Maseru, Feb. 17– In a ground-breaking innovation, two students from the National University of Lesotho (NUL), Khotso Moholobela and Motena Sekhonyana, have developed an app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect crop diseases in real-time. The app, called PhytoDetect, is a game-changer for farmers worldwide, particularly in rural areas where crop losses due to unknown diseases are common.
PhytoDetect, uses cameras and drones to monitor crops. The system is solar-powered, and the cameras are connected to a 4G network. Drones fly over the fields, taking pictures that are sent to an AI system for analysis.
When a disease is detected, the farmer receives an alert on their phone, along with a color-coded map of their fields that indicates areas of concern. Green indicates healthy crops, yellow suggests potential issues, and red indicates the need for immediate action.
PhytoDetect currently identifies diseases in tomatoes, peppers, and maize, including Pepper Bacterial Spot, Pepper Fusarium, Corn Cercospora Leaf Spot, Tomato Mosaic Virus, and Tomato Late Blight. The team is also expanding the app’s capabilities to detect a wider range of diseases. . .
