A study on the IoT framework design for ginseng cultivation

Abstract

The Republic of Korea’s ginsengs are a high-priced special produce cultivated since the Koryo Dynasty (AD 918–1392) in the Middle Ages. Their efficacy has been studied for a long time and published in both domestic and foreign papers of internal medicines. Several Korean pharmaceutical companies are producing the immune enhancers with them and some of them are waiting for the FDA’s approval while conducting clinical trials, during which their excellent efficacy has been proven. Having the cultivation period of 3 to 6 years, ginseng farmers can draw a high income if they keep an adequate growing condition for these expensive produce favored by many Koreans and foreigners. Thus, by grafting the IoT technology onto the ginseng growing conditions, the farmers will be able to increase their outputs and incomes, as well as increasing the competitiveness of the Korean ginseng. Such a method can also contribute to the reduction of labor force which is one of the serious problems in the agricultural sector where the population is continuously declining. While this study focuses on the designing of an IoT framework considering the characteristics in ginseng cultivation conditions, the results can be standardized and used for the other special produce that require a long-term cultivation period.