CTRI- FCV TOBACCO: AN ANDROID BASED MOBILE APP ON GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES FOR FCV TOBACCO

Abstract

ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute established in 1947 has done yeomen service to farming community through technology backstopping on myriad aspects of tobacco cultivation. Availability of latest technology in crop cultivation is essential in reaching the goal of doubling the farmer’s income as envisaged by Government of India. Latest technology need to be disseminated in a way that it reaches the doorstep of farmers rapidly and can be accessed instantly even in their fields. Currently, with the availability of ICT tools viz., mobile app and e-portals, technology can be transferred more effectively with text, pictures, interactive software’s for instant crop advisories etc. right into the hands of farmers. Such applications are more effective in case of tobacco crop as majority of the tobacco farmers are well educated and progressive. Now-a-days the farmers are using smart mobiles, hence, technology dissemination strategies through mobile phones will be an effective tool in real time for transmitting required agro techniques and contingency measures. Most of the farmers use smart mobiles with internet facility and are contacting the scientists even utilizing WhatsApp for finding solutions to their day to day crop advisories. Hence, technology dissemination strategies through mobile phone will go a long way in transmitting latest agro-techniques and contingency measures, if any, to the tobacco farmers at a faster rate and instantly. It is against this backdrop, ICAR-CTRI has developed a bilingual (English and Telugu) android based static mobile application on Good Agricultural Practices for FCV tobacco with title as CTRI-FCV TOBACCO and hosted in Google Play Store for the benefit of the farmers. It has the capability to transfer location specific technology & advice to the farmers efficiently and effectively.