‘What gets measured, gets managed’ is a quote often used in sustainable resource management discussions. Regular monitoring of land cover change, conducting tree and animal census forms the basis for forest management. Traditional agricultural practices were based in indigenous knowledge, organic inputs, and involved practice / experience based on people’s science. With advancements in science and increase in the scale of agriculture, use of technology in the farms becomes imperative. And in this context measuring parameters like soil moisture, water availability, soil and water quality, weather prediction will help farmers make educated decisions at her farm.

‘Bhujal Jankars’, who are community resource persons trained by us in practical applications of hydro-geology, play a key role in this process. They have a good rapport with the community, are scientifically informed and collect data for various parameters using respective instruments. We train them to understand 

1. The importance of data

2. Science based farming practices

3. Theory of data parameters such as soil moisture, groundwater level, TDS, soil quality parameters

4. Interpreting data of above mentioned parameters

5. Understanding trends and changes in data parameters

6. Communicating and explaining to farmers about collected data

(Field soil testing kit and BJs measuring soil moisture on field)

(Integrated data system to measure different parameters)

Smart farming is an evolving field, and in our attempts of creating pilot farms implementing smart farming, we have learnt a lot. 

• It is important to understand the importance of data and regular data collection, and gradually build a vision around smart farming. In absence of such an understanding, regular data collection can seem to become monotonous and burdensome. So, at regular intervals we organise workshops with experts, farmers, Bhujal Jankars and our staff to build this vision.

• Data can sometimes feel abstract, especially when it is stored on servers. So it is important for farmers and field teams to access data easily and make sense of it through visualisations, discussions with peers and guidance from subject experts.

• It is also important to develop a language to communicate scientific concepts, data parameters and its application in farming to farmers. This language needs to be regional, clear and simple to understand.

• Sometimes smart farming technology can seem daunting, especially to farmers who may not be exposed to it. So, it is important to train farmers in the practical applications of technology and handhold them till they feel confident enough to use and explore on their own.

• As a process smart farming could involve multiple stakeholders including farmers, scientists, domain experts, startups and technology providers, NGOs, government. It is crucial to develop inclusive partnerships and ensure that the technology reaches the farmers in farmer-friendly ways.To add in next bullet - WIN Foundation in partnership with our partner, ACT organised a field workshop on 'Farmer centric protocols in agriculture practices and role of innovation and technology' in Kachchh October 2023. We invited several partners, met with various farmer groups to discuss issues in agriculture and possible solutions using technology. You can read the workshop output report here.

1. Please give introduction of ACTs role in bringing innovations in the village communities 

Natural resource management at village and community level will be a key determinant of the standard of living and overall village development and well being of the communities. 

ACT has evolved the concept of Participatory Groundwater Management (PGWM) for water security and sustainability. ACT’s long term experiments and success through PGWM program have shown a more sustainable path towards this, by skilling and active participation in the water security planning, monitoring and management. Alongwith water supply augmentation, water demand management is a crucial component of PGWM. The demand side of water management has logically led to the need to introduce smart or precision farming among the small and marginal farmers. This has potential for not just better water security, but also increased farm incomes with better soil health.  Women-led initiatives have led to nutri-garden projects, bringing more nutrition to their families and also creating opportunities for barter and microentrepreneurship.

2. Objectives of bringing Innovations to Grassroot rural communities

Water balance is a key to water management that includes many dynamic parameters such as rainfall, runoff, water storage as surface and groundwater, groundwater dynamics. As every component is a part of water cycle and is dynamic, it is essential to maintain the balance of water input vs output through integrated hydrogeological monitoring that has been framed using innovative technologies.  Rural communities are adopting innovations and technologies in form of mobile phones, household durables, electric motors, etc. Our village society had evolved practices in water use suitable for different locations. However, in view of vastly higher population and their rising aspirations, there is great need for new innovations to be adopted in management of rural Commons - particularly water sources. Innovations for optimised usage of water for farming arises as a key need due to agriculture being the biggest user of water, roughly 80 to 90% of total usage. 

As an example, we have introduced soil testing kits at field level. These are very useful for quick analysis of soil, enabling farmers to determine adding soil nutrients. These are particularly useful for organic farming, since organic inputs, by their very nature, have varying strengths of nutrients, requiring farmers to measure and then fine tune nutrient inputs to achieve optimum level.

Our family nutrition practices have also suffered due to reduced agriculture diversity and lack of knowledge in evolving sustainable nutrition practices suitable for modern lifestyles, affecting even villages.

The major challenges are explained below:

Startups have limited resources and their founders find it very difficult to reach rural areas, for sales and service.  

Also innovative products, by their very nature, require extensive trials and refinements, to reach maturity stage.  

As the users themselves are not familiar with such products, continuous training, and guidance are required for these trials and feedback needs to be obtained. 

We have now launched an integrated project providing a series of innovations and practices towards precision farming, to show major improvements. For this, we are collaborating with multiple partners, including WIN Foundation, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, several startups, to bring increased expertise to rural areas including local capacity building. 

For scaling up across a vast number of villages, we are also working on developing local leadership at village level, to enable village level initiatives to take of the vast diversities in our country.

4. Please mention some areas where good innovations are required

We see great need for affordable and mature innovations for  soil and water quality and and water quantity with higher efficiency of results.

Soil moisture meter needs to be upgraded with guideline for decision making to schedule irrigation for various crop types. 

There is a need of integrated guideline considering different soil types, its quality and suitable crop types. 

Water irrigation control for high HP pumpset at a reasonable price with robustness to work in tough rural environment is another unmet need.

Small powered farm implements, for de-weeding, harvesting, removing crop residue after harvesting, etc., in small farms.

Seed bank for local varieties and indigenous seeds.
 

5. Please mention about ACTs partnership with WIN Foundation  to support in bringing innovations

WIN Foundation, through its experience and linkages in startup ecosystem have regularly brought new innovative products and also arranged for training of ACT members in installation and usage.

ACT and WIN Foundation have also conceptualised the program for integration of data  services to bring greater value to farmers. Together with other partners, we aim to move towards our goal of taking society to science and enable villages to adopt technologies and products to improve their quality of life and quality and productivity of their work.

1. Your vision behind developing an innovation -  the need and innovation of your product and its impact on social communities.

The vision behind developing our innovative water quality monitoring device stemmed from the pressing need to address the severe environmental threat of water pollution, particularly in developing nations like India. Human activities, such as industrial and agricultural processes, contribute significantly to this issue, necessitating constant monitoring and swift interventions. Our product's impact on social communities lies in its affordability, accessibility, and real-time data transmission capabilities. By providing a cost-effective, multi-parametric, IoT-enabled solution, we aim to empower communities and authorities with the tools needed for effective water resource management and remediation.

2. What is the current status - challenges and opportunities?

The current status of our project reflects the challenges and opportunities inherent in the water quality monitoring market. Challenges include the high costs, limited functionality, and maintenance requirements of existing devices. However, the opportunities lie in our innovative approach, offering a device that is not only affordable but also integrates cutting-edge IoT technology. This positions us uniquely in the market, addressing the constraints that hinder widespread adoption of water quality monitoring solutions.

3. What are your goals in the next 2 to 3 years?

Over the next 2 to 3 years, our goals are to enhance our device by integrating more sensors, ensuring market readiness with necessary certifications and approvals. We envision expanding our impact by reaching a broader audience and contributing significantly to sustainable water resource management on a global scale.

4. How do you view support by a non-profit foundations like WIN Foundation and Maker Bhavan Foundation received through competitions

The support received from non-profit foundations like WIN Foundation and Maker Bhavan Foundation, especially through competitions, is instrumental in propelling our innovation forward. These foundations play a crucial role in fostering innovation and providing a platform for us to showcase our solution. Their support not only validates the significance of our work but also opens doors to further collaboration and networking within the industry.
 

5. Highlight notable achievements

Notable achievements include the successful development and testing of our prototype, demonstrating exceptional performance and reliability. Our device's affordability, user-friendly design, and environmentally conscious features set it apart in the market. These achievements position us as pioneers in revolutionizing water quality monitoring, contributing to global efforts for sustainable water resource management and remediation.