User-friendly interface design to disseminate best agricultural practices

Abstract

The main purpose of the Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) is to produce foods by applying ecologically sustainable agricultural methods that are safe and wholesome to consumers. Therefore, farming with GAPs can eliminate vast environmental and health problems in modern industrial agriculture. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become one useful tool in modern agriculture that provides day-to-day information to the farmers for successful farming. “Govi-Nena” is one of such mobile applications is developing to provide real-time information to farmers in Sri Lanka. Therefore, the aims of this study to design user-friendly interfaces to disseminate guidelines of GAPs and potato was selected as the test crop in designing the model. First, primary data were gathered through two pre-tested questionnaires from 100 potato farmers in Nuwara-Eliya and Badulla districts to evaluate the present status of potato cultivation in Sri Lanka. The secondary data was collected from various reliable sources such as books, previous records, research articles, the internet etc. Then user-friendly interfaces designed according to the modern User Interfaces (UI) and User Experience design (UX) theory, to disseminate guidelines for GAPs. It was included important guidance, knowledge and vital information on GAPs for potato cultivation in Sri Lanka. These user-friendly interfaces will help farmers to get the guidance of the GAPs such as land preparation by conserving the soil and minimize soil erosion, accurate knowledge and vital information and also facilitates a history record book and adversary services for farmers on the right time and easy manner through “Govi-Nena” mobile-based application.