Ideaz

My Idea: Smart Irrigation and Stubble Solution

Farmers in India face two main problems.

The first is water wastage. Most of the time, farmers don’t know the right time to start or stop irrigation. Pumps are kept running even when the soil already has enough water. This not only wastes water and electricity but also damages pumps when the groundwater level is too low.

The second problem is stubble burning. After harvesting crops like paddy, farmers usually burn the leftover stubble in their fields. This is one of the biggest reasons for air pollution in India. Every year, it causes smog and also damages the soil.

My idea is to make a simple system that can help solve both these problems. A sensor in the borewell will check the water level, and another sensor in the soil will check if the land is dry or wet. Based on this, farmers will get a message on their phone.

• If the soil is dry and water is available: “Start irrigation now.”
• If the soil already has moisture or the groundwater is low: “Stop irrigation, save water and electricity.”

After harvesting, the same system can also help with stubble management. For example, it can send a message like:
“The soil is moist. This is the right time to mix stubble into the soil with a rotavator. Avoid burning.”

This way, farmers will know exactly when to water their fields and when to stop. They will also get reminders to avoid burning stubble, which will reduce pollution.

Why this idea is good:

• Saves water and electricity.
• Protects pumps.
• Improves crop yield.
• Reduces pollution caused by stubble burning.
• Keeps the soil healthy for the next crop.

To check if this idea works, I would first talk to farmers to see if they are interested. Then I would try it on a few farms by sending simple phone messages and see if they follow the advice. If they find it useful, it can later be expanded to more villages across India.