BRRI launches mobile app to identify rice diseases

Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has launched a mobile app called ‘Rice Solution’, a sensor-based rice pest management system, with the aim of identifying a disease by sending images of infected rice plants from the paddy field to the app.
Agriculture Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque inaugurated the mobile app as the chief guest at the six-day annual research review workshop of BRRI in Gazipur on Saturday, while State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam and BRRI Director General Md Shahjahan Kabir were present, said a press release on Sunday.
Any image or data of a pest or disease will automatically detect the problem and provide management advice based on the image’s accuracy.
As a result, field problems will be solved in the field, while farmers will save time, money and travel by using the app to access services.
It’s built using artificial intelligence, machine learning and sensor technology.
However, rice is considered as an essential commodity in Bangladesh. Being a staple food, producer of rice, as well as a primary source of livelihood for farmers, they often experience threat of pest attack and cause massive losses; it could even lead to crop failures and harm the farmers.
To suppress the attacks of pest, farmers give pesticides, which, if it handles inappropriately would interfere with health. The best solution is to make detection system of pest attacks in order to minimise the pest aggression.
The limited knowledge and skills of farmers in the detection of rice crops made them able to spray pesticides. To facilitate farmers in detecting pest attacks, developed Android-based applications that were simple and easy to use device directly in the field using smartphone devices.
Farmers could use the application by taking pictures of rice plants that allegedly exposed attacks with smart phones.
Besides, a mobile app called ‘Rice Profile’ is also waiting to launch.