Usability testing of Rice Doctor mobile application organized by KVK Sonitpur

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TEZPUR: A usability testing of a mobile application, Rice Doctor, was organized under APART by KVK Sonitpur in collaboration with Biswanath College of Agriculture and with technical support from International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The main objective of the workshop was to evaluate the efficiency and accuracy of the mobile application which is a diagnostic tool for the management of insect pests and diseases.

A total of 40 participants including students of BNCA, extension functionaries from Agriculture department of Biswanath district and professors and scientists from Biswanath college of Agriculture attended the workshop.

Dr. Roji Chutia, Subject Matter Specialist (Agronomy) welcomed the participants and dignitaries and explained the basic objectives of the programme. Dr. Arifa M Begum, Incharge Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sonitpur explained the importance of a crop diagnostic tool for farmers and extension functionaries for proper crop establishment in the present agriculture scenario.

During her speech, she also briefed about the basic objectives of the APART project and the basic functioning of Krishi Vigyan Kendras. Dr. Ranen Barman, Associate Dean of Biswanath College of Agriculture acted as a chief guest of the programme. During his speech, he highlighted the necessity of such workshops for the student community and extension functionaries in order to enable them to work better for the farming community.

Dr Dipak Barhoi, District Agriculture Officer of Biswanath district also attended the programme as a guest of honour and encouraged the students and extension functionaries to motivate the farmers to use such applications. Dr. Suryakanta Khandai, Associate Scientist of IRRI, Puja Rajkhowa and Dibyarishi Bhattacharjya, Junior Researchers of IRRI acted as resource persons for the programme and were assisted by the APART staff of KVK Sonitpur.

The participants were divided into three groups in the practical session. The practical session included three methods. In the first method, the participants were asked to identify different pest and disease attacks in rice crops based on their knowledge and experience. The second method consisted of material identification, where the participants were given specific materials like booklets to help in diagnosis of the problem. The third method consisted of identification of specific disease and pest attacks with the help of Rice Doctor application.

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