Boosting Self-sufficiency in Maize Crop Production in Abia State, South-Eastern Nigeria with Internet of Things (IoT)-Climate Messaging: A Model

The cultivation of Maize round the year is a great challenge to subsistence and mechanized farmers
in Abia State owing to the changes in climatic conditions especially precipitation, relative humidity,
and temperature during the two traditional seasons, which affect the growth and yield of the cereal
crop. This chapter is the first of a two-part study aimed at evolving an internet-based remote
monitoring and messaging system for farmers using a case study, the Umueze-Umuchi communities
and other connected areas in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government of Abia State. The essence of this
project is to enable farmers to remotely monitor vital climatic conditions that are much likely to affect
their Maize farms during the dry season. This work presents succinct information on Maize cultivation
in the communities with recourse to topography, relief and drainage, climate, soil and vegetation of
the area. Data were collected through observation and interview of selected farmers. The vital
atmospheric conditions required for Maize farming such as Temperature, Vapour pressure, and
Relative Humidity were noted to vary during the seasons: Rainy and dry seasons respectively. Data
from farmers showed that Maize cultivation begins in early march following early rainfall and actively
ends around June when the volume of precipitation is at its peak. No Maize cultivation is done during
the dry season beginning from early November owing to low precipitation regardless of the presence
of the Aba River across these communities. Consequent upon the findings, the authors are led to
examining the option of all year-round Maize cultivation aided by an IoT-enabled climate monitoring
system in order to boost Maize production in the aforementioned communities. It is submitted that the
use of the monitoring device will enable the farmer know when to complement the adverse climatic
conditions during the dry season thereby enhancing Maize cultivation round the year.