ALAPPUZHA: With a view to sorting out the problems of coconut farmers in a quick and accurate way, the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) has developed an android-based ‘farmers issue reporting and supporting app’. Named e-kalpa that can now be downloaded on android -supported smartphones, it will help farmers to get timely customary advisories and early detection of diseases.
Using synchronised farming app e-kalpa, the farmer can send either voice or visual messages on their farming issues and interact with scientists in a matter of minutes. For farmers who do not have a smartphone, a personnel computer can be used too. The app is designed to be user-friendly for all age groups. This app would be instrumental in containing grassroot level errors committed by small and marginal farmers to a great extent. It would also help scientists in real time recording of documents and verifying data collected from different locations.
The CPCRI has launched the app at a time when the integration of research knowledge and advisories to the ground level has become a challenge in coconut cultivation. It believes that this app could reduce the gap between research and practical levels making marginal and low level farmers more self-confident and enthusiastic.
“The objective of this app is to make farmers efficient utilizing Information Communication Technology (ICT) to improve the production rate,’ says P Anithakumari, Principal Scientist, CPCRI, Kayamkulam. If a farmer finds a change in the character of any of the palms in his/her farm, he can shoot a question directly to scientists using app. It would encourage our system of accurate and rapid data collection and analysis. And farmers would be given proper advise thereby improving their practical utilization of research recommendations as per the field conditions”, she pointed out.
