LET’S BUILD OFFLINE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS FOR FARMERS

LET’S BUILD OFFLINE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS FOR FARMERS

As a son of a farmer and as an advocate for rural innovation, I’ve long seen the invisible barriers that separate us from one another—not fences, but silence. In many parts of our farmlands, there’s little to no mobile signal. Internet is unreliable at best, nonexistent at worst. And while we've learned to adapt, this communication gap has real consequences. It slows down disaster response, blocks the flow of helpful agricultural information, and prevents us from working together when it matters most.

That’s why I’m proposing a simple, low-cost solution: an Offline Interconnectivity Network and Communication System (OINCS) for farmers. Powered by solar energy and built around LoRa (Long Range) radio devices, mesh-based messaging apps, and a locally hosted content servers, this system will allow farmers to message one another, share critical updates, and access farming resources—even in areas where there's absolutely no signal.

The goal is straightforward:

·       Let farmers talk to each other without relying on cell towers or Wi-Fi signals.

·       Give everyone access to offline content like planting calendars, pest control videos, and weather info.

·       Enable local alerts when there’s an emergency—whether it’s a wildfire, a crop disease, or a medical situation in the field.

·       Foster better coordination within the farming communities through digital bulletin boards and shared forms.

Who will benefit? Primarily the farmers and farm workers scattered across remote fields, but also barangay agriculture technicians, volunteers, and even farmer cooperatives. We all stand to gain from better, more inclusive communication.

Let me explain how it works.

At the heart of the system is a solar-powered server—a small but powerful Raspberry Pi computer installed at the barangay hall or cooperative office. This will act as our content hub and message router. Farmers will carry LoRa devices (like the TTGO T-Beam), which can send and receive text messages across long distances without needing internet. Others with smartphones can use mesh messaging apps like Briar or Serval, connecting through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

The applications are endless. The farmers can message a nearby farm to ask for help. They can listen to a tutorial on composting without using mobile data. They can announce a harvest schedule. Or they can send out a real-time alert when something’s wrong. It’s communication—made accessible, local, and resilient.

We can build the entire system for about ₱20,500, covering:

·       10 LoRa devices (₱8,000)

·       1 Raspberry Pi server with LoRa gateway (₱6,000)

·       A Wi-Fi repeater (₱1,500)

·       Solar panel and battery (₱4,000)

·       USB drives and accessories (₱1,000)

To keep costs low, I’m relying on volunteer tech support, open-source apps, and even recycled phones. Once installed, the system will be maintained by a local youth tech group or barangay IT staff. Monthly content updates—new videos, announcements, and training materials—can be done offline via USB drives by the LGU agriculture office.

This isn’t just a one-time project. We could lay out a clear 8-week timeline from planning to pilot testing, with expansion in mind. By the second month, we could be fully operational in several farms—and scale up from there.

What the farmers need now is support:

·       A modest funding amount of ₱20,500 per project site.

·       Training assistance and basic tech support

·       Endorsement and collaboration from local leaders, NGOs, coops, or donors who believe in grassroots innovation

If you share my vision for a farming community that communicates smarter, acts faster, and stays connected regardless of terrain or signal bars, I invite you to contact me.

In a world where digital connectivity can change lives, I believe that no farmer should be left behind—not because of geography, and certainly not because of a missing signal. Let’s build this system together. Let’s bring communication back to the fields, where it’s needed most.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

09-21-2025 

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