Fertiliser Recommendation Software (FRS) won the best IT use award 2010

On 12 February 2010, the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) awarded the “Best use of IT” award to the Katalyst sponsored Fertiliser Recommendation Software (FRS). This award is the highest recognition from the apex body of the Bangladesh software industry. Mr. Mainul Hasan, Director of the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) received the award from Architect Yeafesh Osman, Honorable, State Minister of Science and ICT. This prestigious award recognised the usefulness and the opportunity the FRS offers to enhance the livelihood of a large number of farmers across Bangladesh. 

Lack of awareness among the farmers on the correct usage and dosage of fertilisers gradually lowers crop yields, degrades soil properties and has a long term impact on national food security. On a pilot basis, Katalyst helped SRDI to launch the FRS system in 9 upazillas in Rangpur, Bogra and Jessore and able to generate printable fertiliser recommendation reports in Bangla. Katalyst partnered with National Agricare, a micronutrient company and SWSAB, a local association of seed entrepreneurs in Jessore to disseminate the information. To broaden the outreach of the system, Katalyst and SRDI jointly developed an online FRS to provide accurate fertiliser recommendations based on village-specific soil testing results. Grameenphone (through their Community Information Centers) and Banglalink (through their agricultural helpline known as “Banglalink Krishi Jigyasha 7676”) joined as partners to disseminate the information to the farmers. 

The FRS was launched in July 2009 and is currently available in 30 upazillas. FRS has been compiling data from around 450 upazillas into the database. It is planned to be available to 100 upazilas by June 2010. Katalyst will organize promotion programmes in all the upazillas in order to popularize the FRS among the farmers.

Src: http://www.katalyst.com.bd/docs/newspieces/News_Issue_13.pdf