Browsing by Author "Minga, Lusajo"

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    Development of Internet of Things-Based System for Monitoring and Controlling the Water Quality in Small-Scale Aquaculture.
    (MUST Journal of Research and Development (MJRD), 2022-12-28) Nyoni, Abbas; Minga, Lusajo; Kusyama, Sadiki Lameck
    Water quality is an essential factor for any successful aquaculture project. For high productivity from aquaculture, critical water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and turbidity must be kept in the optimum range. Temperature is the second-most critical water quality parameter after dissolved oxygen. Tropical fish prefer temperatures ranging from 250c to 320c. This study designed and implemented a system prototype for monitoring and controlling water temperature in an aquaculture environment based on the Internet of Things (IoT). The system comprises temperature sensors, a NodeMCU Esp8266 Microcontroller, a 2-channel relay switch, a liquid-crystal display, a cooling fan, a water heater, and a mobile application. The temperature sensor immersed in a fish pond collects the pond's temperature. The collected temperature data from fish ponds is sent to the microcontroller, a NodeMCU Esp8266, for processing and transmission to the cloud server. The Blynk Cloud IoT platform was used for data visualisation and controlling actuators. The system users could access data through the Blynk Mobile application installed on a smartphone. The system automatically switches ON the cooling fan to cool the water when the temperature is above 32oc and switches ON the water heater when the temperature is below 25oc. The system was tested both in the laboratory and in field to evaluate the system's performance in detecting pond temperature and data dissemination to the users. This study's findings have proved the system's capability in data acquisition with accuracy and efficiency. In addition, the results have shown that the system can effectively control pond temperature.
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    ICT Adoption and Access Among Small-Scale Tea Growers in Rungwe, Tanzania
    (Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), 2023) Madembwe, Peter; Kusyama, Sadiki; Minga, Lusajo
    Tanzania is known for its high-quality tea production, with Rungwe District being a major producer. Though the sector faces various challenges, including low productivity, limited market access, and poor quality, the adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is likely to solve these challenges and enhance the overall performance of the tea industry in Rungwe. However, there is a shortage of data on ICT usage in Africa, specifically in Tanzania. This paper intends to explore the extent to which ICT has been adopted among Tanzanian Small-Scale Tea Growers (SSTGs) in Rungwe district and its impact on the tea industry. The study found that SSTGs in Rungwe have been adopting various ICT tools and applications to enhance their tea production processes, access information on market trends and opportunities, and access knowledge and training. These tools include radios, television, mobile apps, the internet (online platforms and YouTube), and sensor-based technologies, which are used to monitor crop growth, soil moisture, and weather conditions. The tools have enabled farmers to make more informed decisions about their crop management and improve their yields. The adoption of ICT in small-scale tea production in Rungwe has had a positive impact on the sector, enhancing productivity and efficiency, improving market access, and increasing the income and livelihoods of SSTGs.