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Dry Out the Methane. Green Up Your Harvest. Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) is an easy, low-cost water-saving method for growing rice. Instead of keeping the rice field continuously flooded, farmers let the field dry out for several days between irrigations. The timing is guided by a simple field water tube (often bamboo or a PVC pipe) installed in the paddy. When the water level inside this tube drops to 15 cm below the soil surface, it is time to irrigate again. This alternating cycle cuts water use by about 25–30%, and helps reduce methane (a powerful greenhouse gas). By using AWD, farmers save money on irrigation costs (less pumping or water fees) while producing the same amount of rice, making them more resilient to water scarcity.
Simple signals, smarter farming The Chameleon™ Soil Water Sensor is a simple, low-cost tool that helps farmers decide when and how much to irrigate. Buried in the crop’s root zone, the sensor mimics how plants extract water from the soil. Its readings are displayed through a colour code (blue = wet, green = adequate, red = dry), making it easy to understand without technical training. The system can be read manually using a Chameleon Card or digitally through a Wi-Fi Reader that stores and uploads data to the Virtual Irrigation Academy (VIA) platform. It works in all soil types, is easy to install, and provides accurate results for 2–4 years. By preventing under- or over-irrigation, the Chameleon improves crop yields, water and fertilizer efficiency, labour productivity, and income, while supporting more sustainable water management in both smallholder and large-scale irrigation systems.
The sustainable solution for irrigating your crops and watering your livestock using rainwater collected on your farm. Check dam is a water conservation technique widely adopted in arid, semi-arid, and subhumid regions. It collects rainwater runoff from a catchment area and stores it in artificial structures like farm ponds or embankment dams. These facilities hold rainwater during the wet season for later use in crop irrigation, animal watering, or groundwater recharge. For example, a pyramid-shaped farm pond measuring 10 m by 4 m with a depth of 4 m can store up to 72,000 liters of water. This stored water helps farmers overcome seasonal water shortages and supports better crop growth.
Drip Irrigation Drip irrigation is a highly efficient watering method that delivers water slowly and directly to plant roots, minimizing water waste. It operates under low pressure using drippers or emitters matched to planting spacing. Key benefits include up to 95% water use efficiency, significant water savings (up to 70% less than sprinkler systems), and crop yield increases (e.g., 2.8 times higher in Kenya). The system reduces labor and energy costs by enabling automation and precise water control. It is adaptable to various crops, soils, and terrains, and supports sustainable agriculture by conserving water, reducing fertilizer use, and improving plant health. Drip irrigation is suitable from small household kits to large commercial farms, making it a smart, scalable solution for efficient and sustainable farming.
Wetting Front Detector The Wetting Front Detector (WFD) is a simple, cost-effective tool that helps farmers monitor soil water movement within the root zone to prevent both over- and under-irrigation. It operates mechanically, without the need for power, software, or loggers, using a float mechanism that raises an indicator flag when the soil reaches the target moisture depth. The technology is suitable for drip, sprinkler, and furrow irrigation systems and supports efficient water management, improved crop yields and quality, and better fertilizer and nutrient use. The detector also allows water sampling to assess nutrient and salinity levels. Installation depth varies depending on the irrigation method and crop type, and a box containing two detectors costs approximately USD 36 (excluding shipping). Complementary tools, such as soil moisture sensors, drip or micro-sprinkler systems, nutrient testing kits, and mobile irrigation tracking, can be used to maximize the potential of WFD technology.
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