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MANILA - The International Rice Research Institute has partnered with the Department of Agriculture for an Internet-based tool providing rice farmers fertilizer advice and micro-loans.
Dubbed as the “Nutrient Manager for Rice,” the system, which uses mobile technology, provides personalized recommendations matching crops’ nutrient needs.
Last year, IRRI launched the Internet version through a mobile phone service provider. The service was upgraded this year to allow farmers to download Android applications for free.
IRRI has also partnered with a microfinance bank and a farmer-focused organization to provide farmers access to micro-loans that will help them buy fertilizers tailor-made for their crops.
NMRice has linked with BPI Globe BanKO Inc., the first mobile-based, microfinance-focused savings bank in the Philippines.
“Technologies are great solutions by themselves, but linking them to financial services can provide even more benefits for farmers,” Dr. Roland Buresh, IRRI nutrient management expert and lead developer of NMRice.
Buresh said the use of this technology increases a farmer’s’ profit and rice yield.
“Fertilizers are often the highest cost for rice farmers after labor, accounting for about 20 percent of total production or capital cost for the farmers,” he said.
BanKO is pilot-testing a micro-agri loan in partnership with Alalay sa Kaunlaran Inc., a farmer-focused group in Central Luzon. Under the provisions of the micro-agri loan, farmers will receive a crop management recommendation for agricultural inputs that will help them increase their yield and profit.
The agreement between BanKO and ASKI was signed on May 25, while the disbursement of loans will start in late June to early July.
Some 1,500 farmer-beneficiaries have been targeted by ASKI for the initial implementation of the program.
"Linking technologies developed from research with microfinance services that a farmer can easily access is a promising approach for helping farming households and boosting food production in the country," Buresh said.
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