Smallholder farmers in Africa face significant crop losses from pests, weeds, and degraded soils, leading to poverty and food insecurity.
The International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) developed the Push-Pull solution, but its Multimedia University of Kenya SIGHT SB is working to make the project practical and usable within local constraints
. Students from the IEEE SIGHT Multimedia University of Kenya Student Branch, in partnership with the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), are developing a low-cost, solar-powered IoT system to monitor soil health (moisture, NPK, pH, temperature) for smallholder farmers adopting Push-Pull technology. The approach emphasizes clear results, feasibility, and long-term value for the community it serves. The goal is to reduce environmental risk while supporting safer, more sustainable practices in the settings this work targets.
The project is from the student team and was made possible by $3,600.00 in funding from The Industry Applications Society, an EPICS in IEEE Partner.