Agriculture Innovation
Pradeep Sapkota Date:- 9/26/2021
Why The Project
Under the Agriculture Innovation project, the “Smart Greenhouse“ project plays vital role to bring the innovation in agriculture by integrating with low-technology tools / devices . This project is very important because it brings the good platform to collaborate with young farmers by integrating with ICT and low-tech tools . From this project we are trying to solve the traditional way of agriculture by monitoring the real time environmental data like :- temperature , humidity , soil moisture ,soil temperature and perform the automation system . In future we are planning to setup such “ Smart Greenhouse” in various local communities of Nepal as well as in Rwanda, Kenya , Kurdistan(Iraq)
Smart Greenhouse In this greenhouse we used some sensor to monitor real time data like:- Temperature, Humidity , Soil temp , moisture , ph etc On the base of the real time data and threshold data , we can do irrigation automatically as well as manually.
Using sensor to measure Temperature, Humidity , Soil temp , moisture , ph etc
Activities :- In the Smart Greenhouse we invent, experiment, showcase and educate about implementing and using greenhouse systems combined with low-tech tools like: 1. Sensors to measure weather data like: Temperature, humidity, soil temperature, moisture, PH etc
2. Computer programs to analyze data
3. An application for your mobile phone to control the irrigation system from a distance .
4. We also develop our own tools by recycling damaged bikes, iron sheets into usable farming tools.
Collaboration:Since , January 2021 we started this smart greenhouse project where ‘s Hertogenbosch Municipality supported to construct this greenhouse . Our knowledge partners are :- ‘ ONE WORLD Citizens , TU/e, HAS University of Applied Science , Fontys ICT college , SPARK Fab Lab , SUMMA Engineering College etc ‘ .
Challenges:During the summertime inside the greenhouse temperature raised up to 48 degree Celsius , means too hot . To reduce the temperature cooling system(cooling pad and fan) is required
Project Activities:After construction of greenhouse, we started to germinate the seedlings of tomatoes. Once the seedlings are ready, we transplanted the tomatoes .
Tomatoes Farming
Challenges:We started to plant tomatoes on the month of March (summertime) . After plantation it grows very healthy and started to give fruits . In May (peak of the summertime) due to excessive heat inside the greenhouse temperature was around 48 degree Celsius . Due to this the plants started to die and lost all the tomatoes .
Challenges:-
Required:From this pilot project what we conclude is , during the summertime cooling pad and fan is needed to maintain the required temperature by which we could make alive the plant healthy .
Green Vegetables Farming :From the mid of august again we started to germinate the seedlings the green leafy vegetable (lettuce) where temperature started to fall to around 28 , 30 degree.
Green Vegetables Farming :-
Now ready to eat green healthy vegetables
Next Steps:From our experience what we decided is that , to do agriculture inside greenhouse in summertime we must have to reduce the temperature so cooling pad and fan is very needed and looking forward to make it happen . During our pilot project we have an opportunity to collaborate with local communities , local Government , city office, Agriculture university along with other farmers . As we are focusing To integrate the ICT and low-tech for smart greenhouse mostly youngster and farmers are very excited and motivated to cooperate with us . I am sure , locally to globally we could implement this agriculture innovation project to achieve global goal 2 “ Zero Hunger” .
I would like to thank you all supporters to make it happen . Thank you !!