A team of six students from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has won second place at the FCMB Agrictech Hackathon 2024, earning an impressive prize of two million Naira for their groundbreaking AI-driven crop disease detection device. Discover more about their incredible innovation and how it could revolutionize farming in Nigeria.
Six ABU Students Win N2 Million for Creating AI Crop Disease Detector
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has once again made waves as six of its students claimed the second spot in the prestigious FCMB Agrictech Hackathon 2024.
This remarkable achievement earned them a cash prize of two million Naira, a testament to their innovative thinking and problem-solving skills in tackling agricultural challenges.
The Game-Changing CropDiseaseDetector
The ABU team developed an AI-based tool, aptly named CropDiseaseDetector, designed to assist farmers in northern Nigeria with early crop disease detection.
This affordable and easy-to-use device operates in real-time, even in offline conditions, making it especially useful for rural areas with limited connectivity.
The CropDiseaseDetector not only identifies a wide range of diseases affecting crops common to northern Nigeria but also provides practical solutions to farmers. The device is designed to be scalable, meaning it can be adapted for different crops and disease patterns in various regions. By offering tailored advice, it ensures that farmers receive relevant information based on their specific crops and local conditions.
Recognition at the Primrose Tower Award Ceremony
The award ceremony took place at FCMB’s Head Office, Primrose Tower, in Lagos, on Monday, 30th September 2024. At the event, Sufiyanu Ibrahim from the Department of Computer Engineering proudly received the award on behalf of the ABU team and the university.
The award is a reflection of the students’ hard work, dedication, and passion for improving Nigeria’s agricultural sector through innovative technology.
Meet the AgroGuardians Team
The six-member team, dubbed AgroGuardians, includes students from various academic backgrounds, bringing together expertise from different fields to create a comprehensive agricultural solution:
- Sufiyanu Ibrahim: Department of Computer Engineering
- Hadiza Mohammed: Department of Computer Science
- Salim Babangida: Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering
- Lawal Uzairu: Department of Electrical Engineering
- Abubakar Taufik: Faculty of Agriculture
- Abdulfattah Omisanya: Department of Agricultural and Bio-resources Engineering
This blend of engineering, agricultural, and computing expertise allowed the team to develop an effective solution for addressing the crop disease challenges faced by farmers in Nigeria.
FCMB Agrictech Hackathon’s Role in Tackling Agricultural Challenges
The FCMB Agrictech Hackathon is an initiative aimed at addressing key challenges in the agricultural sector. These challenges include inadequate funding for agricultural research, poor infrastructure for crop storage and transportation, limited access to credit for smallholder farmers, and the low adoption of technology in agriculture.
With over 1,400 entries from teams, businesses, and developers from more than 20 countries, the competition serves as a global platform for generating impactful solutions to agricultural problems.
The AgroGuardians not only secured second place but also contributed to enhancing agriculture in Nigeria by leveraging cutting-edge technology. Their CropDiseaseDetector promises to be a game-changer, helping farmers produce healthier crops and boosting overall farming productivity.