AgriLogic is an ultra-low-cost, logic-controlled irrigation controller built using the PIC16F13145 microcontroller with Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs). Designed specifically for the arid zones of Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, it provides fully offline, sensor-based water regulation for smallholder farms, eliminating the need for code-based firm
What It Does:
AgriLogic uses soil moisture sensors and a water level switch to control a water pump for irrigation entirely through logic configuration (no firmware). The system activates the pump only when:
- Soil moisture falls below a defined threshold
- Water is available in the reservoir
- It’s within predefined irrigation hours (e.g., early morning or evening)
When all conditions are met, CLB logic triggers the pump ON. Otherwise, the system remains idle to conserve energy and water.
This logic-based control system is ideal for rural environments with limited technical infrastructure — farmers don’t need programming skills or internet access to operate it.
How the CLB Helped Bring It to Life:
Using the PIC16F13145’s Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs) allowed us to:
- Replace traditional firmware with pure hardware logic
- Create a completely autonomous decision-making irrigation system
- Rapidly prototype and simulate logic behavior without writing code
- Minimize power consumption and eliminate MCU crashes or software bugs
- Empower farmers with plug-and-play irrigation tools that require no coding skills or maintenance
This hardware-level flexibility is exactly what African agriculture needs — resilience, reliability, and simplicity.
Business Alignment & Future Outlook:
AgriLogic is part of a broader vision under my agritech startup, FarmWare, which aims to deploy AI + IoT-powered precision agriculture tools across Africa. By integrating Microchip’s low-cost, low-power logic-controlled devices into dry farming practices, we can drastically improve crop yield, conserve water, and enhance climate resilience for smallholder farmers.
Scaling this solution through FarmWare’s platform will allow rural farmers to adopt smart irrigation with minimal setup, supporting food security goals, water conservation, and climate-smart farming — all using Microchip’s PIC16F CLB advantage.
