A student-developed cell app within the Philippines goals to cut back agricultural losses utilizing AI-powered farm danger monitoring.
AGRICONNECT PH, developed by 22-year-old Aldrin “Soj” Gamayon, is designed to assist farmers uncover early indicators of crop stress earlier than seen injury units in.
Gamayon, a fourth-year Communications Expertise Administration scholar at Ateneo de Manila College, acquired the inspiration for the app from private expertise and an abroad internship. Coming from a farming household, he witnessed first hand the difficulties that farmers, notably his uncles, confronted with managing unpredictable climate and crops’ pests.
He famous that many farmers depend on visible cues and expertise when assessing crop well being, which may imply solely restricted responses can be found to farmers, and even than, solely after seen injury or change happens. In response to analysis, as soon as yellowing or different indicators seem on a plant, solely round 30% of a crop’s worth could be usually salvaged. In distinction, AGRICONNECT’s early-detection system goals to help farmers shield as much as 90% of their yields by figuring out points sooner.
The app makes use of soil-embedded good sensors positioned at varied factors throughout a plot of land to observe key variables like soil moisture, water ranges, and pest exercise. The collected information is fed into an AI system, which analyses area situations and sends alerts to farmers to assist them make well timed choices.
To make the output simpler to interpret, the app is designed round a easy stoplight system. A crimson sign signifies pressing motion is required in 12 to 24 hours, yellow advises warning, and inexperienced displays good situations.
“We do acknowledge that farmers and agribusiness house owners aren’t actually probably the most technical individuals,” Gamayon defined in an interview with BusinessWorld. “We’re type of utilizing a really common idea in order that they don’t really want to grasp the tech; they simply have to know precisely what to do in regards to the info.”
Agricultural injury within the Philippines reached a worth of practically ₱58 billion (US$1.01billion) in 2024, in line with authorities information. Droughts, typhoons, and plant illnesses proceed to have an affect on yields throughout the nation.
Gamayon hopes that AGRICONNECT will function a sensible instrument in responding to crop dangers. The app is ready to launch in 2026, with a broader intention of reaching a million farmers by 2030.
Whereas the app continues to be in growth, it has gained early recognition. AGRICONNECT was a winner within the Purple Bull Basement competitors, which helps student-led innovation initiatives, and the initiative can also be receiving assist from international organisations together with Microsoft, Plug and Play, and Ateneo Blue Nest.
Gamayon sees AGRICONNECT not as an alternative choice to conventional farming data, however as a complement to it. “We envision ourselves extra as an ally and as a accomplice of farmers somewhat than a alternative as others would declare,” he stated.
(Picture by Pixabay)
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