PepperSmart

Sri Lanka's economy heavily relies on agriculture, accounting for 45.46% of the nation's total land area in 2020. The World Bank's statistics on agricultural land in March 2023 provide current, historical, projections, and predictions. 30% of Sri Lankans work in the agricultural sector, despite the tropical nation's potential for crop growth. However, productivity and profitability issues hinder the sector's growth. To assist bell pepper growers in increasing crop yields and lowering losses, the PepperSmart programme employs a smart polytunnel technology. It employs machine learning to enable early identification and treatment of powdery mildew diseases via a smartphone application. Powdery mildew susceptibility rises with age in bell pepper plants, with older plants and mature lower leaves exhibiting the earliest signs. Live host plant tissue is necessary for the fungus' development and survival.

Fluffy white dots on the underbelly that might eventually become brown are early indications. By putting the leaf up to the light and keeping an eye on the mildew colonies, you may quickly identify early powdery mildew infections. This research led to the creation of a smart polytunnel system that can detect and assess plant powdery mildew disease in its early stages. With the use of this technology, crop yields and quality may be improved, increasing sustainability and profitability