Three final year scholars from the University of Malawi (UNIMA) have created an automatic Irrigation Monitoring System that helps maintain soil moisture levels which is essential for soil health.
The three students are Luwatiko Mlambia, Jamikeni Phiri and Elube Shaba and are pursuing bachelor’s degree in electronics at the prestigious University of Malawi.
Speaking to ProjectM, the group’s team leader Luwatiko Mlambia, from Ifumbo Village, Traditional Authority Mwabulambya in Chitipa District said the device allows farmers or users to remotely monitor the status of the irrigation system at the FARM, by using a mobile device or Laptop.
Mlambia has stated that effective irrigation management is essential for maintaining a healthy productive agricultural operation, saying with professional consultancy, farmers can significantly optimise their water usage and improve crop health and yields.
He said: “This modern tool helps to improve the mapping and planning of irrigation systems, provides guidance on how to use water resources effectively and most importantly this will be used for more efficient monitoring and managing information.
“However, depending on the moisture levels, the user receives a notification whenever the moisture is below the minimum threshold or above the maximum threshold, and therefore one can decide to turn on the water pump or switch it off remotely even if the owner is not at the farm.”
In the case where the farmer forgets to switch on or off the pump, he said, the gadget will automatically sensor when the moisture is too high or too low.
“This initiative will improve productivity while on the other hand, it is time saving and reduces labor costs associated with manual. The users have enough time to engage in other activities because they are not required to appear physically during irrigation time,’’ said Mlambia.
The 24-year-old scholar has indicated that the project enables efficient use of water in irrigation systems by supplying the crops with the right moisture content at the right time.
Said Mlambia: “This user-friendly monitoring system is able to control your irrigation with a remote controlled watering system directly from your home or anywhere away from the Farm, ensuring your fields get the right water they need, thereby improving their productivity and saving water resources.
“In case you encounter or experience intermittent connections, you don’t need to worry because this system will automatically save the crops and provide a buffer against being dried up or drowning by turning on or turning off the pump.’’
According to the UNIMA student, they have used K150,000 to come up with this innovative project adding that some of the materials were taken from dead cars while others were bought from the local market
He noted that limited financial gains is one of the challenges that are hampering efforts in carrying out other projects and has asked well-wishers to intervene.
Luwatiko Mlambia and his team can be reached on: +265 994 35 81 38.
