Central Visayas – the Agricultural Training Institute has conducted a series of one-day technical briefings on how to set up the Minus One Element Technique (MOET) Kit and how to use the MOET mobile Application. These briefings were conducted in six batches: March 2-3, 2021 in Bohol; March 4, 2021 in Negros Oriental; March 9-10, 2021 in Cebu; and March 12, 2021 in Siquijor.
The briefing in Bohol was facilitated by Jonathan Sumagang, ATI Central Visayas Development Management Officer II. The briefing in Cebu was facilitated by Arnel Navarro, ATI Central Visayas Technical Support Staff. The briefing in Negros Oriental was conducted through the Office of the City Agriculturist of Tanjay City and facilitated by Mr. Kimuel S. Tabio, a Rice Technician. The briefing in Siquijor was facilitated Mary Daphny Tumala, ATI Central Visayas Technical Support Staff.
What is MOET? MOET is a reliable technique that determines soil nutrient deficiencies in actual field conditions.
The MOET Kit is being complemented with MOET App – a mobile application. What MOET App can do? It can compute fertilizer requirement using the Fertilizer Requirement Calculator; get fertilized (fertilizer) recommendations based on computed data input and calculate future yields using the Yield Predictor. This technique benefits farmers and technicians especially those in the remote areas who barely have access to soil laboratories. Because the basis is the actual performance of the rice plants, the technique determines limiting nutrients that are not diagnosed in the soil chemical test.
The MOET App was developed to: support the Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) and Rice Coordinators in guiding the farmers to their rice field nutrient management; support Rice Extension Intermediaries (REI) to help the farmers increase their yield; and can be used by farmer’s children (who are knowledgeable in smart phones) to help their parents in the nutrient management of their rice field. Thru this app, the farmers will be empowered to choose the best fertilization option.
In total, 120 rice farmers were able to attend the briefings on MOET Kit set-up and MOET app. At the end of the briefing, these farmers were also provided with one sack of complete fertilizer, one sack of urea and 1 kit of MOET.
"I am thankful that I have gained new learnings so we will have higher yields. I have gained another knowledge on fertilization also. I am going to apply in my rice farm what I have learned from this training and will also share it to my neighbours," said Cleofas Crieta, one of the participants in one of the briefings.