AgriConnect uses AI to uplift Filipino farmers
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Pinoy-made AI program AgriConnect is set to help farmers monitor their crops with the power of artificial intelligence.
AgriConnect is the brainchild of Soj Gamayon, a 22-year-old BS Communications Technology Management student from the Ateneo De Manila University.
READ: Aldrin ‘Soj’ Gamayon first-ever Filipino Red Bull Basement champ
Preliminary interviews with 80 farmers and agribusinesses showed 78 with strong interest in using AgriConnect.
AgriConnect empowers Filipino agriculture
Growing up in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, Gamayon understood the hardships farmers faced, especially natural disasters.
Around 20 typhoons hit the Philippines annually, with about eight or nine making landfall. They bring severe winds, torrential rains, and widespread flooding.
As a result, these storms damage, erode soil, and disrupt planting and harvesting schedules, causing farmers to suffer economic losses.
“I wanted to create a tool that empowers our farmers, giving them a fighting chance against the challenges they face daily,” Gamayon said.”
“AgriConnect is my way of giving back to the community that shaped who I am.”
With the support of Microsoft’s AI and cloud solutions, he launched this AI tool that translates complex agricultural data into an intuitive warning system.
Multi-spectral IoT (Internet of Things) sensors collect data, such as soil moisture, water levels, and pests.
Then, the sensors send the data to the AgriConnect mobile app, which compiles and simplifies them into three colored risk categories:
- Green: Safe
- Yellow: Caution (pests/weather could affect crops soon)
- Red: Act now (immediate action needed to prevent damage)
Farmers can follow these color codes to improve crop resilience accordingly. Consequently, it boosts their profitability and contributes to the overall economic growth of Filipino farming.
Agriculture is a vital sector as it contributed roughly 8.9% to the Philippines’ GDP in 2024. It represents approximately ₱1.78 trillion worth of crops like corn, rice, sugarcane, coconut, and other produce.
Also, farmers make up 25% of the Philippines’ employed population, which numbers around 10.7 million people.
“We envision a future where agriculture is resilient and sustainable, where farmers are empowered and hopeful,” Gamayon said.
“By embracing innovation, we nurture both the land and the spirit of our nation.”
