Advanced agri-info tool for farmers

Given that the amount of arable land is not only limited but has also been shrinking over the years, while the population depending on it for food and work is ever-growing, it was understood long before the emergence of the modern hi-tech era that technology was the answer to agriculture's Achilles heel, its low productivity. A series of discussion events has been hel of late with the participation of stakeholders including  people from the government's ministry concerned and experts both local and from abroad. At one such talks held recently in the city, the government came up with its  'Agriculture Future Outlook Plan 2025' which is said to be a strategic roadmap to deliver the fruits of advanced technology to the farming community's doorstep.

The key aspect of the strategic roadmap was a mobile application software developed by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), the   apex agri-research body under the Ministry of Agriculture. The app styled  'Khamari app' is said to be a repository of comprehensive agricultural information and tools unlike similar ones released in the past. The previous such apps, for instance, the one bearing identical name was released in November, 2023. But that app was focused on reducing expenses only on fertilizer as well as increasing crop yield. However, the latest version of the 'Khamari app' is reportedly, a comprehensive one as it would provide a wider range of information such as crop recommendation based on land suitability, fertility, fertiliser requirements, seed quantities, cropping patterns, etc. Also, it would, as told by its innovators, provide real-time market information thereby helping farmers to adopt pricing and sales strategies.

The app would also provide farmers with crop management tools enabling them to optimise farming practices.  No doubt, the new app has enormous potential  and it is hoped its intended users would be able to put the digital information tool to good use. However, the problem is the literacy rate among farmers is very low. True, most of them are familiar with modern smart phones and they can use those for personal communication as well as operate the inbuilt digital camera. But when it comes to reading and understanding information, let alone scientific information, then it would be a real challenge both before the potential users and the introducers of the app. In that case, the real task before the agricultural extension workers would be to make the intended users, the marginal, small and medium farmers digitally literate so they might take decisions on sensitive matters including crop management, application of inputs, marketing their crops and so on.  

More important than the literacy issue is the lack of capital, especially among the small and marginal farmers. In fact, from buying inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and maintaining cost of irrigation to hiring help for hoeing, harvesting, post-harvest transport cost to market their crops, they are constantly handicapped by financial constraints. Similarly, buying a digital device to operate the particular app for required information related to production and marketing is also going to be an additional investment for the cash-strapped farmers. While the government's priority will be ensuring the nation's food security, for farmers it will be maintaining a livelihood with at least two square meals a day. Hopefully, the government's central focus would be on farmers, the potential users of the 'Khamari app'.