Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) students invented MONIKEL technology that succeeded in getting the Directorate General of Higher Education funding. The technology named MONIKEL is derived from Soil Moisture Monitoring on onion through Telegram Chatbot message. The team included the technology in Student Creativity Program-Karsa Cipta (PKM-KC) and got the fund. The technology aimed to expose an uncertain onion price situation due to crop failure.

One of the UMM team, Muhammad Iqbaludin Zaky, mentioned that the crop failure was considered due to erratic weather patterns. The unpredictable weather impacted the soil moisture, and it influenced the onion growth. The onion needs a lot of water supply. “Sometimes, torrential rain soaked the onion. The amount of soil moisture will affect disease and vermin on onion, or narrowing in shape,” he said.

The MONIKEL technology is based on the internet of things (IoT) by using Arduino technology and Telegram chatbot messages. This device prototype will be connected to Telegram by the farmers and set on several points of land. If the land dries, the farmers would receive a notification. Zaky developed the device with his three partners, including Gilly Huga Anargya, Farli Nahtul Javier, and Wahyu Budi Utomo. Recently, the MONIKEL is in the development process, however, it will be ready to circulate on the market.