Design Requirements For Lapena (A Mobile-Based System To Help Farmers Diagnose Disease In Cow Peas)

Cowpeas are one of the most grown crops in Northern and Eastern Uganda, particularly grown by districts such as Arua, Tororo, Kumi, Lira and Nebbi. In the past, the crop mainly served as a food crop, however, recently the crop has been commercialized to a cash crop because of its growing demand in and outside the country. For one of the challenges faced by farmers is the prevalence of pests and diseases, which lower the yield, causing financial losses. Amongst the diseases is cercospora leaf spot disease which affects the leaves of a cowpea crop. The damage caused by the disease varies in severity from minor where small spots appear on the leaves to major which causes the leaves to completely dry or drop off. Farmers are unable to know the level of infection of the disease and lack knowledge on the best pesticides to apply, let alone where pesticides can be acquired. In order to address the above challenges, we are proposing a mobile application known as Lapena that will indicate the level of infection of the diseased leaf, provide advice on the best pesticides and where the pesticides can be acquired from.Cowpeas are one of the most grown crops in Northern and Eastern Uganda, particularly grown by districts such as Arua, Tororo, Kumi, Lira and Nebbi. In the past, the crop mainly served as a food crop, however, recently the crop has been commercialized to a cash crop because of its growing demand in and outside the country. For one of the challenges faced by farmers is the prevalence of pests and diseases, which lower the yield, causing financial losses. Amongst the diseases is cercospora leaf spot disease which affects the leaves of a cowpea crop. The damage caused by the disease varies in severity from minor where small spots appear on the leaves to major which causes the leaves to completely dry or drop off. Farmers are unable to know the level of infection of the disease and lack knowledge on the best pesticides to apply, let alone where pesticides can be acquired. In order to address the above challenges, we are proposing a mobile application known as Lapena that will indicate the level of infection of the diseased leaf, provide advice on the best pesticides and where the pesticides can be acquired from.