Design of an IoT based automated Aquaponics system to provide a sustainable farming solution in Pakistan

The population of Pakistan mostly depends on the agriculture for its occupation. Most of them are poor farmers who produce basic grains such as wheat, chickpeas and pulses. Other crops such as vegetables, herbs and/or legumes, would result in better returns, but are not grown due to s

Project Title

Design of an IoT based automated Aquaponics system to provide a sustainable farming solution in Pakistan

Project Area of Specialization

Internet of Things

Project Summary

The population of Pakistan mostly depends on the agriculture for its occupation. Most of them are poor farmers who produce basic grains such as wheat, chickpeas and pulses. Other crops such as vegetables, herbs and/or legumes, would result in better returns, but are not grown due to shortage of land. Also lack of irrigation systems, and continual increases in the cost of Agrochemicals, has resulted in nutrient imbalances. The resulting reality faced by small farmers is bleak. A majority remains below the poverty line and furthermore suffer from health problems. 

The goal of the project proposed here is to give farmers options to diversify their crops by introducing them to new production method, Aquaponics, which will provide opportunities for increased income and increased dietary intake of protein micronutrients. Aquaponics is the co-culture of fish and vegetables in a recirculating bio-filter based system. Since water is supplied to the vegetables from the bottom of the bio filter, evaporative losses are significantly reduced, allowing vegetables to be grown in a climate that cannot support conventionally grown vegetables. Moreover, the conversion of fish raised by the bio filters in forms of nitrogen suitable for the plant intake eliminates the need for the application of costly fertilizers. Aquaponics is an innovative organic production method which is well suited for use in developing countries relying on short supplies of water and sustainable production methods. 
The project proposed here will be a domestic size Aquaponics system, which will be based on IoT sensors to monitor the nutrients levels in the water of fish tank and automatically providing the fish food in the water. IoT sensors will also be responsible for monitoring the water purification levels and nutrients in the water for plants. There will be temperature sensors in the fish tanks and water level montoring will also be done and in order to mantain the water level automated system will fill the tank in case of drop in the water level. All of the data from the sensors will be transmitted in real time to an android module with a designed app. The app will be able to control the water levels, humidity, light in the fish tank and fish food.

Project Objectives

• Implementation of IoT based automated Aquaponics system.
• To have means of gathering real time data of a system while providing full control over all processes.
• To advise action based on it using which a professional can decide the mode of action (change in atmospheric parameters or variation in plants type etc)

Project Implementation Method

A portable, cost effective and smart system will be implemented which challenges the conventional methods.

The system will be designed with the following characteristics: 

• Portable
• Easy to use
• Inexpensive Locally manufactured with readily available resources
• Able to be widely manufactured without burdening economy

The structure of whole system includes tanks, sensors and motors for fishing and farming environment. The sensors are required in order to measure the nutrients in the system, Ph vale of water, light, temperature etc. The sensors will be installed in the fish aquarium, plants tank etc. The data from sensors will be collected using a microcontroller and will be displayed on an Android/IOS app. This data will be used to predict the required mode of actions.

Benefits of the Project

• Due to rapid urbanization, land resources for agriculture has been decreasing therefore this project will enable the users to start growing their food/plants in the vicinty of their homes/terraces/ rooftops etc.
• Rapid growth of human population has also increased the demand for food, the lack of food canbe overcome by growing your own food and become self sufficient.
• Traditional agriculture methods for growing plants require huge land space, time, and manpower, whereas this project needs less space, time and man power.
• The shortage of water will be a reason of wars between the nations in the coming years. This project focuses on conservation of water and using the water in cyclic form thus conservating it.

• The farmers who participate in the project would have more economic opportunities and dietary diversities.

• The women would be empowered by the opportunity to manage the system, and worthwhile to mention the multiplier effect of the training that would result in the knowledge transfer from the institution to the community and once the village effect comes into play we expect inclination of the local community towards Aquaponics.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The system consists of two sub systems, one biofilter, one mechanical filter and one sump tank. Sensors and actuators will be installed at each stage of the system. Two sub systems are aquaculture system and hydroponics system. Aquaculture system contains fishes and hydroponics system contains plants. As there is water and fishes in the aquarium, water will be polluted by the fishes’ waste. After certain threshold, that water will enter into the mechanical filter where mechanical waste will be removed in a bin. Then water will enter in the biofilter where fishes waste will be converted into useful fertilizers through nitrifying bacteria. The solution of water and fertilizer will enter in the hydroponics system where plants will absorb water and fertilizers for their growth. Water will then enter back into the aquarium. So, this is cyclic process where water wastage is minimum. There will be an app where user can monitor each process of the whole system and can manually control the system. System is completely automated and user friendly. Sump tank is for water storage which will be used when there will be water losses through evaporation.

Final Deliverable of the Project

Hardware System

Core Industry

Agriculture

Other Industries

Core Technology

Internet of Things (IoT)

Other Technologies

Sustainable Development Goals

No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production

Required Resources

If you need this project, please contact me on contact@adikhanofficial.com