Farmers in some parts of the country are getting almost double benefit in robi crop cultivation by using 'mrittika', a software developed by Grameen Intel Social Business Ltd (GISB).
The software has been applied on more than 150 farmers under Project Harvest in three areas. It provides necessary information regarding soil test, and applying water, fertilizer and pesticides in right time for robi crops, said farmers, taking service from GISB.
GISB is a joint initiative of Intel Capital and Grameen Trust for solving social problems with information technology at affordable prices. At present, the organisation is dealing with three areas - 'mrittika' for farmers, 'Slate Bangla' for pre-school children, and 'shumata' for pregnant women.
The three areas, where Project Harvest has been initiated, are - Kushtia, Patuakhali and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Dhaka.
Under the initiative, interested organisations or individuals can buy 'mrittika' and a soil testing kit from GISB. The software can be bought at Tk 800 on a yearly basis, and the kit costs around Tk 8,000. An entrepreneur can handle the software and give solution to farmers.
Anwar Hossain, a jute farmer of Khokhsa, Kushtia who used 'mrittika', informed the FE that he got 12 maunds of crops in one bigha land at a cost of around Tk 700. Earlier, he could get only 6-7 maunds of crops from the same land at a cost of around Tk 2,100.
He said: "Before taking the service, we were not aware of using proper fertilisers to our land. So we had to bear increased cost. Now we test soil first, and then apply fertilisers and other inputs. "
Another farmer - Aain Uddin - said he has obtained 110 kg of jute from his five kathas of land in 2013, and the yield is much higher than other farmers.
They got only 45-50 kg from the same size land, by continuing their cultivation in traditional method and without using the software, he added.
Kabir Hossain, a paddy farmer in Patuakhali, said his productivity has increased by at least 33 per cent by using 'mrittika' software.
GISB chief operating officer Sajedul Pavel Hoq said the farmers under Project Harvest achieved higher return on their investment, as they got 3-5 times more crop yield against lower use of agri-inputs.
Using software and other modern technologies has increased agriculture production in different countries by raising productivity, lowering inputs and making farmers more profitable.
Besides, it has helped improve quality of land with no-till farming and less water usage. Similar things are possible in Bangladesh, he mentioned.
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