AI-Powered Smart Agriculture Begins in Kocaeli

September 28, 2026 · Tarım TV

The Smart Agricultural Pest Control Project, launched in collaboration with Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, and MARKA, has initiated an AI and drone-supported production period across 5,000 decares in Kandıra.

The Smart Agricultural Pest Control Project, prepared in cooperation with Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality and the Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, with the support of the East Marmara Development Agency, has officially commenced implementation. This comprehensive initiative, aiming to increase agricultural productivity across the city, also seeks to reduce input costs, one of the biggest burdens for producers. The project, integrating artificial intelligence and advanced technological tools, lays the foundation for a sustainable production model by transforming traditional farming practices with modern methods.

Intensive work is underway in specific neighborhoods of the Kandıra district, designated as the pilot region for the project's initial field applications. Within this scope, agricultural lands are being scanned in detail from the air using drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, collecting high-resolution data on plant health. Following the evaluation of the obtained multispectral and digital images by expert software, the aim is to provide farmers with precise, parcel-specific recommendations for care and protection.

The implemented system aims to make the use of agricultural pesticides and chemical fertilizers much more controlled. Through smart pest traps to be deployed in the field, insect and pest populations will be continuously monitored with digital sensors. Data collected from these traps will be combined with satellite and drone imagery to create an early warning infrastructure. This will enable farmers to take rapid action by detecting diseases before they spread across the fields, thus preventing potential yield losses.

As part of the project, a dedicated mobile application will be launched, easily accessible to producers via their smartphones. Farmers will be able to access real-time information on their parcel's soil analyses, plant nutrition programs, and disease risks through this platform. The AI-powered system will provide digital agricultural consultancy to producers at all hours of the day. Producers will gain the ability to solve field-related problems with data-driven scientific analyses, enabling them to intervene correctly and at the right time.

Applying chemical pesticides and fertilizers only to the areas where needed and in the required amounts will directly contribute to the protection of soil structure and groundwater resources. According to information shared by the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, 5,000 decares of agricultural land have been included in the scanning program in the first phase of the project. Following the successful completion of the pilot region's applications, the system will be gradually expanded to cover the entire Kocaeli province, based on the outcomes achieved.

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