UTEM RESEARCHERS DEVELOP SMART FERTIGATION SYSTEM TO BOOST AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

MELAKA, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- A team of researchers from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) has successfully developed a smart fertigation system using Internet of Things (IoT) technology to boost agricultural production.

The system was developed by five researchers, led by Associate Prof Dr Imran Mohd Ibrahim from the the Faculty of Technology and Electronics and Computer Engineering (FTKEK). 

Imran said that, by using the system, the production of crops, such as cucumbers, could increase from six tonnes in six weeks to 4.5 tonnes in just two weeks, with total output potentially reaching 10 tonnes within six weeks.

“In addition, the system makes sure that 95 per cent of the harvest is grade A and B, which can be sold, with just five per cent being grade C and unsellable, compared to conventional methods where 20 per cent of the harvest is grade C.

“This product has been tested and proven to work on a commercial agricultural scale, involving 1,000 cucumber trees, and it has shown an increase in harvest,” he said in a statement here today.

Elaborating, Imran said the smart fertigation system wirelessly connected the farm sensors to the data collection centre using LORA Technology.

He explained that the data could be accessed remotely on a tablet or computer, enabling farmers to monitor water and fertiliser levels, tree health, and control the water pump from anywhere, at any time.

Meanwhile, UTeM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Massila Kamalrudin said the product had been used at the Durian Tunggal Community Garden in Alor Gajah as part of the Public University Community Empowerment programme (Komuniti@UniMADANI), sponsored by the Ministry of Finance.

She added that the project was developed in partnership with the Centre for Collaboration Management of RICE UTeM-Melaka, starting in the middle of last year.

“The efforts made by the researchers have brought the agricultural sector to a more modern and advanced level through their expertise and the latest technology,” she said.

-- BERNAMA