Smart Irrigation Market Trends and Drivers

Trends in Smart Irrigation Market

Advanced Features in Systems are a Major Trend

Smart irrigation systems are widely employed in agricultural fields, golf courses, sports grounds, and residential areas. IoT-enabled smart irrigation systems aid in water level detection by automatically irrigating crops and others based on the moisture level in the soil, as well as keeping track of the land condition. Moreover, the rising need for IoT and cloud technologies in this field is attributable to the increasing demand for smart irrigation solutions.

Advanced features, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), enable temperature and soil moisture sensing, weathering pattern tracking, long-term environmental forecasts, and water level prediction, as per real-time observations. These precision irrigation methods are highly imperative to optimize water usage and prevent wastage.

For example, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Gear Lab is making precision agriculture more accessible, particularly to subsistence farmers across regions where there is a paucity of water. The solar-powered drip irrigation systems of GEAR Lab can reduce water and energy usage, while optimizing the crop yield at a low cost. Further, its smart controller combines weather data and AI inputs for the exact scheduling of irrigation, which reduces water usage by 44%. Such solutions improve sustainability and efficiency and help in agricultural resource optimization.

Government Initiatives for Sustainable Farming Drive Market

The various initiatives taken by governments across the globe to promote sustainable agriculture and water conservation are boosting the growth of the smart irrigation market. In many water-scarce areas in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, the financial incentives, subsidies, and grants to install water-efficient technologies positively influence the growth of this market.

Policies for the reduction of water consumption, accompanied by other stringent environmental regulations, necessitate farmers’ switch to alternatives, including IoT-based irrigation systems.

Government-supported research and development programs also facilitate the uptake of affordable, smart irrigation technologies for better drought and water management. In India, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has allocated INR 93,068.56 crore to enhance access to water at farms. This scheme, coupled with Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP), Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), and Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), intends to improve irrigation efficacy and water access, while promoting sustainable resource usage in agriculture.

These initiatives, combined with partnerships among governments, the private sector, and research institutions, make smart irrigation technologies accessible to farmers, mainly smallholder and resource-poor farmers.

Rapid Advancements in 5G Networks and Communication Technologies Offer Several Opportunities

Continuous advancements in communication technologies allow farmers and residential users to remotely access their irrigation systems. Wireless data transmission technologies are replacing traditional hardwire systems, as advanced wireless sensors provide mobility, convenience, and other benefits. Irrigation systems use radio frequency technologies to communicate with wireless signal transmission networks. Thus, technological advancements improve interoperability between the control center and the equipment, increasing the efficiency of the systems.

Moreover, the use of 5G in the agriculture sector has the potential to improve the whole value chain, from precision farming to smart irrigation; and advance soil and crop monitoring and animal management. Thus, farmers can carry out more efficient and effective irrigation with the usage of 5G technology. They can utilize soil probes that are buried under the soil and can be connected easily via 5G connectivity. Further, these devices can capture data, such as soil patterns, moisture content, and salinity, which, in turn, provide insights to farmers related to the health of their crops. Therefore, these factors offer several opportunities to players in the smart irrigation market.