Musa Base - Mobile Application for Banana Farmers to Minimize the Challenges in Banana Production during the Pre-Harvest and Post-Harvest Period

This research paper presents an innovative solution to address the multifaceted challenges encountered by banana farmers in Sri Lanka, encompassing the entire spectrum of banana production from pre-harvest to post-harvest stages. The proposed system, titled "Musa-Base," is a user-friendly mobile application that seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technologies, including machine learning, IoT-based approaches, natural language processing, and image processing methodologies. This holistic approach aims to elevate the quality and productivity of banana cultivation. The Musa-Base system comprises several interlinked modules: crop yield prediction, disease identification through advanced image processing and interactive chatbot interactions, personalized recommendations for optimal watering and fertilizer strategies, and comprehensive guidance on best agronomic practices. The research rigorously employs a diverse range of algorithms, including deep learning models, for accurate crop yield prediction, rapid disease diagnosis, and finely tuned recommendation systems. The system empowers farmers with informed decision-making capabilities, enabling them to mitigate losses, efficiently allocate resources, and ultimately enhance banana production and product quality. The integration of images of banana plants, sensor data, and user input data forms the backbone of the data-driven research methodology that underpins the development of the Banana Mobile Application. The pivotal outcomes of this research include precise disease detection, reliable harvest forecasting, and the dynamic integration of a chatbot for timely assistance, all of which collectively contribute to superior banana crop management, heightened agricultural efficiency, and enhanced sustainability. This comprehensive solution caters to the needs of both smallholder farmers and commercial producers, representing a significant advancement in modernizing banana farming practices and ensuring food security.