CM to launch IIITM-K’s ‘Mannu’ app for Farmers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will launch an interactive mobile app, Mannu, designed by the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management-Kerala (IIITM-K) to help farmers check the suitability of a desired crop, at Kanakakunnu Palace here tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10am. Initially, it will be launched for Varavoor Panchayat in Thrissur district.
The farmer-friendly spatially-enabled app, developed for the Soil Survey Department of the state government, not only helps in checking the suitability of a specific crop, but can also recommend the suitability of the farm, type of fertilizer, quantity, and interval of application for the specified crop for a specified location.
‘Mannu’ is a cost-effective, efficient and easy-to-adopt e-governance tool for fertilizer advisory services that provides information on correct dosage of fertilizers depending on the nutrient content of the soil, resulting in balanced nutrition, saving cost, and avoiding soil and water pollution.
By using the app, farmers get authentic information about the status of 20 soil nutrients for any location. Based on the soil nutrient status, the app suggests the suitable crop for the selected geographic location (GPS). A scaled-up version of the app, with soil information for the entire state and recommendations for all the crops, will be made available for the farmers by the end of 2018.
It ultimately aims to provide scientific soil nutrient management, ensuring sustainability of soil health and optimum growth and yield of crop. This app facilitates farmers to make informed decisions about need-based and site-specific fertilizer application through the online system.
The Soil Survey Department has been generating soil nutrient information across Kerala with due emphasis on the micro relief conditions. This information has been transformed into a knowledge base.