ADAPTAGRI · HELP DESK
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QSmart technologiesAre there affordable sensors and apps that really help?
Yes. They all serve one purpose: the right input, in the right place, at the right time and in the right amount — decisions based on data rather than guesswork. You do not need to buy everything at once.
| Tool | What it does | Practical benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Weather station and disease forecasting model | Monitors temperature, humidity and rainfall and calculates disease risk | Spraying at the right moment instead of by the calendar. Good practice 4 ("Agromate", Yambol): up to 30% fewer pesticides |
| Soil moisture sensors | Measure soil moisture continuously | Water is applied when and as much as needed; saves water and energy |
| Satellite maps | Show how green and healthy the crop is (vegetation index), biomass and moisture | You see where the crop lags and where to scout; basis for fertilising and spraying zones |
| Mobile identification app | Helps identify a disease or pest from a photo | Faster, more accurate diagnosis during field walks, together with a hand lens and traps |
| GPS guidance on machinery | The machine follows the set track precisely | Spraying and fertilising without overlaps or gaps |
| Digital field log | Records operations, fertilisers, products, observations and yields by plot | The basis for every further precision decision |
Where to start:
- With data — soil analysis before fertilising and a field log.
- With the fastest payback — GPS guidance and weather data for disease forecasting usually pay off fastest.
- Share machinery — cooperation (good practice 7, agricultural cooperative "Motor 93", Babuk) or specialised service companies for drones and satellite maps give access without a large investment.
- Look for support — investments in sensors, drones and platforms can be supported with up to 50% (section A).
- Protect your data — before using a platform, check who owns the data and how it is protected.
According to the analysis of good practices, the main barrier is not cost but a lack of time and skills to work with data. So before buying, decide who will follow the data and what decisions you will take with it. The Help Desk does not recommend specific commercial brands.
Material: Training Module 1, section 8 "Precision farming technologies and how to start"; Report "Analysis of good practices" (Goranova); presentation by Assoc. Prof. V. Donev "Smart Agriculture", 7.07.2026.