The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU),under its initiatives to reach more close to the farming community, has come up with its mobile application named Farm Extension Manager. It is made available in both English and Malayalam languages on the android platform for free download.The speciality of the mobile application is its extensive coverage.
The users can get the scientific cultivation practices of over 100 crops through the Mobile Application. The simple design and user-friendliness make the mobile application unique. Once the language is selected, the user can proceed through the ten different categories of information.
The crop cultivationparttells us information on planting, variety, fertiliser, aftercare and harvest. The recommendations are made available in a ready to use format. Similarly, the plant protection part covers symptom and management of over 2000 insect and deficiency disorders. The management aspect gives equal emphasis on organic and inorganic methods.
The mobile application also contains detailed information on organic and inorganic inputs, chemical fertilisers, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides etc. The expert support link helps the users to connect directly with research scientists.
What makes the mobile app unique is its link to over 300 farm videos, 150 specially designed posters, and a farm quiz to enhance diagnostic capacity. The farm posters are made available for sharing through WhatsApp. The contact directory of agricultural extension workers also finds a place in the mobile app.
The speciality of the tool is its simplicity. The well-structured navigation path makes information retrieval easy. The small sentences and paragraphs also enhance the readability of the content materials. The developers also tried to address the needs of the small, medium and large farmers through the application.
It was developed by the Communication Centre, Mannuthy, under the Directorate of Extension of KAU. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and the State Planning Board, Kerala,supported the project.
For details contact: Dr Sunil. V G, Mobile 9446058252 Email: sunil.vg@kau.in
