Cultivating Digital Equality: Empowering Agriculture Through Smart Technologies
Sri Lanka: Udugampola, Gampaha District (IEEE Region 10)
Year Funded by Tech4Good
Funding Provided by Tech4Good*
Individuals Impacted
Number of Volunteers
* funding in USD
Sustainable Development Goals
Team Members
IEEE Computer Society Sri Lanka Chapter members with expertise in IoT, agriculture, and data analysis led the implementation and facilitated training workshops.
Project Description
The project involved installing advanced Nuritrack IoT devices that provide real-time, precise data on soil nutrient levels for small-scale green and organic farmers from Udugampala, Sri Lanka. With real-time data on soil nutrient technology, farmers can apply fertilizers more judiciously, reducing overuse and misuse, and paving the way for more sustainable and productive farming practices that can benefit many more in the future.
Collaboration with stakeholders involved various activities, including partnering to identify participating farmers, co-hosting training workshops, integrating the project into existing farmer support structures, and disseminating project findings to inform policy decisions on sustainable agriculture.
Initial Impact
The IEEE team held training sessions to educate farmers on how to use the NPK sensors effectively. These sessions included understanding the data provided by the sensors and translating it into actionable farming practices. Workshops focused on sustainable farming techniques, emphasizing the importance of maintaining soil health, reducing environmental impact, and increasing crop yields.
The project fostered a supportive community environment by engaging local agricultural organizations and cooperatives, working together to integrate the NPK sensor technology into their existing support structures. Collaborating with the Agrarian Service Center in Udugampala ensured the technology was tested and adapted for local conditions, strengthening community ties.
During the project, the IEEE team supported 90 local farmers (surpassing the original goal by 80%). The project has the potential to benefit up to 500 individuals through future engagements. To ensure the project’s sustainability and scalability, the team established collaborations with local agricultural organizations and cooperatives, which are set to provide ongoing technical support and knowledge sharing among farmers, integrating NPK sensor technology into their existing support structures.
