'Pinoy farmers' text center: serving rice farmers, caring for the environment through SMS [short messaging system]
2009
Pascua, S.N.S. | Barroga, R.F. | Quilang, E.J.P. | Asis, O.R.M. | Domingo, O.C. | Alvarez, T.G.V., Philippine Rice Research Inst., Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, 3119 Nueva Ecija (Philippines)
Texting or the use of the short messaging system (SMS) is still one of the cheap and effecting means in reaching out to farmers. Now with 66 million Filipino mobile subscribers sending 2.37 billion text messages in 2008, the Philippines remains as the text capital of Asia Pacific. Owing to the popularity of cellular phones, ease of cellular phones, ease of operation, the use of local dialect, low cost of ownership, and economical cost of texting, this mobile phone service was tapped to provide farm advisory services to the farmers. At the Php1.00 per text message, farmers can now ask questions and get answers directly from rice experts. From 11 text messages at its August 2004 launch, the text center now averages more than 2,000 messages per month. Queries from farmers were further categorized based from different disciplines in rice production. Since PhilRice implements three Integrated Management systems policies, one of which is the environmental management system (ISO 14001:2004), the text center operates and promotes water, energy, soil and ecological conservations through educating and suggesting environment-friendly management practices to farmers. A total of 40,873 text messages were received, analyzed, and responded from 2006 to 2008. Since 2006, the text center responded 5,911 messages concerning on ecological conservation, under the rice varieties and seed category; 3,206 messages concerning on ecological conservation, under the rice integrated nutrient management category; and 168 messages concerning on water and energy conservations, under the rice water management category.
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