Development of Smart Irrigation System for:Optimization of Water use and Increasing Crop Yield (SISO-WAY)
Introduction
Agriculture in Nepal has long been based on subsistence farming. Approximately two third of the population is involved in agriculture, which constitutes 34 percent of GDP. The seasonal nature of farming leads to widespread underemployment, but programs to grow cash crops and encourage cottage industries have had some success over the years. Population increase and environmental degradation have ensured that the minimal gains in agricultural production, owing more to the extension of arable land than to improvements in farming practices, have been canceled out.
The main challenge for our irrigated agricultural sector is to increase water use efficiency to result in increase in the productivity of land and water in a sustainable way (more crops per drop per hectare). It is important to optimize the available resources to achieve maximum return. Towards this goal, new technologies need to be applied to provide an optimal alternative to gather and process information to enhance the productivity. Climate change and scarcity of water demand new and improved method for modern agricultural fields. Consequently the field for automation and intelligent decision making is becoming more important to achieve this mission.
Background
Laboratory for ICT Resaerch and Development (LICT)-Information and Communication Technology Center (ICTC) has signed MoU on 25 Dec. 2019 with The Water Resource Research and Development Centre (WRRDC), Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation to carryout detailed study, preparation of detailed project report and implementation of the project report for “Developement of Smart Irrigation System for: Optimization of Water Use and Increasing Crop Yield (SISO-WAY)" resulting with research work.
WRRDC perceive that the research work would come forth with publications of national and international repute as well as conferences of national and international levels and commendable achievements of the study would emerge through successful completion of Doctoral (PhD) and Master of Science (Engineering) thesis.
The complete research work is conceptualized to be carried out in three phases. Phase (I) Study/Plan which will cover the field work and documentation to prepare detailed project report (DPR), Phase (II) Implementation will include all aspects of implementation of activities on the basis of the DPR and Phase (III) Research Study will cover all research activities to understand the operational aspects and its improvement, impact and such other aspects for optimization to achieve more crop per drop.
Project Area
The project is designated at Gauradaha Municipality-5, Jhapa (previously Maharanijhoda-3, Jhapa) where community based small farmers group cultivate around 50 Ha (80 Bigha) agricultural land in an integrated way. The land is divided into 8 blocks (each ranging from 8 Bigha to 14 Bigha) with 3.0m of service road. WRRDC intend to select one suitable block among the 8 blocks for this study purpose. Several crops are cultivated within the same area with specific irrigation demands and different average yields. The major crops in the command area are monsoon paddy, maize, oil seed and wheat.
Objective(s)
The objective of this research work is to carry out detailed field study and preparation of detailed project report (DPR) for the Development of Smart Irrigation System for: Optimization of Water Use and Increasing Crop Yield (SISO-WAY) in the project area using appropriate information and communication technology (ICT) (Agricultural IoT and Automation).
Reserach Duration: 18 Weeks
Principle Investigator: Prof. Devi Prasad Bhattarai
Co Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanjeeb Pd Panday
Expert Team Member(s):
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arun K. Timalsina
Asst. Prof. Dr. Aman Shakya
Asst. Prof. Dr. Basanta Joshi
Asst. Prof. Babu R. Dawadi
Other Experts as per requirements
Research Advisor(s): Prof. Dr. Shashidhar R. Joshi
Foreign Experts:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Danda B. Rawat, Wireless Sesor Networks, IoT and Security
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manoj Karkee, Agricultural Robotics
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rajeev K Kantha, Agricultural/Industrial IoT
This research is Funded by Water Resource Research and Development Centre (WRRDC), Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation
