5G and Artificial Intelligence Initiative in Turkish Agriculture
· Sabah Ekonomi
Fields are connecting to digital networks with precision agriculture sensors, a 5G pilot site in Çorum, and the AI-powered FATGES application developed in Batman.
Digital Transformation Initiative Begins in Agriculture
Digital infrastructure projects are accelerating nationwide to increase efficiency and sustainability in agricultural production processes. BuluTT business solutions and M2M services offered by Türk Telekom to corporate customers have been directly made available to producers operating in the agriculture and livestock sectors. Thanks to the advanced technology solutions developed, real-time monitoring of planting areas and greenhouses has become easier. Soil moisture levels, regional weather conditions, and plant health data can be collected directly from the field via digital networks.
Fields Monitored with M2M Sensors
Critical parameters such as temperature, humidity, and air pressure can be monitored continuously and remotely through special M2M sensors installed in production areas. With this real-time data, potential diseases and quality losses in agricultural products are detected in advance, preventing major risks. Farmers base their irrigation and fertilization decisions on scientific data by examining soil moisture content and soil water tension information on a map via mobile applications, on a field and station basis.
Smart Shelter Tracking Era in Livestock
Mobile-focused systems developed for the livestock sector keep the health status of small and large ruminants in operations under constant control. Within the scope of Animal Shelter Control and Tracking Solutions, in-shelter temperature monitoring, early disease prevention observation, and alarm systems are activated. At the same time, controlled lighting, regular feeding, and shelter entry-exit tracking provide producers with smart remote management capabilities, significantly reducing labor costs in herd management.
Smart Agriculture with 5G in Çorum Field
Next-generation connectivity technologies were tested in the field in the pilot 5G smart agriculture project implemented in Çorum in partnership with Türk Telekom and ZTE. Unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous farming machinery were integrated into the 5G network established in the region, providing high-speed and low-latency data communication. Through this infrastructure, significant savings were achieved in essential inputs such as water and energy by successfully implementing automatic spraying, precision fertilization, and smart irrigation operations in the field.
Artificial Intelligence Revolution in Batman Pistachios
A comprehensive artificial intelligence project has been launched in Batman, which holds a critical place in Antep and Siirt pistachio production, to strengthen the first link of the supply chain. FATGES (Fıstık ve Tarımsal Gelişim Entegre Sistemleri - Pistachio and Agricultural Development Integrated Systems), developed within the Boğaziçi Technopark Batman Entrepreneurship Office, provides digital consultancy to pistachio producers. Operating with the vision that correct decisions in the field determine final product quality, the system has been specifically trained according to the region's climate and soil conditions.
Digital Solution in Agricultural Engineering Service
According to FATGES data, although pistachio farming is carried out on over 129,000 decares in Batman, only 2% of these lands receive professional agricultural engineering services. The reliance of the majority of producers on traditional methods for pest and disease control leads to yield losses. As these losses in the field directly affect the processing industry, digital decision support systems aim to eliminate uncertainty in the first stage of the chain.
Instant Disease Diagnosis with a Smartphone
Thanks to the FATGES system, producers can manage their fields using only their smartphones without needing additional technology investment. When a farmer uploads a photo of a suspicious leaf to the system, the artificial intelligence model analyzes the possibility of disease or pest and provides an instant diagnosis. The software, which translates complex laboratory soil analysis reports into simple language, generates field-specific fertilization recommendations while allowing remote monitoring of fields with satellite imagery.
Regional Expansion and Future Vision
The artificial intelligence project, developed with the contributions of academics from Batman, Siirt, and Harran universities, aims to reach 1500 producers in Batman in its first phase. In the subsequent process, the initiative plans to expand its activities to Siirt, Şanlıurfa, and Diyarbakır provinces, integrating all pistachio trees in the region into the smart agriculture network. These steps, combining the deep-rooted agricultural culture of Southeastern Anatolia with technology, ensure raw material security and product quality in the value chain extending from the field to industry.