DECISION-MAKING is central to many sectors, including agriculture.
For farmers, making informed decisions is vital to improving crop yields, reducing resource wastage and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Seeking to empower smallholder farmers, an Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) duo devised a solution that provides access to advanced agricultural tools for crop disease detection, soil-based crop recommendations, resource optimisation and multilingual advisory support.
The research project – developed by Bachelor of Computer Engineering (Honours) student Chennupati Sai Dheeraj under the guidance of his mentor, APU School of Engineering (SoE) assistant professor Dr Mukil Alagirisamy, with the encouragement of APU SoE head Prof Dr Siva Kumar Sivanesan – recently received recognition at the International Conference on Emerging Technologies in Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Information Systems & Cybersecurity (ICETCAI 2026).
Titled Smart Farm AI: A Hybrid Deep Learning Mobile Application for Real-Time Crop Monitoring and Interactive Farmer Support, the research clinched the Best Paper Award at the event organised by Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College in Bidar, Karnataka, India, from April 24 to 25.
The project stood out among 50 research submissions presented at the conference, which brought together researchers, academics and industry professionals from around the world to exchange ideas and showcase advancements in AI, machine learning, advanced computing, information systems and cybersecurity.
Dheeraj said receiving the international recognition has strengthened his determination to continue developing innovative solutions that address real-world challenges, particularly in agriculture and community development.
Reflecting on his journey, he emphasised the importance of perseverance, curiosity and meaningful mentorship in achieving success.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr Mukil for her unwavering guidance, to the SoE for its continuous encouragement, and to the organising committee of ICETCAI 2026 for the opportunity to present the research and for the honour of receiving the Best Paper Award,” he said in a June 15 press release.
Dheeraj’s research journey stemmed from his belief that technology should benefit communities and improve lives.
The mobile application he and his mentor envisioned incorporates four key AI-powered features designed to address several critical farming needs.
The crop disease detection feature allows farmers to capture images of crops using a smartphone camera, after which a hybrid deep learning model analyses the images to identify diseases across 38 crop categories.
The soil analysis and crop recommendation feature evaluates soil conditions using a random forest classifier and recommends crops best suited to the available land.
The resource optimisation feature employs a genetic algorithm to determine the ideal amount of fertiliser and water required for each field, helping farmers maximise productivity while minimising waste.
The trilingual chatbot enables farmers to communicate in English, Malay or Tamil to obtain farming advice and answers to agricultural questions.
To ensure accessibility in rural environments, the system is designed to run directly on smartphones without requiring an Internet connection.
Dheeraj said presenting at an international conference while still pursuing his undergraduate studies was an “immensely rewarding experience”.
“The online format facilitated seamless networking with researchers and academics from across India, Malaysia and other parts of the world, providing a unique opportunity to connect with leading professionals in the field.
“The questions and constructive feedback I received during the session not only enhanced my understanding of edge AI for agriculture but also encouraged the development of new ideas for my ongoing work,” he said.
Expressing pride in her mentee’s achievement, Mukil said it exemplifies APU’s commitment to nurturing not only technologically competent graduates, but also socially conscious innovators who are driven to use technology for the greater good.
