Design and construction of a small-scale solar powered automated aquaponic system :

Abstract

Food security is a major challenge in Uganda with nearly 29% of the population undernourished or malnourished (UBOS, 2020) furthermore, majority of the population relies on subsistence farming with over 80% of the population relying on agriculture for their livelihoods (Mugabi & Kakuru, 2019). Traditional farming methods such as intercropping, cover cropping and integrated crop-animal farming among others, are often inefficient and unsustainable. Additionally, climate change and unpredictable weather patterns have made it increasingly difficult for farmers to grow crops. To address these challenges, there is a need for innovative and sustainable farming methods that can improve food security and reduce environmental impact. Aquaponics has the potential to address some of these challenges by providing a sustainable and efficient method of food production that requires smaller amounts of water and fertilizer (organic) compared to traditional farming methods. However, the adoption of aquaponics in Uganda is still limited because aquaponics systems can be complex and challenging, requiring constant monitoring and adjustment of environmental factors such as water quality, temperature, and pH. Therefore, this project aims at integrating IoT sensors and controllers in the design of an affordable aquaponics system to enable real-time monitoring and management of the key parameters Furthermore, a solar energy powering system will be integrated into the aquaponics system to reduce operating costs and increase resilience to power outages and disruptions.