Expert Prediction System for Spice Plants Grown in Sri Lanka: An Incentive for Planters

Abstract

Spice is an element that brings unique identification to Sri Lanka. The taste that is inherent in Sri Lankan spices is the main reason for this unique identification. The demand for Sri Lankan spices is growing day by day in local markets as well as in markets overseas. The plantation of spice crops needs to be planned carefully as those add a significant contribution not only to the domestic consumption but also to Sri Lanka’s export income. Hence, the cultivation of spices should be done systematically to provide a supply that meets the demand. In most cases, large scale and small scale of these crop plantations are not successful. Therefore, assisting these spice planters to identify the most suitable location for crop growth has become a critical requirement in the agriculture sector of Sri Lanka. As there are no applications developed yet in Sri Lanka to support this requirement, researchers try to give a reasonable solution to fill this gap. ‘Mr. Masala’ mobile application was developed with aim of encouraging planters to cultivate spices successfully. This mobile application can be used to identify whether a selected location by a planter is suitable to grow the spice plant they expect to grow. This is done by measuring environmental conditions such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, sunlight and soil pH. Also, users would be able to get an approximate amount of crop productivity, production costs & income for the size of their land, measure the amount of fertilizers needed for soil preparation & maintenance, and amount of pesticides needed to control pests and diseases. Furthermore, spice planters can measure factors required for the growth of spices regularly, helping them obtain expected yields and profits.