Agricom Ai Pest Monitoring System

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Derrickawumey
Project Owner

Agricom Ai Pest Monitoring System

Expert Rating

n/a
  • Proposal for BGI Nexus 1
  • Funding Request $50,000 USD
  • Funding Pools Beneficial AI Solutions
  • Total 6 Milestones

Overview

AI-Powered Pest Monitoring System for Smallholder Farmers in Ghana This project develops an affordable, AI-driven system to detect pest infestations early and provide real-time alerts to smallholder farmers. Using drones and AI, the system analyzes farm images to identify pests like Fall Armyworm and sends actionable recommendations via SMS. A 6-month pilot will target 200 farmers in Ghana’s Volta Region, focusing on maize and vegetable crops. With a budget of $50,000, the project aims to reduce crop losses by 30%, improve farmer decision-making, and create a scalable model for nationwide adoption, enhancing food security and livelihoods.

Proposal Description

How Our Project Will Contribute To The Growth Of The Decentralized AI Platform

1. The project directly tackles food insecurity and economic hardship caused by pest infestations, which disproportionately affect smallholder farmers in Ghana. By reducing crop losses by an estimated 20%, the system enhances food production and farmer incomes, contributing to poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Also By providing an affordable, AI-powered solution, the proposal democratizes access to cutting-edge technology tools to improve food productivity and resilience.

Our Team

  1. CEO Derrick Awumey 
  2. COO Candy Akakpo Delali 
  3. CFO Agnes Agbesi Anku 
  4. CTO Sumaila Iddrisu

AI services (New or Existing)

1. AI-Powered Image Analysis Service

Type

New AI service

Purpose

To analyze drone-captured images of farmlands and detect signs of pest infestations (e.g. Fall Armyworm) and crop health anomalies.

AI inputs

trained dataset of pest-infested and healthy crop images.

AI outputs

Signals to detest pest infested fields

Company Name (if applicable)

Agricom Assurance

The core problem we are aiming to solve

The core problem this project aims to solve is the devastating impact of pest infestations on smallholder farmers in Ghana, which leads to significant crop losses, food insecurity, and economic hardship. Specifically:

  1. High Crop Losses: Ghana loses an estimated 30-40% of its annual crop yield to pests and diseases, with the Fall Armyworm alone causing $177 million in annual maize losses.

  2. Limited Access to Timely Detection:Smallholder farmers, who make up 80% of Ghana’s farming population, often rely on traditional methods to detect pests, which are ineffective and result in late interventions.

  3. Food Insecurity and Poverty

Our specific solution to this problem

Our solution is an  AI-powered pest monitoring system designed to help smallholder farmers in Ghana detect pest infestations early and protect their crops. Here’s how it works:

1. Drone-Based Imaging: Drones capture high-resolution farm images every two weeks for efficient monitoring.  
2. AI-Powered Detection: An AI model analyzes images to identify pests like Fall Armyworm and assess crop health.  
3. Real-Time Alerts: Farmers receive SMS alerts with actionable recommendations for pest control.  
4. Farmer Training: Farmers and extension officers are trained to use the system and adopt sustainable pest management practices.  
5. **Affordable Design:** The system uses cost-effective drones, open-source AI tools, and mobile alerts to ensure accessibility.  This solution empowers smallholder farmers to combat pests effectively, improving food security and livelihoods.

Project details

Overview of the AI-Powered Pest Monitoring System for Smallholder Farmers in Ghana

Core Problem:

Smallholder farmers in Ghana face significant crop losses due to pest infestations, leading to food insecurity and economic hardship. Traditional pest detection methods are often ineffective, resulting in late interventions and devastating impacts on yields.

Solution:
An AI-powered pest monitoring system that combines drone technology, artificial intelligence, and real-time alerts to help farmers detect pests early and take timely action.

Key Components of the Project:

1. Drone-Based Imaging:   Drones equipped with cameras capture high-resolution images of farmlands every two weeks. This replaces manual inspections, providing efficient and comprehensive monitoring.

2. AI-Powered Pest Detection: 
   An AI model analyzes drone images to identify pest infestations (e.g., Fall Armyworm) and assess crop health. It detects pests early, often before visible damage occurs.

3. Real-Time Alerts and Recommendations:
   Farmers and agricultural extension officers receive SMS alerts on their mobile phones when pests are detected. The alerts include actionable recommendations, such as which pesticides or biological controls to use.

4. Farmer Training and Capacity Building:  
   Farmers and extension officers are trained on how to use the system and implement integrated pest management (IPM) practices. This ensures effective adoption and sustainable pest management.

5. Affordable and Scalable Design:
   The system uses cost-effective drones, open-source AI tools, and mobile-based alerts to keep costs low. It is designed for scalability to benefit thousands of farmers across Ghana and beyond.

 

Pilot Implementation:
- Location: Volta Region, Ghana.  
-  Target Group: 200 smallholder farmers growing maize and vegetables.  
- Duration: 6 months.  

Expected Outcomes:

1. Early detection of pest infestations, reducing crop losses by an estimated 20%.  
2. Improved decision-making through timely, data-driven insights.  
3. Increased crop yields and better incomes for farmers.  
4. A scalable model for nationwide adoption, benefiting thousands of farmers.  

Budget:

The total estimated budget is $48,500, covering:  
- Personnel (Project Manager, AI Consultant, Field Agents).  
- Equipment (Drones, Laptops, Mobile Devices).  
- Training (Farmer Workshops, Training Materials).  
- Operational Costs (Drone Maintenance, Logistics, Communication).  
- Contingency (10% of total budget).  

Impact:

This project empowers smallholder farmers with an affordable, scalable solution to combat pests effectively. By reducing crop losses, improving food security, and enhancing livelihoods, it aligns with global efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and equitable access to technology. The pilot in Ghana serves as a foundation for scaling the system to other regions, ensuring a more resilient and productive agricultural sector.  

Conclusion:

The AI-powered pest monitoring system is a transformative solution to one of Ghana’s most pressing agricultural challenges. By leveraging drone technology, artificial intelligence, and real-time data analytics, the project empowers smallholder farmers to protect their crops, improve yields, and secure their livelihoods, contributing to a more sustainable and food-secure future.

Open Source Licensing

Custom

Online event

Proposal Video

Placeholder for Spotlight Day Pitch-presentations. Video's will be added by the DF team when available.

  • Total Milestones

    6

  • Total Budget

    $50,000 USD

  • Last Updated

    24 Feb 2025

Milestone 1 - Project Planning & Farmer Selection

Description

Milestone 1: Project Planning and Farmer Selection (Month 1) Activities: Conduct a baseline survey to understand farmer needs and challenges. Select 200 smallholder farmers in the Volta Region for the pilot. Finalize partnerships with agricultural extension services and local cooperatives.

Deliverables

Completed baseline survey report. List of participating farmers and farms. Signed partnership agreements.

Budget

$8,500 USD

Success Criterion

Completed baseline survey report. List of participating farmers and farms. Signed partnership agreements.

Milestone 2 - Drone Deployment & Data Collection (Months 2-3)

Description

Acquire and deploy drones for farm imaging. Capture high-resolution images of participating farms every two weeks. Annotate images with pest-specific labels for AI training.

Deliverables

Drone-captured images of all participating farms. Annotated dataset for AI model training.

Budget

$9,500 USD

Success Criterion

Drone-captured images of all participating farms. Annotated dataset for AI model training.

Milestone 3 - AI Model Development & Training (Months 3-4)

Description

Develop and train the AI model using the annotated dataset. Test the model for accuracy and refine as needed. Integrate the model with the real-time alert system.

Deliverables

Train Ai in disease detection integrate SMS alert system

Budget

$13,150 USD

Success Criterion

Trained AI model with at least 90% accuracy in pest detection. Integrated alert system for SMS notifications.

Milestone 4 - Farmer Training and System Deployment

Description

Conduct training workshops for farmers and extension officers on system use and pest management. Deploy the system and begin real-time monitoring and alerts.

Deliverables

Farmer training

Budget

$7,000 USD

Success Criterion

Trained farmers and extension officers. Operational AI-powered pest monitoring system.

Milestone 5 - Monitoring & Evaluation

Description

Monitor system performance and farmer adoption collect feedback from farmers on system effectiveness Evaluate impact on crop yields and pest management prepare final project report

Deliverables

Report evaluation

Budget

$7,000 USD

Success Criterion

Evaluation report with key findings and recommendations Final project report for stakeholders

Milestone 6 - Contingencies

Description

To account for unforseen expenses and adjustments during the project lifecycle.

Deliverables

Contingencies prepared for

Budget

$4,850 USD

Success Criterion

budget adequately covered for contingencies expenses

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