach crop production technologies to doorsteps

RAJSHAHI: The government launched three mobile phone applications aimed at bringing crop production technologies to the doorsteps of around 1.51 crore farm households to boost yields, reports BSS.
The apps titled Krishoker Digital Thikana, Krishoker Janala and Pesticide Prescriber are expected to help thousands of agricultural extension workers who often find it difficult to provide solutions to problems facing farmers due to a lack of agriculture-related information in one place.
Brainchilds of three agricultural extension officials, these apps contain databases of pictures along with texts that can be accessed both online and offline and on computers and mobile phones.
The observation came in the opening session of a two-day regional workshop on “Agriculture Extension Batayan- 2017” at conference hall of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) here on Friday.
The Access to Information (a2i) programme of the Prime Minister's Office and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) jointly organised the workshop.
BMDA Chairman Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury attended and addressed the session as chief guest with DAE Additional Director Abdul Hannan in the chair. Deputy Directors Deb Dulal Dhali, Satyabrata Shaha and Monzurul Haque also spoke.
Dr Akram Chowdhury said, “We will have to remain dependent on others if we lag behind in food production. The government has taken all measures to provide extension services to farmers.”
During his keynote presentation, Golam Mohammad, Additional Director (Training) of DAE, main function of the developed apps was to help farmers grow crops more efficiently, prevent pest attacks and control numerous diseases that eat up a significant portion of crops every year.
Farmers lose an estimated average of 37 per cent of their annual rice crop to pests and diseases, according to Rice Knowledge Bank developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). But by using the app, Krishoker Janala, farmers and extension officials can easily identify a disease inflicting damage on paddy fields. A farmer will have to select the picture showing the particular kind of disease on his mobile screen to learn about the problem and how to address it.
The app has information on more than 1,000 diseases of 120 plants, including major crops.
Apart from identifying diseases or fertiliser deficiency, famers will also learn about production, harvesting and processing techniques and pest and disease control methods through the app, Krishoker Digital Thikana.
The software will enable growers in remote locations to follow modern methods. The other app, Pesticide Prescriber contains readily available and easily accessible information on pesticides so that farmers can fight pest and save their crops.
Steps have been taken also to engage 15,000 government officials in ensuring that farmers use these apps.
Agriculturist Golam Muhammad said crop production has reached close to the optimum level. “It will be difficult to sustain the achievement without innovation.” So, farmers should be encouraged to use the apps, he added.

 

Call to reach crop production technologies to doorsteps

RAJSHAHI: The government launched three mobile phone applications aimed at bringing crop production technologies to the doorsteps of around 1.51 crore farm households to boost yields, reports BSS. The apps titled Krishoker Digital Thikana, Krishoker Janala and Pesticide Prescriber are expected to help thousands of agricultural extension workers who often find it difficult to provide solutions to problems facing farmers due to a lack of agriculture-related information in one place. Brainchilds of three agricultural extension officials, these apps contain databases of pictures along with texts that can be accessed both online and offline and on computers and mobile phones. The observation came in the opening session of a two-day regional workshop on Agriculture Extension Batayan- 2017 at conference hall of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) here on Friday. The Access to Information (a2i) programme of the Prime Ministers Office and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) jointly organised the workshop. BMDA Chairman Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury attended and addressed the session as chief guest with DAE Additional Director Abdul Hannan in the chair. Deputy Directors Deb Dulal Dhali, Satyabrata Shaha and Monzurul Haque also spoke. Dr Akram Chowdhury said, We will have to remain dependent on others if we lag behind in food production. The government has taken all measures to provide extension services to farmers. During his keynote presentation, Golam Mohammad, Additional Director (Training) of DAE, main function of the developed apps was to help farmers grow crops more efficiently, prevent pest attacks and control numerous diseases that eat up a significant portion of crops every year. Farmers lose an estimated average of 37 per cent of their annual rice crop to pests and diseases, according to Rice Knowledge Bank developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). But by using the app, Krishoker Janala, farmers and extension officials can easily identify a disease inflicting damage on paddy fields. A farmer will have to select the picture showing the particular kind of disease on his mobile screen to learn about the problem and how to address it. The app has information on more than 1,000 diseases of 120 plants, including major crops. Apart from identifying diseases or fertiliser deficiency, famers will also learn about production, harvesting and processing techniques and pest and disease control methods through the app, Krishoker Digital Thikana. The software will enable growers in remote locations to follow modern methods. The other app, Pesticide Prescriber contains readily available and easily accessible information on pesticides so that farmers can fight pest and save their crops. Steps have been taken also to engage 15,000 government officials in ensuring that farmers use these apps. Agriculturist Golam Muhammad said crop production has reached close to the optimum level. It will be difficult to sustain the achievement without innovation. So, farmers should be encouraged to use the apps, he added.