New Sensor-Based Irrigation System Gives Boost To Incomes Of Indian Farmers

Indian farmers are now using a sensor-based irrigation system at Sal River and Nauta Lake in Goa. With bank filtration technology, the sensors can be controlled through a mobile application or directly through a website.

According to Ministry of Science and Technology, the system has helped in prevention of wastage of water and has also made it easier for farmers to monitor the irrigation remotely.

Ministry of Science and Tech

How does it work, you wonder? Sensors provide moisture values to the farmers, based on which the motors start running. If all need for water has been met, the sensors automatically shut off the motors. "This process prevents water erosion and maintains the soil quality throughout the field," the ministry wrote.

The system was implemented by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in collaboration with the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Goa. It received support from Indian government's Department of Science and Technology (DST).

What is the system about?

Clean water is provided to farmers using River Bank Filtration (RBF) technology that is coupled with a sensor-controlled irrigation system.

Ministry of science and tech

How does RBF work? It extracts water from wells that are situated near rivers or lakes. "As the river water infiltrates into and passes through the riverbed sediments, contaminants like bacteria and toxic metals are removed by overlapping biological, physical, and chemical processes," the presser said.

Also read: With 'Gramophone', Indian Farmers Are Doubling Their Crop Production And Income

RBF wells at the Sal River and Nauta Lake are powered by renewable energy resources in order to provide clean water to farmers in off-the-grid areas. Solar-powered pumps were used for this purpose. "Water, with improved quality parameters such as reduced turbidity and bacterial load supplied through systematic pipeline system, helped farmers to obtain better crop production."

Ministry of science and tech

The sustainable model could help improve the yield of farming communities in Goa while offering a cost-effective measure to remove contaminants, microbes, and deliver water to farmers' fields to meet their irrigation requirements.

Also read: Chemical-Free Natural Farming Near Ganga: How It Will Help Farmers & Environment

What do you think about this novel measure to help farmers in India? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.