INTEGRATION OF ZIGBEE TECHNOLOGY IN FARMING IN SELECTED

AREAS OF DAVAO DE ORO

A Research Proposal Submitted to the

Science Review Committee of the Department of Education
Province of Davao de Oro

APRIL 2024
Summary

Food insecurity is a persistent global issue caused by natural factors.

Climate change, inefficient food sources and pests in crops all contribute to

the problem. Thus, this paper proposes approach to solve food management

by using Wireless Sensor Networks based on ZigBee Technology for Precision

Agriculture to address food insecurity.

Wireless Sensor Networks for Precision Agriculture is an innovative

approach that aims to ensure sustainable resource management by

effectively monitoring and managing crops which supports food production in

communities. This monitoring technique utilizes advanced sensors to collect

real-time data on crop health, quality, development, and other relevant

parameters. This motion will be implemented in four phases: Phase I-

Establishment of Baseline Data; Phase II- Designing of the System; Phase II-

Fabrication of the Prototype and Phase III- Implementation of the Prototype;

Phase IV- Implementation of the Prototype. In conclusion, Wireless Sensor

Networks for Precision Agriculture plays a vital role in ensuring the crops’

health and detecting early signs of crop disease to further assure efficient

food production of crops.

Background/Problem

Food insecurity and malnutrition arise from an imbalanced and

inequitable allocation of nutritious food stemming from inadequacies within

social, economic, political, and ecological aspects. Maternal and child

undernutrition are significant contributors to over 10% of the global disease

burden. The impact of undernutrition is particularly pronounced among

children under the age of 5, accounting for up to 45% of preventable

fatalities, predominantly in nations with low to moderate income levels. The

adverse health outcomes associated with excessive weight and obesity are

responsible for approximately 4 million deaths, representing 7.1% of all

mortality rates, as well as the loss of 120 million healthy life years. In 2017,

the worldwide prevalence of severe food insecurity stood at 10.2%, affecting

a staggering 770 million individuals (Alaimo et. al., 2020).

The global population has experienced rapid growth, leading to

significant pressure on both food production and natural resources (Sarvade

and Singh, 2014; Sarvade et al., 2014, as cited by Rajput et. al., 2022). Over

the past two decades, there have been notable advancements in technology,

improvements in income, and diversification of diets, all of which have been

facilitated by interconnected and globalized economies (IPCC, 2019). Despite

these positive developments, the world is still far from achieving the second

Sustainable Development Goal, which aims to eliminate hunger by 2030. In

fact, it is projected that around 37 countries will not even reach the level of

low hunger, as defined by the Global Hunger Index Severity, by 2030 (Table

11.1) (Grebmer et al., 2020; FAO, 2017a). According to a report by UNICEF in

2020, nearly 690 million people worldwide suffer from hunger, primarily due

to the high costs of food commodities and their limited affordability. This

unfortunate reality means that billions of individuals are unable to access

healthy and nutritious food.

Agriculture is the source of food and livelihood for communities in the

country. Once it faces challenges in crop production, it will lead to food

shortages and endanger vulnerable sectors. The Philippine Statistics

Authority (PSA) estimated that the population expansion rate of the

Philippines was 1.4 percent in 2019, while the agriculture sector experienced

a meager growth of 0.5 percent in late 2020. These statistics unmistakably

highlight the imbalance between food production and population growth, as

the rapid rate at which the population is increasing surpasses the capacity to

produce sufficient food.

The aforementioned problem of food insecurity prompted the

researchers to urgently propose this paper. This proposal would be highly

beneficial to small-scale farmers and communities in improving agricultural

productivity and increasing food supply.

Beneficiaries

This proposal will be highly beneficial to the following:

Department of Agriculture. This proposal will serve as a reference

for the said government agencies to tackle food insecurity due to low supply

of agricultural crops due to surge of pests and diseases.

Local Government Unit. This proposal will serve as a guide for the

department as a vital convenor or link for us to tackle the agricultural

concerns and food insecurity.

Local Residents. This proposal will serve as an awareness for the

local residents about the mentioned problem.

Farmers. This proposal will serve as information for farmers who

desire to address low crop production due to pest and disease infestation
 Other researchers. This proposal will serve as an advantage to the

future researchers as it will help them gain more knowledge and deeper

understanding on precision farming

Proposed Solution

Ensuring food security and addressing hunger and malnutrition are

efforts that must be emphasized to benefit numerous societies. This paper

presents a solution to this problem through the use of wireless sensor

networks for precision agriculture. This allows the farmers to detect early

signs of pests and diseases and assess the estimated yield of a common crop

in the Philippines, such as rice.

Agricultural production is influenced by natural resources, biotic

variables, agro-inputs, and management practices. Farmers often engage in

unregulated utilization of resources and inputs, leading to environmental

pollution, land degradation, and financial setbacks. Precision farming refers

to the utilization of GIS and GPS tools to gather comprehensive data on

various aspects of crop growth, health, yield, water absorption, nutrient

levels, topography, and soil variability. Precision agriculture utilizes various

technologies like sensors, GPS, GIS, the Internet of Things, drones, and more

to enhance the efficiency of natural resources and inputs in farming for

specific crop production and quality. The integration of digital agriculture

could lead to increased productivity and consistency in agriculture through

better resource and time management. This piece provides an overview of

precision agriculture, its key components, and the potential future impacts

(Sharma et. al., 2021).

 Early adopters of precision agriculture (PA) gain a competitive edge

over those who do not adopt this technology. Consequently, nonadopters find

themselves marginalized and may even be compelled to exit the market as

the industry consolidates (MacDonald et al., 2013, as cited by Erickson et. al.,

2021). With the increasing adoption of PA, the average cost of production

decreases, assuming all other factors remain constant. Consequently, crop

prices adjust downward in the long run due to the competitive dynamics of

the market, as seen with grains in the United States over several years of

technological advancements. The long-term impact of technological

innovations like PA is that consumers will have to allocate a smaller portion of

their income towards food, which undoubtedly contributes positively to food

security.

By acknowledging and addressing challenges, farmers and

stakeholders can work towards the widespread adoption of precision

agriculture, leading to improved crop productivity, resource management,

and environmental sustainability (Sharma, 2023). Food security's four main

principles, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United

Nations, are food availability, access, utilization, and stability. Precision

agriculture has an aspect unlike its predecessor innovations that were

primarily production-related: because it is based on information, it also has

the capacity to better inform and allow adjustment all along the food supply

and demand chain.

Methods

Phase Procedures
Phase I. Establishment of 1.1. Assessment of Soil Characteristics

Baseline Data Identify and map soil types and qualities

across the Rice Farm, with a focus on

essential factors including soil texture, pH,

nutrient content, and moisture. Collect data

on soil variability in the field to better

understand spatial patterns and prospective

areas for targeted management techniques.

1.2. Assessment of Environmental

Conditions

Measure temperature, humidity, light

intensity, and wind speed in the rice field.

Monitor microclimate changes and

environmental stressors that affect crop

health and yield, such as heat stress, water

stress, and pest outbreaks.

1.3. Analysis of Crop Growth and

Development

Crop growth and development are

monitored in real time, with data collected

on plant height, leaf area index, chlorophyll

content, and biomass accumulation. Analyze

the temporal and spatial variability of crop

growth phases and phenological events to

improve planting, irrigation, fertilization, and

 pest control methods.

1.4. Identification of Pest and Disease

Hotspots

Detect early indicators of infestation or

illness in crops to monitor pest and disease

levels. Collect data on pest population

dynamics, disease incidence, and crop

damage to identify hotspots and apply

targeted control actions, such as integrated

pest management plans.

1.5. Evaluation of Crop Water Use

Efficiency

Track water consumption and manage

irrigation schedules depending on crop water

requirements and soil moisture levels.

Assess crop water efficiency and productivity

to reduce water waste and improve drought

resilience in agricultural systems.

Phase II. Designing of the In this phase, the wireless network system

System will be constructed using Zigbee technology,

with three important components, each with

well-defined interfaces, adapting Keshtgari

and Deljoo's (2011) methodology. These

components include the Data Acquisition

Unit (DAU), Data Transfer Unit (DTU), and

Data Processing Unit (DPU), which are all

appropriate for monitoring the health of the

plants in the rice field.

1.1. Data Acquisition Unit

In this phase, the Data Acquisition Unit

(DAU), as shown in Figure 1, will be

developed for rice farming monitoring using

wireless sensor networks. It will include

various sensors placed across rice fields to

capture environmental parameters like

temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and

light exposure. Integration with ZigBee

technology will enable wireless

communication for real-time monitoring and

data transmission. The DAU will serve as the

foundation for acquiring crucial agricultural

data.

Figure 1: Data Acquisition Unit

1.2. Data Transfer Unit

We will build a strong wireless

 communication system using ZigBee

technology to enable seamless data transfer

from field sensors to the central processing

unit. This would enable consistent and

efficient transfer of agricultural data,

allowing for real-time monitoring and

analysis.

1.3. Data Processing Unit

Algorithms and analysis techniques will

be used to interpret the large amounts of

data generated by sensors. The DPU will be

the key hub for processing and analyzing

agricultural data, extracting important

insights to aid decision-making in rice

growing operations. In addition, user-friendly

software interfaces will be created to help

view and comprehend the data.

Phase III. Fabrication of the 2.1. Construction of the Prototype

Prototype The initial step is to gather all of the

necessary components and equipment for

the ZigBee-based network. A detailed

schematic layout will direct the methodical

assembly of circuitry on a prototyping board

or PCB, assuring optimal integration of

sensors, microcontrollers, and ZigBee

modules. Sensors will be connected to the

appropriate pins, and the wiring system will

be checked for integrity. 2.2. Validation

and Calibration

This includes testing and calibrating the

wireless network prototype to verify optimal

operation and accuracy. Each component,

including sensors, microcontrollers, and

ZigBee modules, will be thoroughly tested

under controlled environmental

circumstances. Measured results will be

compared to expected outcomes, and any

disparities will be corrected with changes

and optimizations.

2.3. Development of the User Interface

During this stage, a user-friendly

interface will be developed to visualize and

interpret data acquired by the wireless

sensor network. A platform for displaying

real-time data and alarms will be built with

software or web application development

tools. The interface will be created with

feedback from academics and others

involved in the agricultural monitoring

project, ensuring that it is intuitive,

 accessible, and adapted to their

requirements. End-user feedback will be

collected and used to improve the interface's

functionality and usability, allowing for more

effective data analysis and decision-making.

Phase IV. Implementation As part of the implementation of our wireless

of the Prototype systems, we will ensure that the components

are seamlessly integrated into the rice

farming environment. Implementation

specifics are provided below:

3.1 Implementation of the Data

Acquisition Unit

(a). Various sensors will be deployed across

the rice fields to capture environmental

parameters such as temperature, humidity,

soil moisture, and sunlight exposure.

(b). Data collected by the sensors will be

transmitted wirelessly using ZigBee

technology to the central processing unit.

(c). The DAU will utilize GPS technology to

provide precise location data for monitoring

and analysis of rice farming activities. This

will involve integrating GPS modules into the

sensor nodes for accurate data collection

and transmission.
3.2 Implementation of the Data

Transfer Unit

(a). The DTU will establish a wireless

communication network using ZigBee

technology, allowing seamless data transfer

from the field sensors to the central

processing unit.

(b). A wireless access point will be set up to

provide connectivity to the rice farming

environment, ensuring reliable data

transmission and communication between

the sensors and the central unit.

3.3 Implementation of the Data

Processing Unit

(a). Algorithms and analysis techniques will

be employed to process and interpret the

data collected by the sensors.

(b). A centralized computer system equipped

with GPS reader capabilities will serve as the

broadcasting platform for displaying and

archiving the collected data. This system will

utilize Python programs to read and analyze

both current and archived data, providing

valuable insights for rice farming

management.
Cost Analysis

Item Description Quantity Price Total

1. Soil Moisture 10 pcs Php 35.00 Php 3,500

Sensors

2. Analog to Digital LTC2323CUFD-

Converter 16#PBF Dual 1 pc Php 2,467 Php 2,467

16-bit SAR

ADCs

3. Field Altera FPGA

Programmable Gate EP4CE6F17C8 1 pc Php 1,581 Php 1,581

Array N, Cyclone

6272 Cells,

6272 Gates,

276480, 392

Blocks, 256-

Pin FBGA

4. Wireless LANS Wireless

 AC1200 Dual 1 pc Php Php 4,170.

Band AC 4,170.

Router 2.4GHz

and 5GHz

(DIR-842/ESG)

Overall Total Php

11,718

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