FarmDirect

Fresh Produce, Fair Futures!

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Inspiration

FarmDirect: Empowering Farmers through Technology Our global team of five (Indonesia, Kenya, Singapore, India, United States) was united by a desire to create a meaningful impact on the world. Inspired by the pressing issue of hunger and the belief that no one should suffer from it, we explored numerous ideas, from nutrition education to the gamification of farming. We settled on supporting farmers globally, starting with Indonesia, a decision driven by the country's diverse agriculture and our connection through a team member residing there. Our goal was to make existing technologies more accessible to farmers to help them improve their practices and market reach.

What it does: Our key features

We developed FarmDirect (our temporary code name), a platform that integrates AI, IoT, and blockchain to empower farmers with advanced yet easy-to-use tools for better crop management and market access. We also provided login-free access to the marketplace to explore farms and products.

AI-Powered Dashboard Offers real-time recommendations on what to grow based on market trends and sustainable practices, and how to grow based on the location, weather, crop data, and integrated IoT.

IoT Integration For the prototype, we simulated data entry for AI to test its capabilities. Full IoT integration remains a core future functionality.

Blockchain for Traceability Ensures product authenticity and simplifies transactions, enhancing trust and expanding market opportunities.

How we built it

AI Modeling We used LightGBM for its efficiency in handling multi-classification problems, applying it to recommend fertilizers based on various environmental factors.

Frontend Development Implemented using React and Vite.js, styled with Tailwind CSS, and enhanced with modules like React Helmet for SEO and D3 Speedometer for IoT simulation.

Blockchain Implementation Utilized Ethereum, Metamask, the Sepolia test network, and Solidity.

Product (UX) Design and Research Process We employed design thinking to brainstorm and select ideas, utilizing tools like the Jobs to Be Done framework and Value Proposition Canvas for user research. Our collaboration was facilitated by FigJam, Telegram, and Figma. We mapped out the farmer's journey, identified opportunities at each step, and strategized on leveraging technology and our expertise to support farmers. The design and flow were articulated through Figma and user stories, ensuring clear communication of our intentions.

** Business Research** We conducted thorough business research, crafting the business logic, exploring potential partnerships, and investigating various pricing models. We also identified essential resources needed for success and established a detailed timeline for implementation.

Challenges we ran into

Integrating complex technologies under tight time constraints was our primary challenge, compounded by the need to ensure seamless communication across different time zones. Through dedication and strategic planning, including daily meetings and consistent use of collaboration tools like Telegram, FigJam, and Figma, we overcame these hurdles. Transparency and cooperation were our guiding principles. *UI/UX Improvements: * We are addressing a few flow issues to ensure a smoother user experience. *Full AI and UI Integration: * We are working towards a seamless integration of AI functionalities with the user interface to enhance performance and usability. *Blockchain Enhancements: * Continuing to refine our blockchain integration with the front end to ensure stability and functionality.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud to have developed a testable interactive prototype that received positive feedback during initial user testing. Our achievements include implementing scalable blockchain functionalities with minimal input controls, developing a smart contract, and enabling testable transactions. We also crafted an AI model that effectively analyzes moisture and nutrient levels using open-source data, weather conditions, and simulated IoT inputs for a robust proof of concept as well as researched and developed a detailed business plan for future development.

What we learned

This project sharpened our skills in emerging technologies, business analysis, and cross-cultural communication. We learned the importance of focus and creativity in solving problems and the critical role of time management in delivering impactful solutions.

What's next for FarmDirect

We are committed to validating FarmDirect through extensive market testing with farmers and consumers. Our next steps include immersive user testing, interviews, and further research to refine our platform and truly meet the needs of Indonesian farmers and the global community.

Our tryout link is available for testing, along with a demo video that describes the functionality and a GitHub repository containing all project implementation details and an explanatory README file.

We welcome feedback to help us refine our approach and deliver a superior product. We are committed to resolving these issues promptly and effectively, ensuring FarmDirect meets the high standards our users deserve.

Built With

  • d3.js
  • etherium
  • lightgbm
  • metamask
  • react
  • sepolia
  • solidity
  • speedometer
  • styled-with-tailwind-css
  • tailwindcss
  • the-sepolia-test-network
  • vite.js
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