IoT-Based quality monitoring system for Cassava value chain

Abstract

Internet of Things refers to the overall network of linked devices as well as the technology that enables communication between connected devices and the cloud as well as within each individual device. It is flexible and is the best technology to adopt to enhance agricultural production and reduce poverty and hunger while protecting the environment. Cassava is an agricultural product that Sab-Saharan Africa's people consume much, especially in Rwanda. It provides consumable products such as roots and leaves. Roots provide cassava flour once prepared industrially and can be kept in stores before being distributed to consumers. However, some conditions like Ph, moisture, temperature, and humidity may degrade the quality of the cassava flour in the stores, and consuming highly contaminated flour should harm the life of the consumers. The Current solutions are a manual-based system where industries, after receiving and processing cassava from farmers, store the product in an environment from which it will be taken for sale. The changes in environmental conditions are not controlled, which causes the flour and other cassava-derived products to lose their quality, and sometimes consumers are exposed to harmful products. This study aims to implement an IoT-Based prototype to monitor the quality of the cassava value chain and provide massive and high-quality products without any loss and ensure environmental protection. The system comprises 4 ports where sensors such as PH, Temperature and Humidity, CO2, NH3, NPK, and Moisture content are plugged to measure any parameter. The results are displayed on the device's LCD and sent to the cloud for storage, analysis, and visualization and the owner of the cassava products via mobile phone. Since cassava constitutes a crucial food cultivated, sold, and consumed across Africa, particularly in Rwanda, some environmental conditions may occur and degrade the product by exposing it to harming consumers and waste some quantities in the environment; During testing, the results were that, during farming, the set of the values(Humidity, ph, temperature, NPK) detected by the system is called "data." The decision is made as follows: data<=100% and data>=67%; the soil is good for cassava. Whenever data is not in the above mentioned range, then the view on LCD is soil is bad for cassava. During processing, the set of the values(Humidity, ph, temperature, color, and smell) detected by the system are called “iss.” The decision is made as the following: iss<=100% and iss>=70%, the cassava flour quality is high. When iss<=79% and iss>=50%, the cassava flour quality is Medium, and Finally, when iss<50, the quality of cassava flour is low, and the harmful environmental gases display. The decision made at the processing level is the same at the market level. During transportation, the high or low temperature is detected, the sound is played, and the message is sent to the truck driver's phone to take action. The implemented system significantly impacts the community by increasing the income and safety of the environment, health and safety of the people, and decreasing waste, which is also the solution to climate change