DA creates app for agri complaints
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has created a mobile phone application as part of its technology modernization program to ensure immediate solutions to complaints of industry stakeholders.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said DA would soon launch FARMHELP, a P30-million application that would provide farmers and fisherfolks access to information and assistance anytime of the d a y.
“The technology, including the android smart phones, will be given to farmers and fishermen’s organizations all over the country and the operation of a 24/7 answering desk similar to the operations of 911 and 8888 programs of the government,” Piñol said.
A farmer user could tap the name of a specific bureau, corporation or attached agencies under the DA where concerns can be directed.
“For example, a farmer who would like to request for a technical information on a disease affecting his fruit trees, could simply take a photo of the diseased plant and send it to the Bureau of Plant Industry,” Piñol said.
The application will also warn farmers and fisher folks of incoming typhoons or weather disturbances and provide information on when rains are expected.
It will, likewise, provide information on damage to crops or vital farm infrastructure problems like roads or bridges that could be easily responded to.
“The FARMHELP app will be able to pinpoint the exact location of the user at the time the message is received, thus providing a faster system to extend help immediately,” Piñol said.
In cases of emergency, the user could use SMS messaging or call the hotline which would be indicated once the FARMHELP phone application is downloaded.
Starting next month, DA technical teams will start a nationwide information campaign to instruct farmerleaders on how to use the application.
Each farmers’ association and cooperative will also be provided with a low-cost smart phone which they could use to forward the concerns of their association or cooperative.
FARMHELP is the first smartphone application which the DA will be using to give farmers, fisher folks, and agriculture stakeholders greater access to the department.