Auto-Smart Irrigation and Energy

The Auto-Smart Irrigation and Energy is a grassroots solution develop to help farmers carry out year-round cultivation by providing water.

Access to efficient irrigation practices and technology is an enabler to enhance the productivity and income of farmers.

The Auto-Smart Irrigation System is an innovative technological solution to address the problem of drought (caused by climate change), Inconsistent rainfall, over reliance on seasonal cropping. It serves as an artificial means of supplying a controlled amount of water through water pumps, pipes, sprinklers and wireless GSM control.

The system is designed to increase productivity of the farmer through reducing the time and 90% of the manual labour required to manually water the land using the traditional watering-can. It is eco-friendly and provides the convenience to automatically control and monitor the watering of the farm from a remote distance. It scare away pests and predators. Due to the use of solar energy to power the system, the farmers will save up to 50% cost as compared to using a diesel-powered water pump to water the farm.

The system components are: water sprinklers-powered by solar energy, a GSM distance monitoring and control (over the range of 10000 miles away) a temperature sensor to determine soil moisture, an alarm system to scare away pest and predators, and application of pesticide spray.

Although Sierra Leone relies heavily on agriculture as a major source of livelihood for most of its population (more particularly the rural communities), most farmers depend on seasonal agriculture which is affected by inconsistent rainfall (due to climate change), lack of improved agricultural practices, lack of access to finance and equipment, among others. Irrigated agriculture on the other hand, is highly inaccessible and still in its infancy. In general, places with effective water control and the ability to grow more than one crop per year are few. Farmers encounter several challenges in adopting irrigation as an alternative to the seasonal approach, which include the  intensive labour required to source and water the farm, lack of efficient pest and disease control measures, outdated practices among others. These challenges continue to create a barrier for the small to medium scale farmers across the country to improve their productivity, which leads to an alarming rate of food insecurity and poverty across the nation. Additionally, the few farmers that are into the current rudimentary form of irrigated agriculture, normally use costly and inefficient means of watering their farms such as (a) the use of diesel-powered water pump to water the farm, which has a high probability of spilling oil into the land that causes crop damage (b) the use of buckets and watering cans to water the entire farm.  

There are over 5,000 Farmers in my country Sierra.

the few farmers that are into the current rudimentary form of irrigated agriculture, normally use costly and inefficient means of watering their farms such as (a) the use of diesel-powered water pump to water the farm, which has a high probability of spilling oil into the land that causes crop damage (b) the use of buckets and watering cans to water the entire farm. 

Design Objectives:
a. To help farmer improve productivity through reducing time and energy used in watering the farm
b. To provide a low Cost and Efficient system, because of the farmers low level of income 
c. To maintain optimum moisture level in soil for optimization of crop yield
d. To help the farmer controls pests and predators which will lead to better yield and increased productivity
e. To maintain both initial investment and annual cost at minimum level
f. To design manageable type of system which last and perform well, and can be easily operated and maintained.
g. To provide the farmer with the convenience to control and monitor the watering process from a remote distance.
5. How it works

We have done research and benchmark on the problem and current alternative solution.

We worked closely with the farmers groups to understand clearly their needs in terms of increasing their productivity and they highly recommend out system.

The system has been developed and tested in Koidu City, Kono District, Eastern region Sierra

Leone, where the company operates. The experimentation process has been tested 8 times more

especially during the dries and has been approved by the United Nations Development program

Sierra Leone UNDP Accelerator Lab and the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation

DsTI, a government ministry that was setup for innovation validation.

We have tested 5 different varieties of vegetative and grain crops during the dries with our system

and they were able to grow perfectly just as compared to natural rain.

Because of the system we were able to cultivate 3 times a year ( the system provide water just as

rain so we don't wait for rain to come, we farm during the dries too)

A Digital IoT GSM device is attached to the main control box, which serves as a remote switch

controlled by a mobile phone to power the submissive pump to start pumping the water.

It automatically controls the entire system and can be operated from a remote distance (over the

range of 10000 miles away). It has a digital GSM device, a 2v savor motor, an inbuilt charger and

two 5v lithium batteries, a switch, a Light Emmiting Diode LED lights (green, red and blue) and an

input and output socket.

The entire system is powered by a renewable source of energy (Solar).

No user at the moment, 

But 1,000 farmers are expected to benefit in the next 2 years.

Access to efficient irrigation practices and technology is an enabler to enhance the productivity

and income of farmers. Our device encourages year-round cultivation meanwhile it can help

Farmers to cultivate even during the dries. The system is designed to increase productivity of the

farmer through reducing the time and 90% of the manual labour required to manually water the

land using the traditional watering can. It is eco-friendly and provides the convenience to

automatically control and monitor the watering of the farm from a remote distance.

Design Objectives:

a. To help farmer improve productivity through reducing time and energy used in watering the farm

b. To provide a low Cost and Efficient system, because of the farmers low level of income

c. To maintain optimum moisture level in soil for optimization of crop yield

d. To help the farmer controls pests and predators which will lead to better yield and increased

productivity

e. To maintain both initial investment and annual cost at minimum level

f. To design manageable type of system which last and perform well, and can be easily operated

and maintained.

g. To provide the farmer with the convenience to control and monitor the watering process from a

remote distance.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: Our environment our future this products see environment

as paramount for our living we will practice all environmental precaution in all our activities through

renewable energy system and the use of climate friendly equipment that is adaption and mitigation

approaches.

SDGs 2 

The system has been developed and tested in Koidu City, Kono District, Eastern region Sierra
Leone, The experimentation process has been tested 8 times more
especially during the dries and has been approved by the United Nations Development program
Sierra Leone UNDP Accelerator Lab and the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation
DsTI, a government ministry that was setup for innovation validation.
We have tested 5 different varieties of vegetative and grain crops during the dries with our system
and they were able to grow perfectly just as compared to natural rain.
Because of the system we were able to cultivate 3 times a year ( the system provide water just as
rain so we don't wait for rain to come, we farm during the dries too)

Our GSM automatic wireless switch system is just a phone dial away and your entire farmland is

irrigated no matter the distance. Over 100,000 miles away.

The company currently needs additional support to scale-up the business to reach the targeted

farmers and make it more accessible.

All the components to set-up the system are all available here in Sierra Leone. The components

are accessable.

The entire system can be entirely develop locally.

Sierra Leone has significant amount of arable land, most of which remain uncultivated. With

millions of hectares of arable land available for cultivation opportunity.

The European Union, World Bank and United Nations food and agriculture organization have

confirm that Sierra Leone has a comparative advantage in supplying products in the international

market.

1. Access to Finance.

2. A well equiped Fabrication Labor.

3. Transportation.

4. Mentorship

5. Advertisement.

1. Osman Yaah: CEO and Founder. Programmer and plumber 

2. Aiah Emmanuel Gborie: financial manager.

3. Martin Dainbaquee: Electrical engineerand and water management.

4. Mark Aiah Fomba: Electronic engineer.

We are a team of four innovative and motivated young change makers from divers background.

We are dedicated and passionate about bringing possible solutions to some of our community challenges.

With the help of the team we have been able to  test and pilot the project successful.

From what the team has shown in the pilot phase I'm convinced that we have all the technical knowhow to execute the project.

The Commercial farmers organization.

They are one of our target beneficiary in the future.

Majority of the mid-range and commercial farmers in my country are youth and women.

heavenly depending on it as their source of income.

The system is designed to increase productivity of the farmer which will  boost their income and better standard of living, social, environmental, and economic needs in their communities and the world. 

Although Sierra Leone relies heavily on agriculture as a major source of livelihood for most of its population (more particularly the rural communities), most farmers depend on seasonal agriculture

rudimentary form of irrigated agriculture, normally use costly and inefficient means of watering

insecurity and poverty across the nation. Additionally, the few farmers that are into the current

their farms such as (a) the use of diesel-powered water pump to water the farm, which has a high

farmers across the country to improve their productivity, which leads to an alarming rate of food

cans to water the entire farm. 

practices, lack of equipment, among others. Irrigated agriculture on the other hand, is highly

grow more than one crop per year are few. Farmers encounter several challenges in adopting

source and water the farm, lack of efficient pest and disease control measures, outdated practices

According to a report published this year by the World Food Programme (WFP) on Food Security

cultivation as a primary source of income. Almost all farmers (97.5 %) cultivate the land with hand

inaccessible and still in its infancy. In general, places with effective water control and the ability to

which is affected by inconsistent rainfall (due to climate change), lack of improved agricultural

probability of spilling oil into the land that causes crop damage, the use of buckets and watering

Food insecurity in Sierra Leone affects around 3.3 million people in rural areas, compared to 1.4

causes of Low yields that contribute to Sierra Leone's food insecurity are: Lack of smart Irrigation

post-harvest losses, and high food costs. 

among others. These challenges continue to create a barrier for the small to medium scale

practices, outdated farming practices, insufficient and expensive agricultural inputs, dangerously

irrigation as an alternative to the seasonal approach, which include the intensive labour required to

and Vulnerability Analysis in Sierra Leone, 77% of rural households rely on labour-intensive food

tools, making agriculture a labour-intensive, unprofitable, and insecure source of income. The root

million in urban areas. Severe acute malnutrition (as defined by the circumference of the (mid upper arm) increased from 0.6 percent in 2017 to 3.7 percent in 2020, and is significantly linked to
their farms such as (a) the use of diesel-powered water pump to water the farm, which has a high
farmers across the country to improve their productivity, which leads to an alarming rate of food
practices, lack of equipment, among others. Irrigated agriculture on the other hand, is highly
million in urban areas. Severe acute malnutrition (as defined by the circumference of the mid
grow more than one crop per year are few. Farmers encounter several challenges in adopting
source and water the farm, lack of efficient pest and disease control measures, outdated practices
According to a report published this year by the World Food Programme (WFP) on Food Security
inaccessible and still in its infancy. In general, places with effective water control and the ability to
relative to the 2.6 percent in 2017. 
Food insecurity in Sierra Leone affects around 3.3 million people in rural areas, compared to 1.4
post-harvest losses, and high food costs. 
irrigation as an alternative to the seasonal approach, which include the intensive labour required to
tools, making agriculture a labour-intensive, unprofitable, and insecure source of income. The root
rudimentary form of irrigated agriculture, normally use costly and inefficient means of watering
population (more particularly the rural communities), most farmers depend on seasonal agriculture
insecurity and poverty across the nation. Additionally, the few farmers that are into the current
cans to water the entire farm. 
cultivation as a primary source of income. Almost all farmers (97.5 %) cultivate the land with hand
which is affected by inconsistent rainfall (due to climate change), lack of improved agricultural
probability of spilling oil into the land that causes crop damage, the use of buckets and watering
causes of Low yields that contribute to Sierra Leone's food insecurity are: Lack of smart Irrigation
among others. These challenges continue to create a barrier for the small to medium scale
a high mortality risk. The global chronic malnutrition rate is considerably higher at 6.7 percent,
practices, outdated farming practices, insufficient and expensive agricultural inputs, dangerously
and Vulnerability Analysis in Sierra Leone, 77% of rural households rely on labour-intensive food
and it has triple in 2021

With  all these challenges highlighted, my solution is in the right position to solving them not only In my community but other countries as well.