AI-based app unveiled in Dubai to help farmers detecting crop disturbances

  • Date: 14-Dec-2022
  • Source: Gulf News
  • Sector:Agriculture
  • Country:UAE
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AI-based app unveiled in Dubai to help farmers detecting crop disturbances

Dubai: A new AI-powered mobile application for detecting crop disorders was unveiled by Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, during a ceremony at the headquarters of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA). Called Dr. Nabat, the application is a result of collaboration between ICBA and the University of Barcelona, Spain, under a project titled "Developing a user-friendly mobile application for smallholder farmers to detect plant disorders". Created with the support of local partners in Egypt, Tunisia, and the UAE, the application is designed to aid smallholder farmers and extension specialists in spotting crop disorders at early stages, and thus minimising yield losses and improving incomes. It can identify 18 different common disorders affecting tomato, capsicum, and cucumber. These cash crops are considered important for smallholder farmers who practice protected agriculture. Almheiri said: "This app is a prime example of how we can harness the power of technology to address pressing concerns. In the face of ever-rising challenges, with climate change at the forefront, we believe that technological interventions will optimise agricultural practices, enhance harvest quality and quantity, and notably improve the lives of farmers. "We are confident the app will prove to be a