IFC SHUFOLA

SHUFOLA is a highly localized agriculture advisory service that combines crop management practice with weather condition. Based on their crop, variety, growth stage and weather condition, farmers receive customized and actionable advisory via SMS and Voice Message in local dialect to basic phones. For observed weather data Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) are used and for forecast data Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) output is used. mPower partnered with Save Earth Climate Services (SECS) for providing this AgroMet service.

BASIC INFORMATION

  • Operational Area: Barisal, Patuakhali, Khulna, Barguna, Netrokona, Sirajganj in Bangladesh and Terai Region in Nepal
  • Funding Partner: International Finance Corporation (IFC)
  • Number of Services Provided: 38,000+
  • Farmers Reached: 35,000+
  • Impact Findings:
    37% of respondents reported to have adopted the recommendation and 94% among the rest reported that they would adopt the recommendation – 59% of respondents reported that the recommendations contained new information, primarily on how to perform a practice

Features

  • AUTOMATED DISSIMINATION SYSTEM
    The service platform is designed in a way that it automatically triggers messages for relevant farmers taking into consideration farmer information including crop, variety, growth stage etc. and weather information.
  • EASILY REPLICABLE AND LIGHT TOUCH OPERATION
    The service can be replicated in multiple geographies and across multiple crops in a very short span of time and its operation does not require heavy engagement of human resources.
  • RECOMMENDATION BY SMS AND VOICE MESSAGE
    The technology behind the service is sophisticated but farmers receive the service in the form of SMS and Voice Message even with their basic phones.

Benefits

  • Leveraging weather forecast model and real-time weather station data the service provide weather forecast based agro recommendations.
  • Automatically cross references weather data with expert validated agro advisories considering different stages of farming and pushes advisory through SMS and voice call to registered farmers mobile phone.

Contributions

  • Developed weather based web application for sending voice/text sms through BOOM-CAST api service to remote area farmers about their sowing crops in a definite variety, stage and season to help them out what to do during the situtaion
  • Send three types of sms as weather, management and promotional.
  • Categorized weather sms as weather forecast which gives sms for upcoming weather situation and weather observed which gives past environmental changes
  • Send advisory sms for growing the best possible crops as management sms type
  • Promoted service through promotional sms by requesting to contact with call-center for next best crops by on-going season
  •  Developed admin approval sms panel for check and double check the generated sms content under proper condition
  • Developed module for dynamic rule based sms generation individually for weather and management

Technology / Tools

  • Python (Django)
  • PostgreSQL
  • Jquery
  • Datatable
  • Highcharts
  • Cron
  • Celery
  • Boom-cast SMS API Service
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrO7vVDL5QU