Development of an Android Based Application System for Fish Farmers.

Abstract

A study was undertaken to design a mobile app which can be a gateway of information for fish farmers with the objectives of conceptualizing features required in a mobile app, aggregating scientific information for relevant features and based on this develop a mobile application system. A questionnaire was designed with open-ended questions in order to collect specific features from farmers and experts from different disciplines. Relevancy of each feature was tested on a four-point Likert scale by farmers and expert group. Features with an average score of more than 2/4 were included and clubbed under 6 main heads namely Culture practices, Management practices, Post-harvest practices, Modern farming techniques, State specific fisheries information and Buy or sell. To aggregate scientific information for each feature, information was collected from various sources like books, articles, websites and research papers. Aggregated information was written in simple language and checked by Grammarly software. Appropriate illustrations were prepared by an artist. Content Validity Ratio was found to be more than 0.75 for each feature and illustration thus establishing content validity. Content along with illustrations was finalized through a write shop process with select experts. Through consensus, the name ‘Mathsya Kiran’ was decided for the mobile app. The app is user friendly, fast, free of cost can be used anytime, anywhere through android mobile without internet. It is of potential use to stakeholders like farmers, students, policy makers and anyone who is interested in fish farming. Based on this comprehensive research, a Mobile App Development Process (MADP) was designed.