ALGIERS – Algeria is working to strengthen its food security and boost agricultural productivity, thanks to promising prospects and encouraging experiences in precision farming. According to studies, the agriculture based on artificial intelligence could save nearly 30% of water consumption worldwide, while increasing agricultural yields by 25%.
Precision agriculture involves gathering comprehensive data on crops, soil conditions, climate patterns, and environmental factors. This information is then processed using artificial intelligence to take appropriate decision, automatically or with human intervention. According to agricultural economist and AI trainer, Brahim Lekfal, ‘there are successful experiences in AI-based precision agriculture in the field of horticulture in Algeria.’ ‘These experiments have allowed quadrupling or even quintupling the yield of certain vegetables,’ he told APS, emphasizing the importance of artificial intelligence in preventing plant diseases.
He added that remote irrigation is also a useful field, as the intelligent program recognizes soil temperature and sends a notification to a remote phone application, which the farmer receives instantly to decide whether or not to start the irrigation process.
Among the promising experiences in precision agriculture is the ‘Sakai’ project launched by Nasser Bouziani and Mourad Bouzit, two Algerian researchers in robotics and physics established abroad. These are autonomous robots using solar energy to generate their own fuel and are used for irrigation and deep root fertilization, also allowing an adequate distribution of water and fertilizer.
This groundbreaking initiative has caught the attention of NASA and various Chinese research institutions, all eager to contribute to its advancement, the researcher notes.
The two researchers consider that adopting a system similar to ‘Sakai’ instead of drip irrigation and surface fertilization could reduce the early mortality rate of trees from 45% to 15%, especially since deep fertilization is environmentally friendly and allows for water conservation.
According to the explanations provided by the two innovators, one robot can irrigate and fertilize about 120 hectares. The scope of precision agriculture extends far beyond just irrigation, fertilization, and plant disease management. It encompasses the implementation of comprehensive farming systems that monitor and optimize every stage of the agricultural process.
Among the promising projects in this field are the modern farms that the ‘Souakri’ Group is preparing to launch soon in Algeria, with a Turkish partner to create a complete automation system equipped with artificial intelligence, controlling all stages of production of cherry tomatoes destined for export, Mourad Faci, project manager at the Group, said in a statement to APS.
Another success story is ‘Farm AI’, an Algerian startup that clinched the second-place spot in China’s international Tech 4 Good competition in 2023. Their innovative drone-based system for detecting plant diseases exemplifies the cutting-edge solutions emerging in this sector.
