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Between 2015 and 2021, India lost 33.9 million hectares of crops due to excess rain and another 35 million hectares because of drought, according to the World Economic Forum. These losses show how farmers are deeply affected and also threaten the country’s food security.
The Idea-
CropShield is an IoT-based system designed to help farmers protect their crops from sudden heavy rain and strong winds.
Initially, I thought of using motorized covers that automatically deploy using sensors when it rains heavily after a certain point. But covers can be expensive and may not survive strong storms. So I came up with a better approach:
• When water starts pooling in the fields, soil moisture and water-level sensors detect excess water. These sensors send data to a central IoT controller connected with Wi-Fi. If the water crosses a set threshold, the system automatically activates pumps or solenoid valves to redirect water into farm ponds, storage tanks, or underground recharge pits.
• This not only reduces crop damage but also allows the stored water to be reused for irrigation or when we direct them to underground it gradually increase the groundwater levels.
For strong winds, CropShield also includes:
• Anemometers (wind speed sensors) are installed on the farm. These, combined with real-time weather forecast APIs, allow the system to predict and detect dangerous wind speeds. The IoT controller then sends instant alerts to farmers via SMS, app notifications, or even voice calls in local language.
• Alongside alerts, farmers can use low-cost rope grids, netting, or pole supports to stabilize vulnerable crops. The advance warning also gives them time to reinforce plants or harvest early if needed.
Future Improvements
• Drones: Future versions might use drones to deploy protective sheets over small, high-value crops.
• Scalability: A modular design ensures the system works for both small farms and large agricultural operations.
Who Benefits?
• Farmers: Less crop loss, secure water for reuse, and reduced borewell dependence.
• Consumers: A more stable food supply.
• Communities: Improved food security and groundwater recharge.
Why This Matters to Me
Since Farming has been my family background, so I know the struggles and challenges farmers face and I always wanted to create something for them. With CropShield, I hope to make farming less uncertain—turning their hard work into a safer, more reliable outcome.
Comments
The biggest missing piece is a reliable power source. A heavy storm is exactly when the local power grid is most likely to fail, which would shut down the entire system right when the farmer needs it most. The pumps and sensors would be useless without electricity.
So you can make the use of an entire self-sufficient system by integrating it with solar panels and a battery backup. A small solar setup could power the sensors, the controller, and even the water pumps, ensuring CropShield works flawlessly, even during a power cut.
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