bio social
CROP MANAGER FOR RICE-BASED SYSTEMS
The farmers in Bihar will be soon having access to the web based App known as CMRS for better
crop and nutrient management
BY SAYONI RAUTELA
T
he fast emerging climatic
scenario and global
warming is worrying the
governments across globe.
Over that, the lack of proper
agricultural information on time to
farmers has also aggravated the
situation in far flung areas of the
country. Many states in India
especially the Bihar and Vidharba
region of Maharashtra have been
worst sufferers due to illiteracy
and lack of information on
crop management.
In this backdrop, the Indian
government has decided to come
up with a hi-tech solution as an
answer to unattended agricultural
practices issues of the farmers.
Crop Manager for Rice-based
Systems (CMRS) is a web-based
App which can be used with
computer, mobile and tablet and
aims to increase farmer's net
income and sustain the
productivity for rice-based
cropping systems. CMRS provides
irrigated and rainfed farmers with
FARMER FRIENDLY APP:
● To be first implemented in
Bihar
● Designed by experts and
ratified by world class
research institutes
● Customized nutrient
management guideline for
individual farmers
● Information on rice-based
cropping systems to farmers
● Easily accessible on mobile
phone, laptops or tablets
rice-based cropping systems in
Bihar with a crop and nutrient
management guideline
customized to the needs of an
individual farmer. CMRS uses a
farmer's answers to questions on
farming practices to automatically
generate a rice, wheat, or rabi
maize management guideline.
App will be linked with Soil
Health scheme for bringing
access to new technologies
to rural India.
The CMRS App was launched by
the Union Agriculture and
Farmers' Welfare Minister, Mr
Radha Mohan Singh on July 06,
2016 for better crop and nutrient
management for Bihar farmers in
a program organised at RCER, the
institute of Indian Council for
Agriculture Research (ICAR) in
Patna. CMRS was adapted,
evaluated, and verified in Bihar
through collaboration of
International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) with the ICARRCER, Bihar Agricultural
University (BAU), Catholic Relief
Services (CRS), and Rajendra
Agricultural University (RAU)
and CIMMYT.
While launching the App, the
Union Minister congratulated
scientists of different institutes
involved in development of this
app. The App will be a part of
Digital India program, already
launched by the Prime Minister,
Mr Narendra Modi and will be
linked with Soil Health scheme
for bringing access to new
technologies to rural India.
Tool is designed for use by
extension workers, crop advisers,
input providers, and providers of
services who interview a farmer
using a personal computer,
smartphone, or tablet. Based on
the experiences in Bihar, hope the
CMRS will be implemented on a
broader scale across the country
in phases.
BIOVOICENEWS.COM
09