Mimos Berhad, through its MEMS and Microsystem Centre, has come up with wireless sensor technology to help local farmers increase their produce and quality of produce. Izwan Ismail gets firsthand insights about the technology from the centre’s head Professor Dr Masuri Othman.

LOCAL farmers have been growing crops for years without having much technology

assistance. This has put them in a disadvantaged position, as without technology help it is hard for them to manage and determine the growth and quality of their crops. Now Mimos Berhad has developed a wireless sensor that enables them to produce better crops and link to agriculture intelligence.

The sensor, known as MEMS wireless sensor, is capable of helping farmers measure moisture, humidity, temperature, acidity, nitrate, phosphate and potassium in soil.

“These elements are vital to the growth of plants. If everything is in place or in the right amount or measurement, better crops can be produced,” said Professor Dr Masuri Othman, head of Mimos’ MEMS and Microsystem Centre.

The MEMS wireless sensor is a 30-inch pen-like probe. It is a hybrid technology that combines sensing devices, tacit knowledge, geographic information system, weather forecasting, decision support system and feedback control.

Masuri pointed out that even though such a measuring solution is already available in the market, the price is very high – RM3,000 per probe – and a few probes are needed to cover an acre of land.

“This is among the issues faced by local farmers. Present technology is too expensive for our farmers, but affordable to farmers in developed nations,” he said.

That’s why Mimos had designed the probe in such a way that it is priced at just RM100. The solution is expected to be available in the market next year.

“Mimos’ aim is to introduce precision agriculture to farmers where through this, farm income can be increased as a result of better crops,” Masuri said.

How it works. The MEMS wireless sensor comes with built-in artificial intelligence that

enables it to “tell” the farmer the condition of the soil.

“In short, if there is not enough water, fertiliser or the soil condition is too dry or wet, the device will transmit the information to the farmer for further action,” Masuri explained.

This will relieve the farmer from having to personally check every square inch of the agricultural land, making it easier for him to manage hundreds of acres of the plantation land.

The MEMS wireless sensor works by collecting data from the soil and transmitting it through an Internet protocol-based network to applications such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants and computers.

“The data collected will also be sent to a MimosView server and a management centre where it will be studied and stored for future reference,” Masuri said.

The wireless sensor system can be used in pre-sowing, sowing, growing, harvest and post-harvest, and suitable for agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture.

Commenting on the technology literacy level of local farmers to handle such an advanced tool, Masuri said Mimos is working on a user-friendly device that can be used by farmers.

Product development. Mimos is working together with three local universities to develop the MEM wireless sensor: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

For proof of concept, tacit knowledge in plants and knowledge database, the research body is working with UPM. UKM will deal with the fabrication of sensors and chemical sensors while USM will work on the microchip design and analogue mixed signal.

Once the product is ready, Masuri said Mimos will partner with agriculture organisations such as Felda and Mardi to distribute it to farmers across the country.