#agricultool

[technoblogbybaldwin]

Attempting to fill the gap...failed

As we further validate our proposition, the gaps we need to fill...were some sort of an illusion. We continued to interview and asked about their daily lives as farmers, what crops they grow and stuff. These information we gathered were enough for us to conclude what functions we need to include to our product. It went wrong because we did not really grasp the problem they have at that point. We are still on the preliminary stages, or “knowing each other” stage. We continued to put function that may or may not be needed to them. If you look at it, It sounds like we were the one deciding what problems they were suffering as how this validation process develops. Looking back, validation of our product should focus on the costumers and not the product. As what I’ve learned on class that a product exist when there’s a costumer and not the other way around. We could’ve further inquire their specific struggles as a farmer and not just as a person. We could’ve ask more about their technical difficulties and what problems that needs to addressed immediately. These action may lead us to better understanding their hardships and passion as a farmer.

[technoblogbybaldwin]

What's lacking

Upon inquiring our potential costumers, the farmers, we discovered that the product we were proposing to them does not have clear objective to solve their problem. We went interviewing without considering specific problems to fix for them. Our product we proposed were vague as we thought that it will just solve their problem on its own upon presenting the idea we have but we were far from right. Our product called AGRICULTool, which function initially allows you to browse agricultural tips and information for it to help them ease their jobs, was too unnoble and quite not needed but there are still a demand and use. It even cause us more problems than solving one. Now, thinking about it, we could’ve asked first what problems they need to address and resolve immediately. If they presented us with many issues, we could’ve rank them from highest priority to low and thinking objectively on what problem on their field that should be needed to fix.

[technoblogbybaldwin]

Man vs Nature

Geographically speaking, Philippines is unlucky. We might be the first country to catch storms that is brewing from the Pacific ocean. Also, we are included on the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, which are countries that is prone to natural disasters. But despite that, we were known for natural resources and exports like grains. Farmers who rely on land and weather conditions are always at risk. We learned that some crops and plants are very susceptible to external factors such as weather condition, resulting them dead if not properly maintained. For example, white corns. This crops are very sensitive and with little change on surroundings, consequences piled up. We heard that every time there’s a storm, agricultural damages is being totaled and it is very, very expensive. Independent farmers have this problem multiplied many times. They even resort to taking debt. Government is taking action about this matters but it is not enough to cover every affected farmers.

As we learnt how meticulous and painstaking farming is, we appreciate them more, and encourages us to help them solve their problems. 

[technoblogbybaldwin]

Distant Technology

You might say that we are now in digital era. In my opinion, that is true. Some studies suggest that even underdeveloped country have roughly more people using phones than not. But, the ones that did not got the memo are trapped on an endless loop of traditional vicious cycle. Independent farmers suffers to this. They are entirely dependent on the current traditional methods they always mastered, which is undeniably reliable but tends to settle for “OK”. Ending this is through bridging the gap to the unlikely users. Providing them more efficient solutions to their problems. For example, irrigation. According to our recent interaction, they rely on experience and traditional methods, which consist of basically no tools or technology to use. Well, their crops is fine without it but we can surely lessen the unhealthy ones.

[technoblogbybaldwin]

Experience is everything

The catchy song “Magtanim ay ‘Di Biro” is composed to target farmers. It literally translates to “planting is no joke” but it metaphorically means that farming and planting is a hard job and no laughing matter. Farmers learned their jobs the hard way. They master their methods through sheer dedication and passion. Some may say they pick the end of the stick in terms of hardness of job, despite being true, it was not an excuse to them.