A Reuters file photo of an agricultural field.
An Artificial Intelligence (AI) system will be used in this initiative which would help in obtaining information about crop health and its requirements in real time, The Express Tribune learnt. An artificial intelligence system has been installed at a farmhouse located on Bedian Road in the provincial capital.
On one side of farms, a pole with a few electronic devices has been installed and several sensors attached to it. Some sensors are installed under the soil while some are installed with leaves of the crop. This system is known as a gateway.
At a distance of 500 metres from the gateway, a node has been installed along with several sensors connected to it. The data from this node is automatically accessing the gateway and the information is displayed on the dashboard and can be seen on laptops and computer screens.
Umair Razzaq, a representative of a private company which designed the system, said that the system works with solar energy, various devices and sources connected to the system. “The system collects information such as wind speed, humidity, rainfall status, quantity of minerals in soil, the health of the crop, the time when crops need fertiliser, water and supplies.”
A node can be installed within a radius of one kilometre around the location at which the gateway is to be deployed. Up to 16 nodes can be used simultaneously with a gateway, which can reach and collect the data of 16-km area.
For every crop, a segregated node would have to be used. This system will update the data after one hour via internet service or 3G and 4G data. PITB representative Atif Ali Shah said that under the pilot project, work has started in Vehari, Sargodha and Layyah.
The system will reduce the cost of production for the farmers while the production will be more and healthier, he added. “If a farmer has problems related to access to a laptop or computer, or if he does not own a laptop and computer, we will convey all information to the farmer via a simple text message.”
Local landowner Rana Mubashir Hassan said that he has an area of more than 150 acres of land where he cultivates various crops and has pastures.
He added that he used to water the crops after analysing which fertilisers to use on his own that resulted in a loss many times. “However, due to this system we are able to get accurate information. We follow directions without any hesitation.”
This is showing improvement in crop growth and is expected to be better and more productive in the long run, he further said. PITB Chairman Azfar Manzoor said that for the first time in the country, technology for smart tech farming is being initiated with the cooperation of the agriculture department.
“Currently, this system is being used in Ukraine, Turkey and Nigeria. We are trying to show successful results to farmers from this experiment.”
Under this pilot project, it will be easier to demonstrate the growth of crop to the rest of the farmers in the districts in which the system is being used, he added. In response to a question, he explained that better-off farmers can buy the system for themselves too. “The government is focusing on average farmers in order to provide them relief.”
In this regard, the agriculture department will set up a Punjab programme and a scheme will also be created for the farmers as subsidy on fertilisers. “Other machinery is being provided to the farmers.” The chairman further said that machinery for this system is being requested from abroad while the software is being prepared by the PITB. “We will also have backup data for this system. This initiative will be another step towards modern agricultural innovation in Pakistan.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2020.
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