Predictive Irrigation
Revolutionizing Irrigation with Predictive Insights
KijaniSpace is harnessing the power of Copernicus Earth Observation (EO) data and IoT technologies to enhance agricultural practices. Our Predictive Irrigation initiative demonstrates how cutting-edge technology can optimize water usage, improve crop health, and support sustainable agriculture in Africa.
How Predictive Irrigation Works
Smart Irrigation Platform
The initiative builds upon the existing “Smart Irrigation Platform,” developed by Waziup and IT21. This platform uses embedded sensors running lightweight AI models to provide real-time and predictive data on soil water content and plant water stress. Farmers receive highly accurate measurements and predictions that help them make informed irrigation decisions.
Integration with KijaniBox
The Smart Irrigation platform will be enhanced with features powered by KijaniBox:
- Integration of Sentinel satellite imagery for improved data interpretation.
- 14-day soil water predictions using AI and Meteoblue API.
- Regional drought risk map with satellite and IoT data.
We will use the OpenEO library and API to access raw satellite images and process them efficiently. These images, alongside IoT data, will train and refine the AI models used by the Smart Irrigation platform.
Pilot Validation
Locations
The pilot phase includes five farms: two in Kenya, two in Uganda, and one in Tanzania. These farms focus on maize and other produce and are supported by local partners ABPL, AIL, and SIDO.
Implementation
- Initial data collection to establish a baseline of farming practices and challenges.
- Deployment of prototypes, including one WaziGate IoT gateway, a weather station, and 4-8 tensiometers per farm.
- Daily AI model updates and evaluation using performance metrics such as R2 scores and Root Mean Squared Error.
Results and Demonstration
After validating the application in pilot farms, we will showcase the system to local farmers, demonstrating how predictive irrigation improves efficiency, reduces water waste, and enhances crop yields.