Cellphones tapped for rice industry development

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija , Philippines  – The handy cellphone has become an effective instrument in boosting the development of the country’s rice industry.

Through an information technology (IT) project, farmers can now instantly obtain vital information of new technologies or solutions to problems concerning their livelihood activities.

Called Short Messaging Service (SMS), the innovative information dissemination project is being implemented by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), whose main experiment station and office are based in this science city situated 141 kilometers northeast of Manila.

PhilRice, headed by Executive Director Ronilo Beronio, is an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The institute is observing its 25th anniversary this year.

Through the SMS, all an information seeker – whether a farmer, extension worker, agribusinessman, or others – has to do is get in touch with PhilRice’s Farmers’ Text Center (FTC) and ask questions through a cellular telephone.

FTC is a component of the Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture (OPAPA), which explores applications of text messaging in agriculture. OPAPA is a joint venture of PhilRice (lead agency), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development PCARRD), DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), and DA-Bureau of Agri cultural Research (BAR).

Some state colleges and universities (SCUs), among them the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC), and University of Southern Mindanao (USM), are also involved.

Through the SMS, callers get answers directly from rice experts at P1 per text only, said staff members Stoix Norbin Pascua, Ronan Zagrado, Olive Rose Matchoc Asis, Olliver Domingo, and Jennylene Maloles.

They cited the project’s progress in a report titled “Enhancing Knowledge Networking Through Short Messaging Service: The Farmers’ Text Center Experience”.

The report won the Best Paper Award (Education and Extension category) at the recent 23rd National Rice Research and Development Conference and 40th Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP) Scientific Conference and Anniversary.

The FTC was launched in August 2004 in answer to the rice sector’s (particularly the farmers’) inadequate access to new production technologies.

The PhilRice information specialists noted: “As most farmers and extension workers are scattered across the country, it is difficult to reach them by the traditional methods of extension and communication. New strategies, therefore, are required to effectively disseminate relevant farming information and appropriate agricultural technologies to them.”

They pointed out that the Philippines is “the text capital of the Asia Pacific with 66 million Filipino mobile subscribers sending 2.37 billion text messages in 2008.”

Today, the FTC receives an average of 3,000 messages a month.

Since its operation, FTC has responded to more than 70,000 text messages with topics largely concerning not only rice but also livestock, vegetables, and other high-value crops.

Aside from answering clients’ queries, FTC sends technology tips to registered information seekers.

“Data show an increasing trend in SMC received yearly, implying the great potential of the technology in enhancing farmers’ and extension workers’ access to advanced farming technologies despite distance barrier,” the PhilRice researchers said.

Those interested in receiving free technology tips on rice should register with the FTC by typing REG (space) name, age, address, occupation, and send to 0920-9111398. To send a message, type the question and send it to the same number.