Making Fertilizer Recommendations for Rice More Accessible: New Versions of Nutrient Manager Introduced

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) heightens the implementation of the Nutrient Manager for Rice in the Philippines (NMRice) by introducing its new version of web and mobile phone applications – NMRice Version2 and NMRiceTXT.
 
The Nutrient Manager for Rice was first introduced as computer-based decision software that has been designed to provide farmers and extension workers a comprehensive fertilizer guideline that is tailored to specific conditions in the rice fields. This further promotes the scientific and knowledge-intensive principles of the Site-Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) introduced by IRRI.

Not long after presenting the first web version of the Nutrient Manager to its partner agencies and institutions, IRRI organized another workshop involving representatives from selected agencies of the Department of Agriculture such as the Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) and the DA's AgriPinoy Rice Program.  This time the activity revolved around the electronic extension services that may be utilized for the NMRice application.
 
The workshop targeted to provide technical information on the NMRice web and mobile phone applications; orient the participants to the NMRiceTXT using a new tutorial video, farmer interviews and simulated problem-solving; and plan promotional activities and materials.
 
Aside from the lectures on the nutrient manager applications, there were also hands-on exercises and field trainings during the workshop.  The participants were divided into three groups wherein each group was assigned to do an on-site orientation and hands-on training to selected farmers in the nearby barangays of Bay, Laguna, namely Sto. Domingo, San Antonio and Tagumpay.
 
Part of the workshop also is the planning for the advocacy campaign for the said project.  The DA-ATI, being the lead agency in the promotion, presented their work plan for the year which includes the development of IEC materials, mobilization and training/orientation in the five pilot sites.
 
The said activity was held last July 14 to 15, 2010 in IRRI, Los Baños, Laguna. (Yovina-Claire R. Agsawa)
 
 
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ATI partakes in IRRI’s Nutrient Manager for Rice project