Abstract:
In Uganda, the number of poultry farmers has increased greatly so the poultry sector has grown larger. There has been a tremendous expansion of the commercial poultry sector in the last three decades. Though free-range poultry still accounts for a greater population of poultry production in Uganda, some farmers have adopted the deep litter system. There is a need to maintain the environmental conditions in the poultry house to ensure good bird health hence good yields.
Most farmers in Uganda have not adopted modern farming techniques and still rely mainly on traditional methods of farming. These include building traditional poultry house structures, traditional air quality, and temperature control methods such as fire pots and depending on their noses to determine ammonia levels. These methods require a lot of human involvement for better poultry house conditions which is time-consuming, unreliable, and inaccurate thus posing a great risk to the birds.
The temperature, ammonia gas level detection and notification system includes a temperature, moisture, and ammonia sensor that detect temperature, moisture, and ammonia respectively. The results of each are then displayed on the LCD screen in real-time. The system also has a GSM that sends a notification to the farmer when the moisture and ammonia levels are beyond the threshold.
When the temperature levels are beyond 27°C, the fans are switched on to cool the poultry house. When it is below 27°C, the heater goes on to warm the poultry house. This ensures that the poultry house always has optimal environmental conditions hence good poultry yields.
