This archive report was first published on 25 September 2019.
On September 25, 2019, 25-year-old Abraham Gatene unveiled an innovative farming platform that leverages Internet of Things (IoT) technology to grow crops without soil.
Kenya's agricultural sector is plagued by issues such as small and fragmented land holdings, costly inputs, and unreliable weather patterns. However, new technologies are emerging to address these challenges.
Gatene's system combines hydroponics and aquaponics with IoT technology, allowing for controlled conditions like water volume and nutrient supply. The system favors fast growth of vegetables and fodder, eliminating the need for soil.
The project is computerized, enabling it to run without unnecessary human intervention. A digital pond system supplies crops with required nutrients, and the Mkulima Townie app allows farmers to monitor plant growth remotely.
"This system can monitor the environment of hydroponic devices in real-time and automatically transmit data on temperature, humidity, light intensity, water level, and pH through autonomous tweets notification and GSM (SMS)," Gatene explained.
The system includes a stand with pipes arranged in rows where plants grow. The IoT system controls temperature, water, nutrients, light, and pH, while the Mkulima app helps farmers monitor crops. Farmers can also use Twitter notifications to optimize conditions for plant growth.
Gatene's method of farming reduces growth cycles by half, allowing for faster crop production. In his trial, he grew strawberries, coriander, managu, mchicha, and other indigenous crops in a one-meter by two-meter space with eight pipes, yielding 90 pieces of crops.
"This method can also be used to grow crops like strawberries, which many people don't believe can grow in the Kenyan coast," Gatene noted.
The project won Gatene an award for promoting food security and nutrition during the Mombasa Agricultural show. He plans to start a big commercial setup in the future and has already sold four setups in Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
