Local version of ‘Rice Doctor’ available soon

A Filipino version of a mobile application dubbed “Rice Doctor” is being readied to help identify and manage rice crop problems in Philippine rice farms.

First developed by experts at the International Rice Research Institute, Philippine Rice Research Institute, the Indonesian Research Institute for Rice, and the Lucid team at the University of Queensland in Australia, the mobile app is still available only in English.

According to IRRI, the interactive Rice Doctor uses text and images to help extension workers, farmers, researchers and students diagnose more than 80 pests, diseases and other disorders affecting rice.

In a recent workshop held at IRRI in Laguna, specialists from PhilRice and development communication students from the University of the Philippines helped review, edit and finalize the Filipino translation of the brief descriptions of the signs, symptoms and management options.

“This activity is the second part of the Filipino translation workshop conducted through the project,  Improving Technology Promotion and Delivery through Capability Enhancement of Next-Gen Rice Extension Professionals and Other Intermediaries, under the Food Staples Sufficiency Program,” IRRI said in a statement.

The first part of the workshop, which was held last year, focused on the terms and the translation of the diagnostic questions.

“The Filipino version of Rice Doctor, which will be available later this year, is the first effort to translate and localize the diagnostic tool for country-specific crop problems,” IRRI said. “Similar efforts are also being done in Bangladesh and India.” Ronnel W. Domingo