ICT-Assisted Growth Management System for Mud crabs (ICT-AGMAS): Deployment and Evaluation

This study provided the concept of applying information technology in the aquaculture sector that offers an appropriate growth management system for mud crabs (Scylla spp.) through the utilization of a patented device and software application known as Information and Communication Technology-Assisted Growth Management System (ICT-AGMAS). This utility model (UM) is intended for real-time monitoring of the morphometric development of mud crabs. The automated nature of this technology avoids the farmers from manually checking the crabs within the pond, thus saving time and labor costs. To test its performance, the system was deployed at one of the polyculture aquaculture farms at San Juan I, Ternate, Cavite for five months. A comparison of the actual number of sampled crabs per unit time between the conventional sampling method (manual) and ICT-AGMAS was made by applying deep learning. Evaluation results revealed that the system can offer a faster and easier way of sampling mud crab with a sampling time difference of 143.25 seconds compared to the conventional sampling protocol. In addition, statistics and analysis of the use of the system disclosed a positive user acceptance of applying the technology based on identified descriptive variables. Estimated financial parameters such as payback period, the return of investment (ROI), and net present value (NPV) were also found to be positive and viable.