AgriSENSE: Students of Caraga State U invent device for precision agriculture
By Renelle L. Escuadro
Despite the world turning digital, farming has always been a challenging race against time, nature, and information since many Filipino farmers still rely on instinct rather than data. In this familiar struggle, these learners dared to ask a simple question: What if we could hear what the soil is trying to say?
They took on the mission, turned farmers’ endless guessing into certainty, and placed the power of data directly in the hands of farmers through AgriSENSE, solving the time-consuming process of soil testing and planning. Instead of waiting weeks for laboratory results, farmers can receive instant guidance on soil health, crop suitability, and fertilizer application.
It not only streamlines farming but also introduces the concept of technology-assisted farming, inspiring younger generations to innovate.
“Using sensors to read the soil’s nutrient profile and an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven processing unit, AgriSENSE analyzes the soil and automatically provides farmers with essential information, including soil health, suitable crops, and the type and amount of fertilizer needed for optimal growth,” Alejandria said.
“Unlike other soil-monitoring devices, AgriSENSE does more than observe—it advises,” he added. “It gives crop recommendations and fertilizer application suggestions, empowering farmers to make data-driven decisions, instead of relying solely on guesswork or delayed laboratory results.”
Meanwhile, Galindo shared the journey of their invention and their dream of scaling up the device, collaborating with agricultural experts, and eventually deploying it in the country to uplift the lives of the farmers and contribute to food security and nation-building.
“Today, AgriSENSE is in its prototype development phase. Testing, refining, and improving the device are ongoing,” said Galindo. “The goal remains clear – to bring AgriSENSE to communities and make it useful and relevant, especially to the farmers who are the inspiration behind the invention.”
Accordingly, their persistence led them to obtain accolades far beyond the Caraga region and paved the way for them to introduce their masterpiece internationally.
They presented AgriSENSE at the Electrical and Electronics Engineers (EEE) 9th International Artificial Intelligence and Data Processing Symposium in Türkiye (Malatya) and the Republic of Korea (Seoul), as well as at local competitions like the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits by Cluster (ClCusteRIE) – Mindanao Cluster.
For the student-innovators, AgriSENSE is more than just an invention; it’s a testament to education meeting empathy for every Filipino farmer who does the hard work and plants crops with faith. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from CSU-The Gold Panicles)
