+60173309581
A research project designed to empower smallholder farmers through accessible artificial intelligence (AI) technology has earned international recognition for a student and academic from the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), demonstrating how technological innovation can be harnessed to create meaningful social impact.
Chennupati Sai Dheeraj, a Bachelor of Computer Engineering (Honours) student at APU, together with his mentor, Dr Mukil Alagirisamy, Assistant Professor at APU’s School of Engineering (SoE), received the Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Emerging Technologies in Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Information Systems & Cybersecurity (ICETCAI 2026) for their research titled “SMART FARM AI: A Hybrid Deep Learning Mobile Application for Real-Time Crop Monitoring and Interactive Farmer Support.”
Organised by Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Bidar, Karnataka, India, ICETCAI 2026 was held from 24 to 25 April 2026 and brought together researchers, academicians, and industry professionals from around the world to exchange ideas and showcase advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced computing, information systems, and cybersecurity.
Their award-winning paper stood out among 50 research submissions presented at the conference, earning recognition for its innovative approach to improving agricultural productivity and sustainability through technology.
Using AI to Empower Farming Communities
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, Dheeraj sought to address a challenge closer to society’s roots — agriculture.
Inspired by the belief that technology should benefit communities and improve lives, he embarked on a research journey to develop a practical solution that could help smallholder farmers gain access to advanced agricultural tools through a single mobile application.
The project was developed under the guidance of Dr Mukil Alagirisamy and with the continual encouragement of Professor Dr Siva Kumar Sivanesan, Head of the School of Engineering at APU, who advocates the importance of creating innovations that contribute positively to society.
The team envisioned a solution that combines several critical farming functions into one accessible platform. By integrating crop disease detection, soil-based crop recommendations, resource optimisation, and multilingual advisory support, the application enables farmers to make informed decisions that can improve crop yields, reduce resource wastage, and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Bringing Multiple AI Technologies into One Mobile Application
The primary objective of SMART FARM AI was to bridge the gap between sophisticated AI research and the practical needs of farming communities.
The mobile application incorporates four key AI-powered functions:
Crop Disease Detection: allows farmers to capture images of crops using a smartphone camera. A hybrid deep learning model then analyses the images to identify diseases across 38 crop categories.
Soil Analysis and Crop Recommendation: evaluates soil conditions using a Random Forest classifier and recommends crops best suited to the available land.
Resource Optimisation: employs a Genetic Algorithm to determine the ideal amount of fertiliser and water required for each field, helping farmers maximise productivity while minimising waste.
Trilingual Chatbot Support: enables farmers to communicate in English, Malay, or Tamil to obtain farming advice and answers to agricultural questions.
To ensure accessibility in rural environments, the entire system was developed using a Flutter mobile front-end and FastAPI back-end. The deep learning model was compressed through quantisation to only 11.9 MB, enabling the application to operate directly on smartphones without requiring internet connectivity.
By consolidating multiple technologies into a single lightweight platform, the project demonstrates how advanced AI can be made practical, affordable, and accessible for underserved communities.
International Recognition and Valuable Learning Experiences
For Dheeraj, presenting at an international conference while still pursuing his undergraduate studies was both a significant achievement and a transformative learning experience.
“Participating in the conference was an immensely rewarding experience. The online format facilitated seamless networking with researchers and academicians from across India, Malaysia, and other parts of the world, providing a unique opportunity to connect with leading professionals in the field,” he shared.
He particularly valued the opportunity to engage with experts who provided insights that would help shape the future development of the project.
“The questions and constructive feedback I received during the session not only enhanced my understanding of edge-AI for agriculture but also encouraged the development of new ideas for my ongoing work,” he added.
Beyond the award itself, the experience reinforced his belief that technology can be a powerful force for social good.
A Future Driven by Purpose
Receiving international recognition has further strengthened Dheeraj’s determination to continue developing innovative solutions that address real-world challenges, particularly in agriculture and community development.
Reflecting on his journey, he emphasised the importance of perseverance, curiosity, and meaningful mentorship in achieving success.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr Mukil Alagirisamy for her unwavering guidance, to the School of Engineering at APU for their continuous encouragement, and to the organising committee of ICETCAI 2026 for the opportunity to present and the honour of receiving the Best Paper Award,” he said.
Proud of his mentee’s accomplishment, Dr Mukil Alagirisamy remarked, “Dheeraj’s achievement exemplifies APU’s commitment to nurturing not only technologically competent graduates, but also socially conscious innovators who are driven to use technology for the greater good.”
Through strong academic mentorship, industry-relevant learning, and a culture that encourages innovation with purpose, APU continues to shape future-ready graduates who combine technical excellence with compassion, creating solutions that improve lives and contribute meaningfully to society.