Harvesting Hope with AgriConnect: How AI is Uplifting Filipino Farmers
Imagine a small-scale rice farmer in the Philippines, battling daily with pests, unpredictable weather, and unstable markets. This has been the reality for countless farmers, but a revolutionary change is on the horizon thanks to AgriConnect, an AI-powered application developed by 21-year-old student, Soj Gamayon.
In the Philippines, agriculture is a vital sector, contributing around 8.9% to the nation’s GDP in 2024, or approximately PHP 1.78 trillion worth of crops like rice, corn, sugarcane, coconut and numerous fruits and vegetables. Farmers make up 25% of the employed population in the Philippines, or around 10.7 million people.
Filipino farmers face not only the usual agricultural challenges but also natural disasters. On average, the Philippines is hit by around 20 typhoons each year, with about eight or nine making landfall, bringing severe winds, torrential rains, and widespread flooding. These typhoons cause significant crop damage, erode soil, and disrupt planting and harvesting schedules, leading to substantial economic losses for farmers. The unpredictability and intensity of these storms exacerbate the already volatile nature of farming in the region.
“I wanted to create a tool that empowers our farmers, giving them a fighting chance against the challenges they face daily,” Gamayon said. “AgriConnect is my way of giving back to the community that shaped who I am.”
Growing up in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, Soj Gamayon comes from a farming family himself. A scholarship student at Ateneo de Manila University, he combined his studies in science, humanities, and business to address these challenges. His internships in marketing and venture capital, along with his participation in global case competitions, equipped him with the skills and insights needed to innovate and make a difference.
With the support of Microsoft’s AI and cloud solutions, he launched AgriConnect, which aims to bridge the technological gap in farming. AgriConnect translates complex agricultural data into a simple, intuitive warning system that guides farmers in making informed decisions.
The platform uses a color-coded system to communicate risks:
- Green: Safe
- Yellow: Caution (pests/weather could affect crops soon)
- Red: Act now (immediate action needed to prevent damage)
By providing real-time, data-driven decision-making tools, AgriConnect helps farmers optimize their resources, reduce the use of harmful pesticides, and improve crop resilience to climate change. This, in turn, enhances profitability and contributes to the overall economic growth of farming communities.
“AgriConnect was designed to be simple and accessible,” Gamayon said. “We wanted to make sure that even those with little tech experience could use it effectively.”
In preliminary interviews with 80 farmers and agribusinesses, 78 expressed strong interest in using AgriConnect.
AgriConnect uses Microsoft’s Azure cloud and AI to refine predictive models and extend its reach, benefiting more farmers in rural areas by processing large volumes of agricultural data. By utilizing Azure Machine Learning, the platform can analyze weather patterns, pest activity, and soil conditions in real-time, providing accurate and timely alerts to farmers. Furthermore, Microsoft’s Power BI tool facilitates the visualization of data in an easily understandable format, making it accessible to farmers with varying levels of technological proficiency.
If the application detects a temperature drop that could harm crops, farmers receive a yellow alert, prompting them to take precautions like covering plants. If a pest outbreak is imminent, the system issues a red alert, advising farmers to deploy pest control measures. These alerts are part of the platform’s color-coded system.
The platform aims to create a scalable, AI-powered infrastructure that supports local economies, fortifies food supply chains and promotes a sustainable future for agriculture.
AgriConnect won the Red Bull Basement competition in 2024, which is an international innovation program that empowers student innovators to use technology to drive positive change. This victory garnered significant exposure and support. With new funding and strategic partnerships, AgriConnect is expanding its reach, leveraging collaborations with Microsoft and other tech giants as well as agricultural businesses and non-profits.
“We envision a future where agriculture is resilient and sustainable, where farmers are empowered and hopeful,” Gamayon said. “By embracing innovation, we nurture both the land and the spirit of our nation.”
###