Development of an IoT-based Postharvest Monitoring and Control System

Managing the postharvest period for fresh fruits and vegetables is essential for preserving their quality, safety, and shelf-life. Traditional methods often fall short, being inefficient, time-consuming, and susceptible to human error, which leads to significant losses and waste. However, the rise of Internet of Things (IoT) technology presents a promising solution. IoT allows for the creation of advanced monitoring and control systems that can manage postharvest processes in real-time. Through IoT, various sensors, communication devices, and data analytics tools work together to track important postharvest parameters like temperature, humidity, gas levels, and fruit maturity. This real-time data can help identify potential quality issues promptly and enable corrective actions. The newly developed system uses DHT11 sensors to measure temperature and humidity, transmitting this data to the ThingSpeak cloud. It can also adjust the environment to maintain the optimal conditions for fruits like mangoes, tomatoes, and oranges. This system aims to reduce postharvest losses, enhance product quality, and boost the efficiency and sustainability of postharvest operations. This paper outlines the development and benefits of IoT-based postharvest monitoring and control systems for fresh produce. The paper will cover the development of this this system, in addition to the review of developed system.