The smart greenhouse developed by Amasya University and set up with farmers, can follow the progress of produce in the stages of development and the rates of growth without any human intervention. Amasya University Vocational School of Technical Sciences Electricity and Energy Department Professor Cenk Gezegin and his students successfully managed to grow strawberries in the smart greenhouse which was designed by them, moreover they are planning to grow other produce in the near future. Professor Gezegin, explaining that in the two square metres of greenhouse, irrigation, heating, ventilation, and operations such as disinfestation and fertilization are done automatically, he said “With the control panels our farmers can choose which products to plant from a weekly menu, from the first data that is uploaded by the farmers the system can then automatically balance water levels, heat, air and soil moisture according to the crops’ needs. Therefore no intervention from the farmers is necessary. Everything will be completed automatically.”
Cenk Gezgin emphasises that there is no need for producers to come to the greenhouse, they can control everything over the internet and follow the progress of the produce with the camera system which is located there, “In case of any problems, the control system can manage them without the need to enter the greenhouse for weeks at a time, it was designed so that the only reason for entering would be to collect the crops.”
Gezegin states that the solar panels on the greenhouse, which store the sun’s energy throughout the day, can charge the greenhouse’s batteries and in this way prevent the risk of the crops being damaged by frost, “Especially in the last few years a variety of products have come onto the market for greenhouse and poultry farmers. The difference between our products and those that have come before us, is that while they stabilise the internal heat, moisture and soil moisture levels, we control necessary heat and moisture levels according to the weekly rate of growing. This is the biggest difference between us.”
At the agriculture fair which is held at the Amasya International Ataturk Culture and Art event, the smart greenhouse, which was presented there attracted strong interest. Ahmet Barkoc and his friends who contributed to the development of the project won second place in the project competition, which was held at their school. Stating that if the project is widely supported, it can be developed and enlarged and great savings can be made in every sense, Feda Oner the principle of the boys’ school, points out that they have congratulated those who took part in the project and have added another success to the school’s reputation.