By Ayo Arowojolu
A Don at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Bukola Onashoga has developed an Application named PlantDoctor with her team to provide automated diagnosis of plant diseases, built majorly on Artificial Intelligence methodologies.
This scientific breakthrough formed part of the highpoints of presentations during the just-concluded IT Assembly of the Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN) held in Abuja from Wednesday 24th April to Thursday 25th April.
The theme of the 2024 gathering was: “Artificial Intelligence: An Enabler for Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development”
Onashoga, a Professor of Computer Science and Cybersecurity was on ground in Abuja with the project team of the TechNetSpace, drawn from different specializations in Universities across the nation notably, Dr. Vivian Nwaocha from NOUN, Dr. Ismail Aderolu from UniAbuja and Dr. ‘Jube Falana from FUNAAB. TechNetSpace team comprises Tech Experts that build different solutions leveraging on Artificial Intelligence tools
PlantDoctor is expected to proffer solutions to challenges of food shortages attributed to lack of plant disease detection, diagnosing system and literacy levels of farmers, as a way of curbing the menace of food insecurity and shortages in Nigeria.
The application is built on Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNN), which serves as the foundation for cutting-edge image recognition.
“With the current deployment of the training model, there is a clear indication that DCNN is feasible in the detection of diseases”, she described. Dr. Falana unfolded the AI methodologies behind the running of the application
Prof Onashoga further explained that
PlantDoctor has been established as the solution for plant disease detection based on the acceptability level of farmers on visitation.
Dr. Nwaocha in her presentation appreciated TETFUND and FUNAAB for supporting the development of the application. She, however, appealed to investors to further partner with TechNetSpace team in bringing PlantDoctor to the digital market space for accessibility.
For his part, Prof. Oludele Awodele, a Professor of Artificial Intelligence, adjudged the application as highly innovative and capable of identifying diseases at early stages, even before symptoms appear.
Prof Awodele further
emphasized the need for Government agencies and industries to collaborate with the team for full development and deployment of
the system being a valuable tool for plant disease management.
Notable dignitaries at the event were Engr (Mrs.) Jennifer Adigihije, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Entrepreneurship Development in Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy; Senator Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrimes; Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Managing Director, Pearls Learning Hub.; the Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu; Melainie Ayoola, the Executive Director of IOT Africa; Prof. Charles Uwadia, the Past President of NCS and Mr. Tunde Izichi, the Chairman of NCS BoT amongst others.
