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PinoyRice, a one-stop source of information on Philippine rice production, to be launched during PhilRice’s 25th anniversary


Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, The Philippines
November 4, 2010

Farmers and extension workers now have a better and easier access to information with the Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank or PinoyRice (www.pinoyrkb.com) to be launched during PhilRice’s 25th anniversary, Nov. 5.

Led by the Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture (OPAPA), PinoyRice is a one-stop source of information on Philippine rice production that features various agricultural resources developed by PhilRice and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) scientists.



PinoyRice aims to improve and hasten the sharing of location-specific rice-based technologies and practices and enhance rice specialists’ capability in providing technical support in the field. Generally based on PhilRice’s PalayCheck System—an integrated crop management system, Pinoy Rice contains downloadable handouts on rice, experts’ powerpoint presentations, videos, photos and graphics, technology bulletins, broadcast releases, maps and rice statistics, specialists’ directory, farmers’ success stories, rice recipes, price lists of knowledge products, available seeds, and machines.

An output for the Accelerating Rice Self-Sufficiency through Integrated Research, Training, and Extension project – a collaborative project with IRRI, the website also contains useful links to other information sources developed by IRRI scientists such as the Nutrient Manager, Rice Doctor, and Provincial Fertilizer Quick Guides. PinoyRice users could also chat with PhilRice agents should they wish to get ready answers to their queries. Other technical assistance featured in the site is virtual consultations, SMS-based help desk through the PhilRice Text Center, and PalayChikahan (e-forum).

Meanwhile, the study of Charisma Love B. Gado of the Institute’s Development Communication Division, backs up the development of PinoyRice as results reveal that computer plays a critical role in farmers’ success.

Conducted in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija and Batac, Ilocos Norte, the qualitative study found that farmers ascribed meanings to computer as a “guide book” and lifeline.

“If I want to know how to prepare the land, the computer will ‘tell’ that I have to level the land properly. It will also ‘tell’ me the planting distance and how to manage my crop. We follow what the computer ‘tells.’ Really, it’s good to have a computer,” one her farmer-respondents said.

Gado said rice farmers she interviewed liken the computer to a “guide book” because its contents are written by experts who they regard as the authority in rice science and technology.

“As written by experts, my persons of study regard the contents in the computer as proven and final,” she said.

According to Gado, her farmer-interviewees regularly check the OPAPA website for updates on farm activities from choosing varieties until storing. They also use the computer in searching information on proper application of fertilizer and prevention of pests and diseases.

While conducting the study titled, Our digital world: Exploratory case study of the rice farmers from Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija and Batac, Ilocos Norte, Gado also gathered that the computer earns its lifeline metaphor from farmers who experience solving farm problems by browsing its contents.

“One of my respondents said that they used to guess a plant’s disease before OPAPA provided their organization with a computer. He said that whenever they see a wilting plant, they immediately think that it’s stricken with tungro. But when the computer arrived, they picked few leaves and browsed the rice knowledge bank CD of IRRI,” Gado said.

Gado also shared the story of her respondent who said that he and fellow farmers used to harvest a maximum of 4-5 tons/ha. But now, the farmer claimed that his lowest yield is 6 tons/ha as result of learning the proper management of hybrid rice from the Rice RKB of IRRI.

With the results, Gado proposed for a community-based development program, in which farmers’ children and close friends serve as the teachers as farmers tend to become genuinely interested in the technology when coaxed by the people they trust.
 



More news from: Philrice (Philippine Rice Research Institute)


Website: http://www.philrice.gov.ph

Published: November 4, 2010

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