IPC Farmers App was officially launched for Indonesia in Bangka Belitung Province, Indonesia on 19th July 2018. The launching ceremony, held in the office of the Governor of Bangka Belitung Province, invited more than 100 pepper farmers in Bangka Belitung Province which became the first to register and try the app.
IPC Farmers App which is an interactive country-specific app was developed on Android platform. The App was designed to assist pepper farmers in the member countries with information and data on the cultivation practices, control of pests and diseases, market trends, etc. The App was expected to provide the farmers with a user-friendly guideline on the good agricultural practices, pests and diseases management control and features that enable the farmers to interact with the pepper experts through the IPC Farmers App. The App was also equipped with Market Linkage feature where farmers would be able to offer their produce at their expected price. This offer would be made visible to large number of potential buyers who could then directly contact the farmer.
After Indonesia the IPC Farmers App is set t to be launched in India on 7th September 2018. For the implementation of IPC Farmers App in India IPC is collaborating with the All India Spice Exporters Forum (AISEF). AISEF, established in 1987, aims to work towards protecting the interest of spice exporters in the country, creating sustainable farm inputs, pro-development business environment for the spice industry and its stakeholders. In the agreement between IPC and AISEF signed 13th July 2018, AISEF agreed on becoming the Implementation partner for IPC Farmers App in India. The agreement was signed by Mrs. Hoang Thi Lien, the Executive Director of IPC, and Mr. Prakash Nambodiri, Chairman of AISEF, in Kochi, India.
The IPC and AISEF believe that IPC Farmers App will be very useful and important tools for pepper farmers. Furthermore, IPC and AISEF believe that this initiative is the right direction towards the advancement of pepper industry. Mr Nambodiri also stressed upon the need to take the Indian spice industry to $5 billion level. This is great effort which indicates strong commitment from the industry given to pepper community. On behalf of the IPC, Mrs, Lien expressed her sincere gratitude to Indonesian partners namely Balitro, PT. Aman Jaya and Verstergen and Indian partners including AISEF, DASD, Ministry of Horticulture and Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Spices Board of India for supporting, facilitating and more importantly, implementing the App in Indonesia and India. 
