  This paper presents a study conducted to allow urban farmers to remotely
monitor their farm through the design and development of an Internet of
Things-based (IoT) microfarm prototype which utilized wick system as planting
method. The system involves the detection of three environmental parameters
namely, light intensity, soil moisture and temperature through the use of
respective sensors which were connected to the Arduino microcontroller, the
sensor node of the system. Irregularities in the aforementioned parameters were
neutralized through the use of parameter regulators such as LED growlight
strips, water pump and air cooler. The data collected by these sensors were
gathered by the Arduino microcontroller and were sent to the Web database
through the IoT gateway which was the Raspberry Pi computer chip. These data
were also sent to an Android unit installed with the Microfarm Companion
application which was capable of monitoring and controlling the environmental
parameters observed in the microfarm. The application allows the user to view
the current value of the parameter involved and to choose whether to control
the parameter regulators automatically or manually. The microfarm system runs
autonomously which reduces the labor required to produce healthy plants and
crops. Mustard greens samples were used in testing the system. After a month of
monitoring the height of the samples, it was observed that the average height
of the samples is about 0.23 cm taller than the standard height. The proponents
has also tested the system functionality by evaluating the sensor data log that
provides the values gathered by the sensors and the turn-on times of the
parameter regulators. From these data, it can be observed that whenever the
values obtained by the sensors fall outside the threshold range, the parameter
regulators turns on, indicating that the system is working properly.
