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HomePosts Tagged "irrigation"
Company News, Water, World

Revolutionising irrigation for growers with autonomous execution

Source.ag, the provider of AI solutions for fruit and vegetable growers, launched Source Irrigation Control: an autonomous irrigation solution that intelligently adjusts irrigation strategy execution in response to changing weather conditions and plant data.

The newest addition to Source.ag’s product suite helps growers scale operations and improve irrigation management while decreasing the need for manual intervention and the time to adapt to new seed varieties or locations. The grower sets the irrigation targets, and Source Irrigation Control does the rest. Using AI models fed with weather forecasts and plant data to predict water and nutrient uptake, this new market innovation saves resources and growers’ time. Growers can set irrigation targets to suit their preferred cultivation strategy, combining their cultivation knowledge with Source.ag’s data science capabilities. 

Source Irrigation Control’s data-driven irrigation solution offers growers multiple benefits in terms of crop quality, resource management, and business growth opportunities. The system predicts the water and nutrient uptake of plants and then applies its findings to a proactive irrigation plan that promotes root growth and healthy root development. Because AI is used to assess and clean sensor data which then updates growers’ unique irrigation models regularly, growers are free to spend their time on other value-added activities. The reduction in manual intervention means growers can manage many more hectares, allowing them to quickly scale operations. Equally, the system’s adaptability makes coping with new circumstances, climates, or seed varieties easier and more cost-effective.

Revolutionising irrigation for growers with autonomous executionSource.ag,

Finance, SAARC, Sustainability, Water

It will significantly increase agricultural productivity and profitability through effective, participatory, and sustainable water resources management over more than 220,000 hectares in 42 districts

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $106 million loan to improve water resources management and agricultural productivity in rural Bangladesh. 

The project builds on the success and lessons from three prior ADB-financed participatory small-scale water resources management projects in Bangladesh and scales up investment while intensifying climate and disaster resilience support and food security through new and improved water resources infrastructures and services for flood and drought risk management, drainage improvement, and irrigation systems modernisation. It will significantly increase agricultural productivity and profitability through effective, participatory, and sustainable water resources management over more than 220,000 hectares in 42 districts, home to 77 per cent of the rural poor.

Implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department, it will establish 150 new water management cooperative associations and strengthen 230 existing ones; support emergency reconstruction and modernisation of the Bakkhali rubber dam scheme; construct 110 kilometres of farm and village roads with all-weather features; and increase participation of women, youth, and small ethnic communities. 

“More than half of the national population live in rural areas, and agriculture is a main source of employment. Livelihoods are threatened by worsening water insecurity and climate impacts,” said Olivier Drieu, ADB Senior Water Resources Specialist. “The project will strengthen climate and disaster resilience by introducing water management measures, such as raising and strengthening flood embankments, deepening channels to increase water retention, irrigation structures, efficient electric pump-pipe and buried-pipe irrigation systems, as well as new technologies for crop and aquaculture production. It will also promote climate-smart agribusiness and fishery development and marketing to support the livelihoods of 380,000 households, especially those of women and vulnerable persons.”

The innovative and climate resilience features of the project have attracted cofinancing. The International Fund for Agricultural Development provides a loan of $42.98 million and the Government of the Netherlands a grant of $17.8 million to finance innovative pilot works and consulting services supporting the innovations. The Government of Bangladesh provides $58.22 million of counterpart funds.

It will significantly increase agricultural productivity and

Japan, Sustainability, Water

The project will rehabilitate the existing Nurgal irrigation canal in Kunar province, improving both the quantity and reliability of irrigation water for agricultural production

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Government of Japan has launched a four–year project that aims to increase the amount of irrigated land, boost local food production and strengthen the food security and livelihood resilience of more than 12 600 vulnerable people in the Kunar province of eastern Afghanistan.

Facilitated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the $9.5 million project will also provide direct environmental benefits to local communities, helping to protect fragile rangelands and recharge vital groundwater resources, which are particularly important in the context of the increasing impacts of the climate change.

Access to water is critical in Afghanistan, a country where more than 70 per cent of food production depends on irrigation.

The project will rehabilitate the existing Nurgal irrigation canal in Kunar province, improving both the quantity and reliability of irrigation water for agricultural production and increasing the total command area – the agricultural land irrigated by the canal – by 70 hectares to a total of 643 hectares, leading to both increases in overall agricultural production and increases in productivity of at least 12 per cent.  Importantly, the project will enable poor food insecure rural households to plant two crops a year, rather than just a single wheat crop, boosting incomes, resilience and food security. 

The project will also deliver benefits to communities, helping to protect more than 2,000 hectares of fragile rangelands through improved and adapted plant varieties.  The project builds on and enhances the Green Ground Project initiated in 2003 by Tetsu Nakamura and Peace (Japan) Medical Services (PMS) to build irrigation systems in the Kunar River Basin. By 2023, the PMS project will have transformed 23,800 hectares of abandoned arid farmlands back into green fields. Over 650,000 people have benefitted from this project.  

The project will rehabilitate the existing Nurgal

Agrotech, Company News, Water, World

The new brand further deepens the connection to growers and shows them that irrigation with Lumo is easy, data-driven, and accountable

Lumo announces a significant branding update. This strategic move reinforces Lumo’s commitment to the agricultural community and highlights its unique position as a company that truly understands and serves the needs of growers.

“Lumo’s new branding represents our unwavering commitment to growers and to revolutionise agriculture’s irrigation industry,” says Bennett Fitzgibbon, Lumo’s VP of Marketing. “Our new brand further deepens our connection to growers and shows them that irrigation with Lumo is easy, data-driven, and accountable. With this focused company mandate and a new grower-first brand experience, we’re clearly showing our full dedication to serving growers and to making technology that works for them.”

This update, fueled by new brand positioning, a compelling brand story, and comprehensive brand guidelines, better highlights the differentiated value the company provides compared to conventional irrigation automation solutions that have plagued growers with frustration due to their clunky, expensive, and complicated nature.

Lumo’s solution has emerged as a disruptive force in the irrigation industry. The Lumo One Smart Valve – a plug-and-play device that measures flow and consumption, and takes care of water application according to the grower’s irrigation plan – was developed by members of the Lumo team who immersed themselves in the agricultural landscape by working alongside growers. The Lumo One Smart Valve is backed by around-the-clock customer service support through Field Partners who are responsible for taking care of clients’ onsite needs.

Recently celebrating its first anniversary, Lumo has raised  $3.9 million in pre-seed funding to date, led by Fall Line Capital, a VC focused on farmland and sustainable agriculture technologies. Lumo is backed by an advisory board of notable Agtech executives, VCs, and viticulturists that are helping the company accelerate all critical areas of the business. 

The new brand further deepens the connection

AgroPolicy, Company News, India, Sustainability, Water

Global Civil Engineers’ Society lauds Kaleshwaram Project as an enduring symbol of engineering progress and partnership

Telangana Government’s flagship programmes – Kaleshwaram, the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, and Mission Bhagiratha, the ambitious drinking water project, have received thunderous applause from the Civil Engineers in the USA. Telangana’s enduring symbols of engineering excellence have earned laurels at the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress held in Nevada, USA and the Kaleshwaram Project has received global recognition from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Maria C Lehman, President, ASCE has presented a Proclamation to KT Rama Rao, IT and Industries Minister bestowing a distinguished recognition on the lift irrigation project as an ‘Enduring Symbol of Engineering Progress and Partnership’.

Minister KT Rama Rao has received the rare honour to represent an Indian state on a global platform at the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress organised by the ASCE. The Minister was invited to give a detailed presentation on the topic ‘Many Benefits and Social Equity from Lifting a River: Story of the World’s Largest Multi-stage Lift Irrigation Project’ at the conference attended by over 1000 delegates from across the world.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) represents more than 1,50,000 members of the civil engineering profession in 177 countries. Founded in 1852, ASCE is America’s oldest engineering society. Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) is the American Society of Civil Engineers’ technical source for environmental and water-related issues; EWRI’s vision is “Advancing water resources and environmental solutions to achieve a sustainable future.”

Speaking on the occasion, Minister KTR recounted the remarkable transformation of Telangana in the last nine years. The Minister spoke at length showcasing Telangana’s story of resilience and transformation and presented an account of groundbreaking engineering achievements achieved by the youngest state of India. “Telangana has successfully built the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, Kaleshwaram, and completed the ambitious Mission Bhagiratha, providing piped drinking water to every home in the State. These remarkable projects were not only completed in record time but also with utmost efficiency and cost-effectiveness,” Minister KTR said.


Global Civil Engineers’ Society lauds Kaleshwaram Project

Finance, Schemes - NABARD, Water

The Saurashtra-Narmada Avataran Irrigation Yojana or SAUNI Yojana has been launched to divert one million acre-feet of flood waters from Narmada to the Saurashtra region

Under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 3,245 crore for irrigation and rural drinking water supply projects in Gujarat for 2021-22.

“This is the highest allocation for loan assistance to projects in the state,” said a senior NABARD official. Compared to the Rs 2,989 crore sanctioned in 2020’21, the sanctioned amount under RIDF for 2021-22 was 8.5 per cent more.

The irrigation projects to receive sanction for 2021-22 are two packages of SAUNT Link 3 projects worth Rs 336 crore. The Saurashtra-Narmada Avataran Irrigation Yojana or SAUNI Yojana has been launched to divert one million acre-feet of flood waters from Narmada to the Saurashtra region.

The Link 3 of SAUNI will connect 28 reservoirs of Rajkot, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Morbi and Surendranagar with a 66-kilometre water project.

The other irrigation projects to receive sanction include a Rs 194-crore lift irrigation project in the tribal district of Dahod, Rs 273 crore Panam reservoir based lift irrigation scheme, Rs 114 crore Panam high-level canal-based lift irrigation scheme and Rs 231 crore Vaghrech recharge project. These irrigation projects will increase the irrigation facilities by 75,112 hectares.

The Saurashtra-Narmada Avataran Irrigation Yojana or SAUNI

Agrotech, Sustainability, Water

River Bank Filtration (RBF) technology operates by extracting water from wells located near rivers or lakes

A sensor-based irrigation system using bank filtration technology and controlled via web/mobile app installed at Sal River near Navelim and Nauta lake at Cortalim, Goa, has prevented wastage of water in the area and also made it easy for farmers to monitor the irrigation remotely.

The moisture values are provided by the sensors starting the water motor only when there is an actual need for water and turning it off when the moisture level reaches the maximum value. This process prevents water erosion and maintains the soil quality throughout the field. The system has saved time, especially for the daily wage farmers giving them freedom and flexibility to sell their harvest in the market. It has reduced their labour work and helped the farmers financially as well.

The irrigation system was implemented by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in collaboration with the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Goa, and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, under the umbrella of Demand Driven Mission – Water Technology Initiative.

It provides clean water to farmers for irrigation through River Bank Filtration (RBF) technology coupled with a sensor-controlled irrigation system, which is the first of its kind in the region. RBF operates by extracting water from wells located 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. Affordable RBF wells have been installed for the treatment of polluted water from the Sal River near Navelim and Nauta lake at Cortalim, Goa, powered by renewable energy resources (solar-powered pumps) to provide clean water to farmers in off-the-grid areas. Water, with improved quality parameters such as reduced turbidity and bacterial load supplied through a systematic pipeline system, helped farmers to obtain better crop production.

The project presents a model of sustainability for educating farming communities with small landholdings which are unique to Goa. The technology of RBF offers an inexpensive means to remove large amounts of contaminants, including suspended particles and attenuation of microbes, and essentially provide improved water quality to the farmer’s community to fulfil their irrigation requirements.

A dissemination workshop was also organised in which relevant stakeholders, researchers, policymakers, and farmers were handed over the information and technology to the local ownership, and the initiative has opened up new collaborations for future developments.

River Bank Filtration (RBF) technology operates by

R&D, Water

Transitioning from traditional irrigation to drip irrigation systems decreases water use and has less of an impact on humidity

Irrigated agriculture areas have expanded greatly throughout the Indo-Gangetic plain, and water use has consequently increased, contributing to an increase in summer wet-bulb temperature. A study in the AGU journal Earth’s Future, by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, looks into improved water savings and reduction in moist heat stress caused by efficient irrigation.

The researchers used observations and simulations from the Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model to examine the impact of efficient (drip) irrigation on moist heat stress and water savings over the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Irrigated area has increased more than 20 per cent over the Indo-Gangetic Plain during the 1970-2005 period.

The study highlights:
From 1970 to 2005, irrigated agricultural areas in the Indo-Gangetic plain grew by 20 per cent.
Greater irrigation use has increased humidity, leading to higher wet-bulb summer temperatures and greater heat stress, and contributing to declines in groundwater.
Heat stress is a primary hazard for agricultural workers.
Transitioning from traditional irrigation to drip irrigation systems decreases water use and has less of an impact on humidity.
The irrigation expansion partly contributed to the rise of 0.46 °C (P-value < 0.05) in the summer (April-May) season wet-bulb temperature over the Indo-Gangetic Plain, which is a measure of moist heat stress.

Transitioning from traditional irrigation to drip irrigation

Agrotech, Allied Industry

Both companies have partnered to create sustainable change through unique drip irrigation technology

PepsiCo India and N-Drip, manufacturer of an innovative gravity-powered micro-irrigation system, have announced a partnership, as a lead-up to World Water Day 2022, to help farmers in India adopt game-changing technology in water efficiency. The technology has already been introduced in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan with an aim to improve water efficiency levels across thousands of hectares in the country by 2025. This is part of a global partnership between PepsiCo and N-Drip aimed at increasing water efficiency across 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) around the world by 2025.

N-Drip’s high-efficiency irrigation system is powered by gravity and harnesses the water-saving benefits of high-pressure drip irrigation, but with low energy, operating and maintenance demands—making it more accessible to all types of farmers and nearly all types of crops. Farmers using N-Drip routinely achieve significant water savings, see larger crop yields, and reduce the need for expensive fertilizess. In addition, by converting from flood irrigation to N-Drip’s drip irrigation system, carbon (CO2) emissions are reduced by as much as 83 per cent and methane emissions by as much as 78 per cent.

Speaking about this development, Pratap Bose, Agro Director, Supply Chain, PepsiCo India, said, “Being an agri centric company at heart, PepsiCo India over the last 30+ years has been working towards increasing efficiency across its agri supply chain to reduce water usage by providing alternates to flood irrigation practices. The collaboration with N-Drip is another step in that direction. We are excited to partner with them as they are committed to solving the problem of water shortage by providing a robust alternative to flood irrigation. The initial response to the pilot project has been quite encouraging. We are already seeing improved crop yields, reduced fertiliser usage, and an average reduction of 39 per cent water consumption compared to flood irrigation in states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan.”

This new innovative technology not only applies to potato cultivation but also to other crops such as vegetables or maize.

Both companies have partnered to create sustainable

R&D

The study has demonstrated that the crop water use model MOPECO can be adapted to many different scenarios

In a collaborative work between the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Soil and Water Management Research, the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) in Spain, West Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife, researchers have adapted a crop model for use in the Texas High Plains to simulate crop water use and corn yield to help producers adjust center-pivot irrigation strategies and maximise profitability with limited water.

Crop producers in this semi-arid region of the Texas High Plains largely depend on groundwater irrigation. Each season, crop producers in the region evaluate how much land area could be irrigated under the pivot with limited water. Addressing this is not straightforward because producers must consider reducing irrigated areas, which influences grain yield, input costs, and the timing of the irrigation applications.

To help producers with these decisions, researchers completed a study that uses 25 years of climatic data to simulate corn production using a range of irrigation capacities, the maximum amount of water that can be delivered to an irrigated acre in a day, to evaluate water allocation strategies that could increase profitability and improve the efficient use of water. 

The model showed that for irrigation capacities representative of the region and a growing season with average rainfall, maximum profitability was achieved by irrigating about 75 per cent of entire pivot area with the remaining area in fallow or dryland cotton. Concentrating water generated greater net returns because of lower seed and fertiliser costs and greater corn yields that compensated for lack of production in fallow areas. In years with seasonal drought, the irrigated area would need to be further constrained to avoid crop failure and maximise profits.

“This study has demonstrated that the crop water use model MOPECO can be adapted to many different scenarios and is a useful tool for improving the environmental and economic sustainability of agricultural systems where water is limiting,” said Alfonso Domínguez researcher of the Centro Regional de Estudios del Agua (CREA) of UCLM.

The study has demonstrated that the crop

Agrotech

This programme represents a comprehensive solution designed specifically to combat nematodes

Netafim USA, a subsidiary of Netafim Limited has announced its partnership with Bayer to create the Precise Defense programme. This programme represents a comprehensive solution designed specifically to combat nematodes, an invisible but devastating threat to the health and productivity of almond trees. Precise Defense delivers a powerful one-two punch by utilising Netafim’s precision drip irrigation technology to deliver VelumÒ One Nematicide and other crop protection products directly to the root zone. This delivery method maximises residual efficacy through uniform application rates and significantly reduces the amount of water used to irrigate almond trees.

Growers who purchase a complete Netafim Dual Line Drip Irrigation System from an authorised dealer and purchase two annual applications of Velum One from an authorised dealer are qualified to earn a $40 per acre rebate. Over a three-year trial, Velum One treated trees returned an average yield increase of 18.1 per cent, or 292 pounds per acre.

“Netafim’s cutting edge drip irrigation systems improve irrigation uniformity and have the ability to reduce the amount of water needed to grow a pound of almonds by 20 per cent. In addition, our systems provide an efficient and effective delivery solution for Velum One and other crop protection chemicals,” said Mike Hemman, President and CEO, Netafim USA.

“The Precise Defense programme is a best-of-both-worlds partnership that addresses today’s almond growers’ most pressing concerns and now incentivises them to voluntarily adopt better solutions to combat climate change. By participating in the Precise Defense rebate program and investing in a drip irrigation system, growers can feel confident they have the tools to mitigate nematode damage, maintain, and use water more efficiently.” said Chuck Bates, Vice President of Products and Agronomy, Netafim USA.

This programme represents a comprehensive solution designed

Agrotech, Environment

The service is offered at no extra charge with every roll of Rivulis drip line and tape

Rivulis, a global leader in developing, manufacturing, and deploying micro-irrigation products and solutions, has launched ReelView, giving growers using Rivulis products access to an advanced set of crop monitoring tools from their mobile phone.

The service is offered at no extra charge with every roll of Rivulis drip line and tape. ReelView uses satellite imagery and advanced algorithms to enable growers to detect irrigation, fertiliser, disease, and other issues, even before they can be seen with the naked eye by looking out for changes in vegetation and plant wetness. These are represented by easy-to-use colour-coded fields maps. ReelView is powered by Manna, Rivulis’ Irrigation Intelligence service.

By monitoring vegetation variations and abnormalities, growers can identify under irrigated areas in the field that warrant further investigation. By contrast, plant wetness variability shows different moisture levels in the plants themselves, not the soil. Irrigation problems often show up first by a lack of moisture in plants so that issues can be identified early. Plant wetness variability might also indicate the over-irrigation of crops.

ReelView lets growers analyse the development of their crops throughout the season and up to three years of historic field data. It also provides hyper-local weather data specific to their fields.

ReelView is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Romanian, and Russian, with more languages available soon.
By helping growers using our products better spot possible issues regarding irrigation and plant health, the free ReelView app is their crop’s eye in the sky.

The service is offered at no extra