The University of Sharjah, in partnership with IBM through the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, has announced key advancements to the My FarmWell mobile app — a platform designed to assist farmers in water-scarce regions with sustainable agricultural practices.
Developed using IBM Environmental Intelligence and the University’s Welly Chatbot, My FarmWell combines IBM Cloud capabilities with localized water and climate data to deliver tailored insights at the farm level. The app helps optimize irrigation, inform about regulations, and promote sustainable farming techniques.
The latest update introduces several new features aimed at broadening the app’s impact and enhancing user experience. Among the key additions are interactive maps displaying well locations, allowing farmers to better manage their proximity to groundwater sources. Enhanced visuals and educational content further promote groundwater conservation, while new climate-resilient farming tips will be sent via push notifications to provide timely, practical advice. The app also features a streamlined login process supporting both email and phone access.
Importantly, the update expands global access by offering groundwater level and quality data beyond the UAE, enabling farmers in other regions facing similar water challenges to benefit from the app’s insights.
According to Dr. Adewale Olalekan Giwa, Assistant Professor at the University of Sharjah and Principal Investigator of the project, these enhancements align with the shared mission of addressing environmental challenges through academic and technological collaboration.
Available on Android and iOS, My FarmWell equips users with a suite of tools — from tracking groundwater trends and water quality indices to receiving crop recommendations based on water conditions. It also provides location-based weather forecasts, smart water consumption calculators, regulatory updates, market price information, and chatbot support for immediate guidance.
The enhanced version will be offered as a free upgrade, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to helping farmers adopt efficient, sustainable agricultural practices.
Source: The University of Sharjah
