Grantee	Makerbox Lao
Project Title	Empowering remote agricultural communities in Lao PDR through long-range wide area networks
Amount Awarded	USD 30,000
Dates covered by this report:	2021-12-14 to 2024-05-31
Report submission date	2024-07-22
Economies where project was implemented	Laos
Project leader name	Ken Streutker
Project Team	Tee Chuangthevy Jim Ophakorn Kouphokham Arthur Gilly

Project Summary

The project aimed to leverage the possibilities offered by low-power, long-range IoT solutions, in particular Long Range (LoRa) wireless, for relaying agriculturally-relevant sensor data from remote areas to modellers, and bring synthesized forecasting data to farmers in a simple-to-understand format, thereby bridging the technological and communication divide between urban centers and remote agricultural communities in the Lao PDR. Our design would have the capability of utilizing solar power, which is especially important in areas where electrical service is lacking or unstable. Being low-power was also a requirement, and  LoRa was ideally suited for this due to its low power consumption, with some chips lasting years on a single battery charge. 

In the first phase of the project, we assembled a prototype based on commercially available solutions that collates and forwards data, such as weather (air pressure, temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, wind direction) and hydrological (water table and river levels) to us for analysis. The first prototype was installed in a countryside location that is representative in terms of geography and network coverage of the local conditions.

In a second phase, we focused on cost reduction for the system, following review of the first phase and results from a small survey we conducted to learn about farmers' interest in agricultural data. We focused our new design on generic, cheap and easily accessible parts to ensure cost efficiencies and possibility of maintenance by local participants. We put an emphasis on locality, so that the system would both be assembled locally and adapted to local conditions and user needs. Finally, to ensure sustainability and awareness, we organized a hackathon where over twenty students from varied backgrounds worked on components of the revised system, gaining the required knowledge to further develop and implement a full-scale system.

Table of Contents

• Background and Justification
• Project Implementation Narrative
• Project Activities, Deliverables and Indicators
• Project Review and Assessment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Project Communication
• Project Sustainability
• Project Management
• Project Recommendations and Use of Findings

Background and Justification

Nearly 60% of the Lao PDR's population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.  Poor infrastructure, a challenging geography, and agricultural information systems that are “at best nascent” mean that farmers have limited to no access to pertinent information that can help them improve their productivity, reduce input costs, and ultimately, obtain a better price for their products. Moreover, remote rural Lao agriculture remains rooted in traditional and familial practice with a lack of modern farming education, leading to the persistence of inefficient and environmentally damaging techniques, such as slash-and-burn and rain-fed or flood irrigation. Further, Lao PDR is particularly vulnerable to weather fluctuations and adverse events, which are increasingly prevalent due to climate change, and are essentially unpredictable without access to accurate forecasting data. At the same time, a digital divide exists between the rural and urban areas of the country, with poor network coverage (2G covers approximately 90% but is being deprecated; 3G coverage is approximately 80% and 4G coverage is approximately 70%. This evidences a dual issue of lack of reliable infield data for researchers and forecasters, and a lack of access to relevant information by farmers, compounded by poor network access. 

Gathering data and presenting it in useful, easy-to-understand and actionable items for farmers has been a problem that different organizations have tried to resolve, including projects such as the SAMIS project co-led by the FAO. Existing dissemination strategies (village loudspeaker announcements, TV or radio broadcasts, farmer field schools, apps) rely heavily on local and national administrations and infrastructure. These forms of communication are subject to bureaucratic delays, potential information bottlenecks, lack of tailored local context in disseminated data, and the limited capacity of existing systems to rapidly adapt to urgent needs.  

We believe Laos could be the testing ground for a potential paradigm shift that would move away from centralized solutions reliant on large telecommunications companies expanding into unprofitable areas or existing government infrastructure. Instead, we propose leveraging new technological solutions like LoRa to establish low-cost, peer-to-peer networks that can provide reliable, relevant agricultural data and forecasting information to both researchers and farmers, even in areas with limited bandwidth and poor network access. 

Originally, our project aimed to implement a solution using commonly available devices, test it in the field, gather data, and communicate useful information back to villagers in remote locations far from the capital. However, several adjustments were necessary due to unforeseen challenges. 

The development and deployment of our initial solution were significantly delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions, impacting our ability to order parts, conduct field tests and gather essential data. Additionally, we encountered issues related to the limited local technical capacity, which hampered the deployment and use of the initial system. This highlighted the need for a more localized approach to technology development and support. 

Furthermore, the cost of existing ready-made solutions proved prohibitive, leading to challenges in widespread adoption among the target communities. This underscored the necessity for a more cost-effective approach. We also found it difficult to ascertain which specific information farmers truly needed and valued, limiting the effectiveness of our initial communication efforts. 

In response to these challenges, we redeveloped the solution using low-cost, generic components to address cost concerns and enhance adoption. This not only reduced expenses but also ensured the system could be maintained with locally available parts. To better understand the specific information needs of farmers, we introduced a comprehensive survey. This survey provided critical insights into the types of data that would be most useful and relevant to them, allowing us to tailor our communication efforts more effectively. 

Recognizing the importance of local technical capacity, we put a heavy focus on developing local IoT tech skills. We conducted training programs and organized a hackathon for university-aged Lao students.

This approach not only built local expertise but also fostered a sense of ownership and involvement in the project. These changes have made our project more resilient, cost-effective, and tailored to the real needs of the farmers, ensuring a greater likelihood of long-term success and sustainability.

Project Implementation Narrative

Phase I: 

First, we needed to understand the capabilities and limitations of the technology we aimed to use. In order to understand the density of the network we would have to build, we focused on studying the transmission capability of LoRa by running field tests. LoRa, or Long Range, is a low-power, long-range wireless technology that enables the transmission of data over considerable distances. Our tests determined that the maximum usable range for our system was around 4 kilometers. In our initial tests, we set up an antenna array consisting of  

1. Raspberry Pi 4B 4GB running on Linux, Raspbian Lites distribution 
2. SX1268 LoRa Hat for Raspberry Pi, 433MHz 
3. 3G 4G LTE Base HAT Mini PCiE Network Adapter 
4. Quectel EC25-E Cellular Module and 
5. 433MHz antenna 2dBi 

It was set up along a flat stretch of highway and we drove down the highway to test the distance our system could confidently transmit data from a sensor without interruption or interference. 

The Terminal Node consisted of: 

1. Arduino nano as a microcontroller unit 
2. SX1268 EBYTE E22-400T22DC 433MHz Wireless Serial LoRa Module and SX1278 EBYTE E32 433MHz.  
3. 433MHz antenna 12dbi. 

These tests revealed that in completely level areas, the transmission distance could reach up to 7 kilometers, but in more rolling landscapes with some obstructions such as small buildings, the distance decreased to approximately 4 kilometers. 

Following these initial tests, we proceeded to order and configure a ready-made system comprising a 4G-connected, solar-powered node and two sensor arrays utilizing LoRaWAN as a backbone. This system consisted of:  

1. SX1302 LoRa Gateway Module with enclosure 
2. WisGate Developer D4+ (EG95-E) / 4GB RPi4 / EU433 
3. Outdoor Enclosure for WisGate Developer 
4. DS18b20 temperature probe sensor 100CM 
5. SX1276 433MHz LoRa transceiver module 
6. Heltec IOT LoRa Node ESP32 WiFi 433MHz 

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a communication protocol that operates on top of the LoRa physical layer. While LoRa determines the modulation technique for data transmission over radio waves, LoRaWAN specifies the communication protocol and system architecture for the network. It manages the data transmission between end devices (such as our sensor arrays) and network gateways, which then relay the data to central servers. LoRaWAN handles important aspects such as data rate optimization, adaptive data rate (ADR) settings, network security, and device authentication. Crucially, the added computations performed on top of modulation usually mean that LoRaWAN requires more powerful, and expensive, hardware. 

To complement the hardware, we designed a simple software dashboard that presented live measurements from the sensors, while the data was also being stored on a server located at our premises. For this, we used Grafana, an open-source platform that can connect to varied data sources, perform basic summarization and display trends and summary data in a user-friendly way. This dashboard provided a user-friendly interface for monitoring environmental conditions in real time. 

Due to logistical constraints, we installed the system at a testing facility at the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) of the Ministry of Agriculture, approximately 30 kilometers outside the capital city of Vientiane. Sensors for soil moisture, air humidity, rainfall, soil Ph levels, and amount of sunshine were placed approximately 2 kilometers away from the transmitter, which was installed close to the main office building. This setup allowed us to test the system's functionality in a real-world agricultural environment, providing valuable insights into its performance. 

To ensure the successful implementation and future sustainability of the project, we organized two training sessions for farmers and officials involved with NAFRI. These training sessions covered the operation and maintenance of the system, as well as the interpretation of the data collected. The aim was to build local capacity and foster a sense of ownership among the stakeholders, which is essential for the long-term success of the project. 

Mid-project assessment: 

Recognizing the importance of evaluating our progress and identifying areas for improvement, we conducted a comprehensive mid-project assessment.  

Several issues emerged that necessitated adjustments to our approach. First, we realized that some sensors, particularly the pH sensors, required precise calibration to provide accurate readings. This calibration process was more complex and time-consuming than initially anticipated. These sensors were the most expensive to source, and calibrating them was also outside the scope of this work, so we did not consider them further. Second, during the training sessions, both farmers and technicians expressed that the system appeared beyond their technical capabilities to maintain or operate effectively. This feedback highlighted the need for a more user-friendly and easily maintainable solution. Furthermore, both the test group and multiple farmers we reached out to raised concerns about the cost of the solution. They felt that the financial burden of implementing and maintaining the system was too high, which posed a significant barrier to widespread adoption. Lastly, it became apparent that farmers did not immediately understand how direct measurements from the sensors could help improve their overall farming practices. This indicated a gap in communication and the need for better formulation and presentation of results into actionable insights for rural farmers. 

In response to the issues identified during the mid-project assessment, we implemented several actions. First, we planned a survey, where we would ask farmers about their specific needs and the areas where they felt they required the most information. This survey aimed to gather detailed insights into the addressable needs of farmers, ensuring that the solutions we provided were relevant and valuable to them. 

We also invested time in research and development to explore ways to lower the overall cost of the system. Instead of purchasing ready-made LoRaWAN devices, we wanted to consider solutions based on commercially-available sensor and compute modules, which would be assembled locally. This included investigating alternative, less expensive components and optimizing the design to reduce costs without compromising functionality. By focusing on cost reduction, we aimed to make the solution more affordable and accessible to a larger number of farmers. 

To address the perceived gap in technical expertise, we planned capacity-building initiatives targeting interested students, in particular those with a tech background and an interest or additional background in agriculture. We sought to create a pool of local experts who could support the implementation and maintenance of the system.  

Phase II

Survey 

Nearly 80 farmers over four different areas, including : Kaentao District of Xayabouly Province; Nakai District of Khammouane Province, Naxay in Vientiane Province, and Hadxaikhao in Vientiane Capital district, were interviewed for the survey.  The main results of the survey were revealing. Farmers did not express a strong need for live data from their fields, though some showed interest in being able to anticipate damaging floods. Their primary concerns revolved around the price fluctuations of phytosanitary products and the resale value of their produce. Livestock disease management emerged as a significant topic of interest. Additionally, when questioned about their health and occupational injuries, farmers expressed considerable disillusionment with the existing health system infrastructure. 

New System Design 

Based on the survey results, we redesigned the system to better address the farmers' concerns while maintaining cost-efficiency. We opted for LoRa, instead of LoRaWAN, using single-channel devices to keep costs very low, albeit at the expense of data speed and quantity. The new design featured three types of nodes: sensor nodes (each a sensor coupled with a transmitter), relay nodes (transmitters relaying signals at regular intervals with redundancy), and exit nodes (connected to the internet via 4G). All nodes were solar-powered to ensure sustainability. 

Initially, we explored the possibility of developing an additional, simpler network layer similar to LoRaWAN but utilizing simpler devices. Although we finalized the architecture, finding network engineers to validate it and programmers to code it on time proved too difficult. Consequently, we opted for Meshtastic, an open-source project that uses LoRa for creating mesh networks. Meshtastic is particularly useful in this context because it allows the creation of low-cost, peer-to-peer communication networks, which are ideal for rural and remote areas.  

We based the design on affordable nodes, specifically the CubeCell series from Heltec, particularly the HTCC-AB0x models. These nodes are known for their low power consumption, built-in LoRa transceiver, and ease of programming. The exit node was built using a Raspberry Pi equipped with a 4G dongle, providing the necessary internet connectivity for data transmission. 

Hackathon 

To implement the new design and foster community engagement, we organized a hackathon using a "learn by doing" approach. The system implementation was divided into 20 tasks, split evenly between hardware and software-related assignments (See presentation). For each task, we provided background information, ranging from fully designed circuits needing implementation to simple guidelines. We enrolled mentors from recognized local institutions to guide participants, including 2 network specialists from Lao Telecommunication Public Company, (Sommixay Boutchanthalath, CTO Lao Mobile Money Sole Co., Ltd., Lao Telecommunication Public;  Boualy Thipphavong Thely, IT Development  Lao Telecommunication Public Company); one programming and circuit designer from Vendee Co., Ltd. (Khatthaphone Sengvilai, CEO), and a professor from Khon Kaen University in Thailand , (Watis Leelapatra,  Lecturer, Computer Engineering Department,Khon Kaen University).

In addition to the core components of the system, we included an agricultural information panel where participants had free rein to design something useful. To address farmers' concerns about emergency care in remote areas, we included the design of a LoRa-based SOS module. Additionally, in response to the interest in flood anticipation, we added in a task to prototype an affordable water level sensor, with three potential designs to choose from. 

We decided to compensate participants in order to improve chances of recruitment. Our recruitment efforts for the hackathon were publicized on Facebook and through announcements. The recruitment period lasted one month, with two introductory meetings, followed by a one-month implementation phase. We successfully recruited 25 students, who were divided into six teams ranging from 2 to 6 members, each responsible for one or two development items. 

Due to time and capacity constraints, the SOS node and water level sensors had to be excluded from the project. Additionally, we added in a task to evaluate the suitability of Meshtastic. If positive, this would allow us to eliminate many of the more demanding programming tasks. Consequently, we concentrated on establishing the basic infrastructure with the 3 types of nodes, ensuring it was robust and functional. 

Hackathon Outcomes 

Meshtastic proved to be a mixed solution. While it eliminated the need to develop any network layer, as it comes pre-packaged as firmware, it also meant that no additional logic could be added to the nodes. Consequently, sensor data gathering and transmission had to be managed by a separate device plugged into a Meshtastic node. This approach slightly increased the overall cost, power consumption, and complexity of the system but offered the advantage of modularity, with the radio frequency (RF) component being separate from the sensing functions. 

One of the projects focused on optimizing an electronic switch to turn off sensors and save power. Unfortunately, this project had to be abandoned due to a lack of participants with sufficient electronics expertise. However, this setback was relatively minor, as the only consequence was a slight increase in solar power consumption, which is manageable given the solar-powered nature of the system. 

Overall, the tasks, despite being broken down, proved to be too complex for participants, preventing us from achieving a functional system. Additionally, the individual nodes were not fully assembled and are still at the breadboard phase. The extended burn-in and discovery phase resulted in more experimentation by participants than we had originally anticipated.

Project Activities, Deliverables and Indicators

Beginning of Project

Activity	Description	#Months
Developing a working prototype in-house	A working prototype will be developed in the Makerbox space to show feasibility. This will include a basic system with a LoRa gateway and two terminal nodes with weather sensors. Data collection software as well as application development for in-field use will also be prototyped at this stage.	2
Radio frequency licensing	Although the 433MHz band is currently unused, local regulations require registration with the Radio Spectrum Management Division	3
Sourcing and identification of participating community	Through close consultation with stakeholders who will benefit from the project, a village or villages will be identified for the implementation of the infrastructure	2

Middle of Project

Activity	Description	#Months
In-field implementation and optimization	Practical field work with the system to gather data and work with local community to analyse and utilize data for local benefit	5
Prototype improvement, adjustment, further expansion	Based on results of practical field work the system will be optimized and further developed with additional functionality and additional roll-out into other communities	5

End of Project

Activity	Description	#Months
Project review	A complete review of the project from its start to end, identification of obstacles, solutions and future actions for potential extension and future sustainability.	2

Throughout the Project

Activity	Description	#Months
Training and skills development	Working with local community, training will be provided to community members on the technology, the kind of data it can transfer; subsequently we will identify local actors interested in technology and provide training on how to set-up, repair and maintain the equipment	6

Key deliverables

Deliverable	Status
Topographical design of data gathering and communication network	Completed
Secondary Field Research	Completed
Hackathon	Completed

Key Deliverables - Detail

Deliverable: topographical design of data gathering and communication network Status: Completed Start Date: January 15, 2022 Completion Date: December 31, 2023 Baseline:Initial request design included basic infrastructure design of the network and its components. At present, no sensor system for agriculture nor communication system exists to transmit and receive data from farm fields especially in distant locations or areas that are not served by traditional telecommmunications services. The LoRa solution is an initiative to develop such a recording and transmission system, Activities: Full review of the communications network hardware requirements and software elements needed to be designed to ensure teh system works according to the prototyping brief submitted in the application. Identification of initial hardware items to be purchased to start development of the LoRa-based data gathering and communications system. Purchase of the first set of hardware to develop a proof of concept data gathering and communications system to ensure efficacy and allow for further development of the hardware and software solutions for the prototype. Build the prototype and install the prototype in test field (real0life situation) and subsequently set up a second site to further test the system. This will also include the training of personnel to monitor and maintain the system as well as understand the application reporting dashboard. Outcomes: [Range was 4km] The project was developed in different phases, with the initial phase consisting of tests to check the effective range confirming LoRa is suitable for use in an smartfarm/agriculture setting where other forms of communication may be non-existent or limited. The tests proved that LoRa is suitable for the intended application. The following phase was the development and testing of a LoRaWAN-based systems for networking and message delivery. Tests showed the system to work well, however with limited range of around 4KM. The cost, however, of the LoRaWAN backbone system is too high for deployment in the Lao context, which was borne out by the training sessions and some answers from farmers. Based on these comments, we looked into non-loraWAN backbones, which led us to examining Meshtastic as an alternative system. This system too has some limitations, particularly when it comes to developing compatible software that will operate across the entire system. Regardless, we are continuing to look into designing our own system, likely based on Meshtastic, as it is robust and much more cost-effective than LoRaWAN. Theoretically, a Meshtastic-based system should also resolve distance issues, as repeater nodes on the network can be added depending on the overall network/distance requirements. [10 people were trained] In terms of training, once the initial test system was deployed at the NAFRI Rice Research Station, a total of 10 people were trained in the system – installation, dashboard configuration and results reading, as well as the various parameters tested by the sensor installation – soil moisture, air humidity, soil Ph, air temperature, and wind speed. The personnel trained included 8 research station personnel and 2 farmers. This is in addition to the four people who were instrumental in developing the system and installing and testing it at various stages. Additional Comments:

Deliverable: Secondary Field Research Status: Completed Start Date: Completion Date: Baseline:The LoRa system will have been created and put into a testing phase at NAFRI for initial tests. Farmers at this point have not been exposed to the system. Activities: To learn more about actual farmer issues as related to their crops as well as sources of information and delivery of information, a survey was conducted in 3 different areas. A total of 80 farmers were surveyed, with a response rate of 100%. The survey was conducted on a face-to-face basis. The three areas covered for the survey included: 1. Kaenthao District of Xayabouly Province. The survey covered 14 villages, including: Huay hod, Muang Moh, Puan, Taokaen, Pak Thom, Pak Kaen, Huay Kha, Na Hin, Huay Hod. In this district, a total of 37 farmers were interviewed, 16 male, and 21 female. The level of education varied with 16 having completed only elementary education, and 13 high school. The age of the farmers interviewed ranged from below 20 to above 50, with 14 being above 50, and 10 between the age of 31-40. This coincides with some of the information gathered by the team which found that a large number of people of working age, especially younger people, have found work in Thailand where wages are much better, thereby leaving farming to the older generation. The crops grown are primarily Rice, cassava and corn, with nearly half the farmers growing both rice and cassava. When asked where they found information that helps them grow their crops or raise their animals, the majority, 32, mentioned Facebook, while YouTube was another major source of information. When asked what content they accessed on the two sites and on websites, videos were mentioned by 33 of the respondents, with pictures and audio coming second and third at 14 and 9 mentions respectively. Regardless, there were still 5 farmers who had never used a smart phone, nor accessed social media or websites, with their farming methods remaining the way they had learned from their parents. Others had seen videos only because their children or grandchildren had shown them on their phones. Only 1 farmer could remember specific channels where they had accessed information, Kaset Insee, Kaset Pa Ruay, and Wittee Chao Suan, all three of which are channels from Thailand. One of the major concerns of the interviewees was access to education for their children, as several of them mentioned absent teachers (working at other jobs or simply not showing up), and the quality of the education available being very low. Across all interviewees were answers related to productivity – drought followed by floods which give rise to low productivity and subsequent food scarcity and hardship. Early flood warning systems, enhanced farming techniques and assistive technology could help to reduce some of these risks. 2. Vientiane Capital and Vientiane Province, 7 villages, including: Nalong, Simano Tai, Simano Nueah, Kuaai Daeng, Tintaen, Nongphong and Thapha. The villages surveyed are all within 35 – 40 kilometers from the center of Vientiane. Farmers here generally grow 2 crops of rice per year as there is sufficient water for irrigation. Land holdings average around 2.5 hectares per farmer. In addition to rice, some farmers grow vegetables and raise beef cattle mainly for meat. Here too, the majority of farmers are older, with the younger generation having moved to Thailand in search of work and better income. As with the results from Kaenthao, farmers here used Facebook and Youtube to find information, with the majority of the content coming from Thailand and in the Thai language, Many of the respondents noted that more video content and content in the Lao language would be very useful and make it more understandable for them. Several also mentioned the need for commodity price information, and short courses related to agriculture practices. 3. Khammouan Province, Sipoon, Nakai, Don, and Phonesavang villages. This area is quite remote, more so than Kaenthao and Vientiane, and the level of connectedness is much lower. Of the 16 respondents in this area, 40 percent were between the age of 21-30, 33% between 31-40, while the remainder (27%) were 41 and above. The majority grow rice and cassava and supplement their diet with fishing from the nearby dam reservoir. In response to information they would like to have, the majority noted they lack information about medication for their livestock as well as information about growing crops. In terms of connectivity, all (100%) were dependent on 2G signal only with no 3 or 4G signal available. Without the 3G or 4G services, they have no access to social media or the internet. When asked about some of their worries and concerns, all mentioned the need for improved medical aid/first aid facilities with responsible personnel, and access to education for their children. Outcomes: Survey results received from 80 farmers in 4 areas [ 100% ] Additional Comments: After initial LoRa system is installed at NAFRI and tested, further field testing will be performed of the system during the rainy season (May - August 2023). The data gathered from the field tests will be analyzed to report on the robustness of the system. Further, as the system is rolled out on the secondary phase, a training activity for farmers will occur, with a total of 10 farmers in a rice-growing area.

Deliverable: Hackathon Status: Completed Start Date: February 1, 2024 Completion Date: May 31, 2024 Baseline: Activities: Outcomes: We successfully recruited 25 students, who were divided into six teams ranging from 2 to 6 members, each responsible for one or two development items The AgriHack Hackathon we advertised in early April, with the date of the Hackathon set for 27-28 April. As part of the preparations for the Hackathon, an online zoom meeting was held on 10 April to explain the various tasks that were to be addressed during the hackathon, and to identify different teams and the tasks they would contribute to. Additional Comments: A total of 10 tasks were identified and assigned: 1. Sensor node consisting of: Sensors, high-side switch module, Microcontroller & LoRa. 2. solar module 3. Water Level Sensor 4. SOS Node 5. Relay Node with Solar module, microcontroller&LoRa 6. Exit Node consisting of LoRa gateway and SIM (7600) for connection to 4G network 7. Agriculture information panel 8. Regionalization (bytecode developed for Lao language) 9. MeshTastic Trial 10. Lora Network Layer (Lao GGD) The tasks were divided over the various groups and work was initiated on all elements. In terms of end results: 1. Sensor node consisting of: Sensors, high-side switch module, Microcontroller & LoRa. – the sensor node is designed and connected through breadboard, and working. The high-side switch module was abandoned due to complexity and level of capability. Lacking is a PCB board with all elements onboard (in the design process now) and a final waterproof housing for the system needs to be created/3D printed. 2. solar module : testing was completed, with several reviews. The system works and can be scaled up depending on power needs, but needs to be embedded on the PCB board of the sensor node 3. Water Level Sensor : this segment was abandoned for the agrihack, but is still being worked on internally by Makerbox 4. SOS Node : the system was developed but not completed (requires all elements to be put on a PCB board that needs to be designed), a small fob to contain the system was 3D printed and tested for waterproofing. 5. Relay Node with Solar module, microcontroller&LoRa : this element was completed to the breadboard level and is working. A PCB board needs to be designed to ‘modularize’ the relay node and make it plug and play. Some of the programming that is required to integrate the entire system is still under development, however, as the node itself stands, it is complete and ready for final build on PCB. 6. Exit Node consisting of LoRa gateway and SIM (7600) for connection to 4G network : this element was completed and is ready to be built. A 3D design and print of a container box is still required. 7. Agriculture information panel : this element was abandoned. 8. Regionalization (bytecode developed for Lao language) : this element was completed – a bytecode font for the Lao language was created, along with a special keyboard for certain vowel combinations. Text can be shown on e-ink and OLED screens. Integration with the rest of the system (including element 7) is still needed. 9. MeshTastic Trial : Meshtastic was tested and works as intended, however, by developing specific codes and libraries and trying to add libraries for our LoRa-based system, there were some issues which still need to be resolved to ensure network topology communicaitons. This is still being developed by Makerbox. 10. Lora Network Layer (Lao GGD) : this software layer was abandoned for the hackathon due to skills limitations in developing a high-level software layer. Makerbox will continue to work on this element so that the entire sensor system as designed at present can be operated and deployed. Due to some constraints, several of the elements were developed to the breadboard level and are functioning but they need further work to be embedded on boards and final fine tuning. One of the challenges we face and continue to face is the capability to design PCB boards. We have subsequently reached out to Khon Kaen University in Thailand to assist with the design of our PCB boards. Makerbox is continuing work on these project elements, and we hope to be able to design the PCB boards within August and build out the sensor and repeater nodes, complete with cases. Additional work on the bytecode font for the Lao language is continuing. The development of the Meshtastic network and libraries will continue, as will the coding for the Lao GGD. It was the express desire to develop as small and as modular a system as possible, with the least amount of ‘moving’ parts; a true ‘plug-and-play’ system that will be easy for farmers to manage and maintain, requiring them simply to unplug one unit and replace it with another should there be a malfunction. To that end, although not completed fully, we have developed the core elements of a system that will prove to be robust and easy to use, and we will continue to develop the system and roll it out for further testing and real-world use.

Project Review and Assessment

Achievement of Objectives 

The primary objective of our project was to develop a prototype using commercially pre-assembled devices and to work towards a more affordable, locally assembled solution. While we succeeded in creating one prototype, we did not achieve the planned field deployment. The complexity of the tasks, compounded by logistical challenges, prevented us from fully realizing our objectives. However, the progress made has provided valuable insights and a solid foundation for future efforts. 

Important Findings 

One of the most critical and challenging tasks was determining the type of data that farmers would need. The farmers themselves did not identify any potential use for real-time in-field sensor data, which is perhaps not unexpected given the novelty such technology represents. We found that farmers were more concerned with issues like price fluctuations of phytosanitary products, resale value of their produce, and livestock disease management rather than real-time field data. This discrepancy highlighted the need for collaboration with local agricultural faculties to better understand and address the specific needs of farmers. 

Additionally, we discovered that local-centric development is not only challenging but also crucial for adoption. For example, one significant barrier we identified was that most commercially available microcontrollers did not support Lao fonts or relevant Unicode code pages, making it difficult for farmers to read the information provided. In response, as part of the hackathon, we developed a Lao bytecode font, which is available on GitHub. Although it doesn’t yet support the full Lao alphabet, it allows writing most sentences in a phonetic fashion, and provides a clear direction for making the technology more accessible to local farmers. 

Potential for Growth 

There is excellent potential for growth in this project. With the experience gained, we now understand the importance of engaging and involving the right stakeholders. We have insights into the human resources aspect, including the number of people needed and the skills required. Our accumulated knowledge of the technologies and the exposure gained by many participants position us well for future endeavors. 

The opportunities for developing LoRa-based IoT solutions in Laos are vast, encompassing agriculture, disaster prevention and preparedness, conservation, and internet access. With a better understanding of the local context and the technical challenges, we are well-equipped to expand and scale these solutions in future projects. 

Lessons Learned 

Local technical capacity, especially in cross-functional areas like IoT (electronics, programming, and networking), is lacking. Future efforts must invest heavily in sustained, intensive training. Keeping participants interested, motivated, and engaged is challenging when education programs lag severely in technology and science areas. Future projects should invest significantly in pre-project training and ensure continuous application of skills throughout the project to reinforce learning. 

Field conditions pose significant challenges for electronics, including heat, humidity, and pests. Therefore, systems need to be robust, but also modular and easily repairable, as breakdowns will be unavoidable. This approach will help ensure that the technology remains functional and sustainable in challenging environments. 

Affordability also remains a primary consideration, as technology costs were a major concern for all farmers and officials we talked to. The design of IoT systems suitable for local contexts must operate under significant cost constraints, necessitating innovative and cost-effective solutions. 

The hackathon format, even with incentives and detailed instructions, was not effective for task completion. In the future, we would opt to work with a smaller, dedicated team throughout the project. However, financial constraints in the country mean that it is essential for participants to be paid for their time and effort. Such initiatives also help reinforcing the idea that technology is an area which can afford good conditions of life for those who choose to practice it professionally. For example, one of our major setbacks was when our lead engineer, which we had spent a long time training, decided to leave the project and take a job in banking. The technology and hardware development sector is nascent at best in Laos, and it is not necessarily seen as a pathway to success by youth in training. 

Throughout the project, we gained extensive knowledge about the processes involved in developing and implementing such initiatives. This knowledge is invaluable for future projects and has built our organizational capacity to manage and execute similar projects more effectively. We learned about the importance of having a dedicated team (including, importantly, a project manager), maintaining close links with end users, and a strong emphasis on education and training. 

Critical Aspects of Project Design, Management, and Implementation 

Key to the project's success was having a dedicated and motivated team, ideally with financial compensation to ensure commitment. Maintaining close links with the end users, in this case, the farming communities, was crucial for understanding their needs and ensuring the relevance of our solutions. Emphasizing education and training was fundamental to building local capacity and ensuring the sustainability of the project. 

In summary, while the project faced significant challenges and did not achieve all its objectives, it provided valuable insights and learning opportunities. These experiences will inform future projects, ensuring they are better tailored to local needs and more effectively managed and implemented. 

Diversity and Inclusion

The project did not have a specific aim at promoting gender equity or inclusion. However, it was inherently designed to assist underserved rural communities, particularly ethnic minority groups in Laos who are predominantly rural and agriculture-based. These groups stand to benefit the most from the technology developed through this project. 

We encouraged the participation of women within the project team. Our lead engineer was a woman, which is extremely rare in Laos where technical fields are overwhelmingly male-dominated. During the recruitment for the hackathon and training sessions, efforts were made to include women and ensure that they had the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the project's goals. However, it remains challenging to achieve our inclusion goals in tech-related initiatives due to the overall difficulty in finding competent individuals for these specialized roles, regardless of gender, and the very strong gender imbalance in technical fields. 

Language and cultural diversity were key considerations in the project, particularly given the rural and ethnic minority focus. The development of a Lao bytecode font to address the language barrier is a prime example of our commitment to cultural inclusivity. This effort ensures that the technology is accessible to local farmers who primarily speak and read Lao. In our discussions, we considered expanding the project in the future to specifically target Hmong villagers, who are a sizeable minority in Laos and whose language is written in the latin alphabet. 

The project has inspired a greater awareness and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization. The experience highlighted the importance of designing projects that consider the unique needs of diverse communities. Moving forward, our organization is committed to integrating these principles more explicitly into our project planning and implementation processes.

Project Communication

The initial communication for the project has been to show the initial prototype developed in phase 1 at two major IT exhibitions, the Lao Digital Week organized by the Ministry of Technology and Communication (MTC) at the end of December, 2022, and the Lao-Vietnam Technology Cooperation Exhibition held in late March, 2023.  

One of the outcomes of displaying the system at the two major events was a call from the Ministry of Technology and Communication to travel to all 17 provinces of the country and to put on a half-day or full-day workshop with local Ministry personnel as well as potentially agriculture extension personnel to inform them about the system, how it works, what its benefits may be, and how it can be deployed/implemented across a wider swath of he country.  To date, this request has not resulted in any actual field trips.  We do continue to work on finding funding sources to implement such a 'roadshow' event, although this may be difficult under the present economic conditions in the country, which has seen staggering inflation in the past two years, with prices now nearly triple what they were in 2021.

With the development of Phase 2, we have had extensive promotion of the hackathon on our Facebook page, including summaries of the participation and work performed.  

As mentioned above, Makerbox is very much invested in developing solutions for Agriculture in Laos, and we will continue to work on this project as well as others, and promote the work we are able to do through the generous assistance of organizations such as the APNIC Foundation and ISIF Asia.

Impact

The primary intended beneficiaries of this project were farmers in remote rural areas in the Lao PDR. While the deployment of a prototype in such regions was not possible within the limits of this project, we felt there was a positive impact for those farmers we reached out to during the preparatory phases of the project. In particular, there has been an increased awareness of the potential benefits of technology in agriculture, even though the specific applications are not yet fully understood. This newfound awareness is significant because it hints at a possible shift in their openness to exploring technological solutions, which could eventually lead to improved farming practices and increased productivity.

Farmers have also experienced a sense of being heard and valued, as the project made a concerted effort to listen to their needs and concerns. This sense of recognition is significant because it fosters trust and engagement, which are crucial for the successful adoption of any new technology. The realization that technology can play a role in addressing their challenges, coupled with feeling genuinely listened to, has laid the groundwork for future collaboration and innovation.

On the other hand, the project has had a notable positive impact on the young and student tech community in Laos by introducing them to IoT and its potential applications in solving real-world problems. Through hands-on experiences in the hackathon and training sessions, these young tech enthusiasts have gained practical knowledge and skills in IoT. This exposure is significant because it not only enhances their technical abilities but also inspires them to think critically about how such technologies can be leveraged to address the country's specific challenges, including those in agriculture. By igniting that spark and beginning to equip the next generation with the tools and knowledge to think creatively about technology's role in society, the project has contributed to building a more skilled and forward-thinking tech community in Laos.

Project Sustainability

We have seen local interest in our system, primarily from successful, medium-scale export-oriented farmers. However, the full implementation cost proved too high for them to support, and they were interested in a finished, working solution, as opposed to funding R&D. Indeed, a significant portion of these costs were related to labor during the final development phase that would have been required to provide a solution targeted to their needs.

Given this, we have not yet handed over the project solution to the community or end-user owners. Our exit strategy involves seeking structural funding to cover these initial development costs. By securing such funding, we envision a pathway to commercial sustainability for the project.

Our project has demonstrated potential for future development and growth, particularly through new funding from partnerships, sponsorships, investments, or other funding mechanisms. We recognize that to make the solution affordable for our primary target—rural disadvantaged farmers—we must explore models where larger commercial groups or NGOs interested in agricultural technology subsidize the costs for small-scale farmers. This could be through below-cost, no-cost, or at-cost implementations, ensuring that all farmers can benefit from the solution.

We remain fully committed to developing solutions for agriculture and farmers. Therefore, we will continue working on this project, albeit at a reduced rate, as we seek additional grants to fund the completion of the R&D phase and subsequent scale-up. Our focus is on ensuring that the technology becomes accessible and beneficial to those who need it the most.

Regarding the sustainability of our educational efforts, we recognize that this depends on whether the students we trained and engaged will continue to have opportunities to work on related projects. To this end, we will persist in engaging with partners, funders, and donors to expand and maintain these educational initiatives. Our goal is to keep the momentum going and ensure that the next generation of tech-savvy individuals can continue to contribute to IoT-based agricultural innovation in Laos.

Project Management

From inception to the finishing stage of the project, we have encountered many different challenges, from the covid pandemic to availability of parts; an economic meltdown in the country, and a brain drain as many people try to depart for better-paying jobs in neighbouring Thailand.  Regardless, we have engaged in a lot of R&D, developing a first phase product that performed well in field tests at a local agriculture research station.  From that initial phase we did a project review to address issues we found when we went to train farmers and field extension workers.  Based on those discussions we developed a short questionnaire to build a better understanding of farmer preferences and needs for information and technology.  The results of the survey helped guide us to our second phase of the project in which we developed a newer, lower-cost version of the sensor array, employing a hackathon format. Over the two-month period we worked with 6 groups of students and developed the prototypes for the updated hardware and software solutions required.  Although these solutions are still in a breadboard state, they can be converted into actual working models relatively easily.  

Whereby at the beginning of the project we envisioned a relatively straight forward design, assembly and roll-out project, the reality was different, and we have had to adapt as the project took on other dimensions.  Losing our senior developer after the first stage of the project when she left to go to work at a financial institution did leave us with a hole in terms of technical expertise, which we hoped to fill with the hackathon experience.  

Internally within Makerbox we have made some changes to handle projects such as this project, with one of the co-founders now full-time at the organization to overlook day-to-day activities.  This has meant better organization and more directed workflow.  It has also resulted in several other projects being taken on, utilizing the various skills of the teams available to Makerbox.  These additional projects, along with the ISIF project are creating greater awareness of Makerbox as the country's only R&D facility outside of the National University.  Although for the ISIF project now ending this new-found recognition may have come somewhat late, but at the same time it is an impetus for Makerbox to continue to develop the project and deliver a smart-farm solution for rural areas.

Should there be a future phase (phase 3 beyond the scope of this initial project) then we will need to enlarge the team, perform more local outreach and work more closely with farm communities; focus on more educational aspects related to the system; develop promotional and education or information materials, and add people to the software and hardware development and production side). One thing that has also become clear is that beyond technical ability, project management is key, and we would likely employ a local project manager with experience leading large, technical projects, who would work hand-in-hand with the technical leads to ensure timely delivery and adaptation to unforeseen changes.

Project Recommendations and Use of Findings

This project has significantly influenced our approach to integrating development and technology initiatives. A key lesson learned is that the adoption of new technology in farming communities follows a predictable pattern, progressing from early innovators to more conservative adopters. Despite our broad strategy to introduce technology to these communities, we faced considerable challenges in identifying individuals willing to be the first to try something new, particularly when the new technology involves high costs. This realization has prompted us to focus on targeted engagement with potential early adopters and to make the technology accessible to them initially.

Our survey revealed that most Lao farmers obtain agricultural information from Thai-language Facebook pages, favoring short, basic, and actionable data. This finding underscored the importance of making our system simple and user-friendly. Additionally, the survey highlighted that the cost of inputs significantly influences farming practices, with technology like IoT not being a primary consideration for farmers. Therefore, we need to actively identify and support early adopters to demonstrate the benefits of our system and explore alternative ways to provide the technology at a reduced cost to those who would benefit the most.

A major takeaway from our experience is the crucial role of local stakeholders. Introducing new technology is particularly challenging because the primary beneficiaries often do not initially understand its potential benefits. Engaging local scientists and community leaders who comprehend both the conditions of the people and the technology is essential. Additionally, it is important to involve local tech enthusiasts who can advocate for and promote the technology within their communities.

Lastly, our experience during the second phase, which required more extensive programming, design, and engineering, highlighted the limited local technical skills. This gap indicates a pressing need for comprehensive training and practical experience to build local capacity to levels seen in neighboring countries. Addressing this gap is essential for the sustainable development and integration of advanced technologies in rural farming communities.

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