‘Soil Moisture Indicator’ launched at ICAR -
Sugarcane Breeding Institute
Dr Bakshi Ram, Director of ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore
launched the ‘Soil Moisture Indicator’ (SMI) device at the Institute premises on
20 January 2016.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr
Bakshi Ram said that, of late, depletion of water resources in agriculture has
been a serious cause of concern. In most of the farmers’ fields, particularly
in sugarcane fields, efficient irrigation management practices such as
irrigation-scheduling, based on soil moisture status is rarely in practice. In
an effort to save water and to facilitate irrigation-scheduling, ICAR-SBI has
developed a handy and user-friendly electronic moisture–indicating device,
named “Soil Moisture Indicator”.
The SMI device helps the farmers
in deciding when to irrigate their fields and as a result there would be
considerable saving of irrigation water.
Expressing gratitude to those involved in the design & development of the
device, he informed that the SMI technology was evolved with the active
participation of farmers and sugar factory personnel across three agro-climatic
zones of Tamil Nadu through the Farmers’ Participatory Action Research Project
(FPARP).
Explaining the mode of operation, he said that the sensor rods of SMI need to
be inserted into the soil to a required depth to assess the soil moisture,
which is indicated by glowing LEDs. Dr Bakshi Ram added that the device is
suitable for use in agricultural farms as well as in potted plants.
The institute has registered four designs of SMI, while a product patent is
pending. Tech Source Solutions, a Bangalore based firm that has entered
into a license agreement with ICAR-SBI has started marketing this device by
pricing it at Rs.1200.00. Details are available in www.sugarcane.res.in and www.caneinfo.nic.in
Contact details of the
manufacturer:
Tech Source Solutions
No 163, Rajeshwari Complex
2nd Floor, Above Karnataka Bank,
R V Road, Near Minerva Circle
Bangalore 560004
Phone: +91- 8792102264 / 9035067427
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