Challenges and Insights: Deploying AI and IoT Hydroponics with Rural Farmers in South Africa

[Audio] Good Day, Today we'll be talking about the Challenges and Insights: Deploying (A-I ) and IoT Hydroponics with Rural Farmers in South Africa..

[Audio] Introduction. Introduction.

[Audio] Subsistence farmers are vital to South Africa's economy but face environmental challenges. Hydroponic farming offers soil-free growth, requiring skill and monitoring. The study deployed (A-I ) and IoT-enabled grow tents with farmers, achieving quick crop growth and reduced labor, but facing equipment failures and pests. The paper outlines lessons and future tech-farming improvements..

[Audio] Background and related work. Background and related work.

[Audio] Impact of Climate Change on Subsistence Farming in South Africa: Climate change threatens subsistence farming, increasing food insecurity and poverty among rural populations. Over four million South Africans rely on subsistence farming, which faces challenges like soil erosion and crop losses due to extreme weather. This drives interest in alternative methods such as hydroponics. Hydroponic Farming: Methods: Includes Ebb and Flow, Deep Water Culture (D-W-C--), Wick Systems, Drip Systems, Aeroponics, and Nutrient Film Technique (N-F-T--). Advantages: Larger yields, less water usage, and independence from natural climate conditions. Challenges: Requires technical skills, though (A-I ) can help automate tasks..

[Audio] Research Setting and participants Co-Design approach with technology probes System Design and Implementation Deployment Data Collection Data Analysis Limitations and ethical Considerations.

[Audio] Research Setting and Participants: Conducted in South Africa's K-Z-N and EC provinces, this study focused on Sweetwaters in K-Z-N--. Researchers from H-S-R-C recruited five subsistence farmers to deploy hydroponic tents, with varied demographics. Co-Design Approach with Technology Probes: The study involved farmers in the design and deployment of hydroponic grow tents, using flexible technology probes to understand needs and test technologies in real-world settings. They deployed an IoT and (A I ) enabled hydroponics tent and a mobile app for discussions on design requirements..

[Audio] Challenges: Co-design poses challenges like power differentials and unfamiliar materials, which need careful planning for better deployments. It's crucial to address the challenges in high-poverty, food-insecure rural areas. Involving local communities ensures culturally relevant technological solutions. Direct farmer engagement leads to practical solutions, bridging the gap between technology and local needs. Technology Probes allow low-pressure interaction with new technologies, encouraging feedback and solutions, avoiding overwhelming choices..

[Audio] System Design and Implementation: A fully enclosed hydroponic system with controlled environment features (temperature, light, humidity). IoT network and mobile app for real-time monitoring and adjustments. ML model (Random Forest Classifier) for system automation, trained with synthetic data due to the lack of real-world datasets. Designed to withstand power outages, ensuring sustainability..

[Audio] Grow Tents Deployment: Six (A-I ) and IoT-enabled hydroponic grow tents were created; four for subsistence farmers, two at research institutions. Deployed in Gqeberha and KwaZulu-Natal. Farmers from a quilting workshop monitored and maintained the tents, receiving training on functions and the mobile app. Involving local farmers in the implementation ensures better adoption and sustainability. Combining advanced technology with traditional farming can offer significant benefits, requiring thoughtful implementation. Deploying in real settings provides valuable insights. Farmers' feedback helps refine the system. Using familiar crops ensures relevance and practicality..

[Audio] Data Collection: Monitored pH levels, nutrient solutions, and functionality of components. Informal conversations provided valuable feedback. Gathered in-depth insights from farmers, with questions provided in advance and discussions recorded. Enabled continuous communication and support, with groups split by region for personalized interactions. Mobile data was provided to ensure seamless communication. This multi-faceted approach blends technology and human elements in research. It shows promise in addressing food insecurity by integrating modern technology with traditional farming..

[Audio] Data Analysis: Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze research notes, WhatsApp chats, and focus group transcriptions. Themes were generated based on farmers' experiences with hydroponic grow tents and refined with their input..

[Audio] Limitations and Ethical Considerations: Obtained in July 2023. Data is securely stored, with written notes digitized and destroyed. Verbal consent was sought, research goals discussed with farmers, and translators used to bridge language barriers. Consent was reaffirmed in all interactions. Each grow tent costs around ZAR 13000 (USD 694.46). Researchers provided and donated the equipment to ensure no cost to farmers. Researchers continue to optimize the system based on farmers' needs, donating grow tents post-study and providing open-source resources..

[Audio] Thematic analysis identifies common and unique farmer experiences, grounding insights in real-world interactions. Ethical clearance and secure data storage show commitment to ethical practices. Verbal consent and translators respect participants' comfort. Providing equipment free of charge ensures financial constraints don't hinder participation, promoting equitable research. Donating grow tents and offering ongoing support ensures long-term sustainability. Open-source resources encourage wider adoption and adaptation. Continuously working with farmers to optimize the system ensures alignment with their needs and feedback..

[Audio] Results. Results.

[Audio] (A I ) Human Symbiosis in the Field: Farmers monitored and managed hydroponic grow tents, addressing issues like pests, nutrient burn, and power outages. Their involvement was crucial. Farmers observed faster crop growth in hydroponic systems, requiring a shift in mindset about plant maturation and harvest timelines. Training sessions helped farmers understand the system's components and operations..

[Audio] Nature's Impact Beyond the Tent: Extreme weather in South Africa affected the hydroponic tents, causing damage and requiring relocation and manual interventions. A tent was destroyed in December, leading to relocation and further manual management. These led to issues like leaf spot and nutrient burn, requiring manual intervention. Pest infestations needed careful and knowledgeable.