MANILA, Philippines – Globe Telecom has partnered with the Department of Agriculture and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in setting up a special mobile service for farmers to help them in their rice production.

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 rice fields.

NMRice Mobile 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 from their crops.

“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.

Besides Globe, farmers can also avail themselves of the NMRiceMobile service through Smart’s extensive GSM network which covers all of the country’s 1,619 cities and municipalities.

Farmers with Smart or Talk ‘N Text mobile phones simply have to dial *2378 to access a voice recording that asks them a series of questions about their rice field and growing conditions. The farmer answers each question by pressing an appropriate number on the keypad. Once all questions are answered, the farmer receives a text message with a guideline on the amounts, sources, and timing of fertilizer application for his or her specific rice field. The service also does not require expensive handsets.

Source: Rice farmers mobile service launched