Enhancing knowledge networking through short messaging service: the Farmers' Text Center experience
2010
Pascua, S.N.S. | Zagado, R.G. | Asis, O.R.M. | Domingo, O.C. | Maloles, J.S., Philippine Rice Research Inst., Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija (Philippines)
Inadequate access to new rice production technologies is a major constraint to increased rice productivity in many areas of the country. As most farmers and extension workers are scattered across the country, it is difficult to reach them by the traditional interpersonal methods of extension and communication. New strategies are therefore required to effectively disseminate relevant farming information and appropriate agricultural technologies to them. The idea of the Farmers' Text Center (FTC) was conceived to address this ruling problem. As we all know the Philippines is the text capital of the Asia Pacific with 66 million Filipino mobile subscribers sending 2.37 billion text messages in 2008. With the FTC facility, farmers and extension workers can now ask questions and get answers directly from rice experts at PhP1.00 per text only. From 11 text messages during its launch in August 2004, FTG now receives an average of about 3,000 messages a month this year. Since its operations, FTC has already responded to more than 70,000 text messages with topics largely concerning not only on rice but also on livestock, vegetables, and other high-value crops. Aside from answering to the clients' queries, FTC also sends techno tips to registered clients. Data show an increasing trend in SMS received yearly, implying the great potential of the technology in enhancing farmers' and extension workers' access to advanced farming technologies despite distance barrier. Because of this, FTC has been tapped as a supplementary platform to enhance the extension and information delivery mechanism in support of the on-going government's Rice Food Self-Sufficiency Program.
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