Young innovator launches automated irrigation system
As government endeavors to empower local farming, young entrepreneur and innovator, Dikaelo Nwako has invented an automated irrigation system to help farmers improve crop production. The system is more accurate and very efficient as it is using sensors compared to the common time based irrigation system.
“This system will improve crop yield and quality because it is using computerised sensor system that shows moisture content and pointed out the e exact time for watering. Most of the times farmers are overwatering crops and this compromises quality so this system will reduce some of these problems.” Speaking to the Midweek Sun, Nwako said he developed the system with some partners from South Africa and it has worked efficiently in few farms in South Africa.
The system is equipped with temperature sensors and works through a customised control box. Dikaelo also highlighted that his vision was driven by the environment to develop all products after proper research and interaction with the daily needs of the nation.
“The company produces and develops Agricultural products and Technologies best suited for our environment.
Compared to satellite surveillance technology, the automated irrigation system is more accurate because it is real time based and gives detailed information while satellite uses images which are processed after an hour. With the current government initiative of the vegetable import ban Nwako said it is high time local farmers adopt new farming technologies so they can be able to increase their production capacity and quality.
“Local farmers are currently producing in low quantities and low quality because they are using human judgement. Countries with high agriculture produce use smart farming technologies. Through this technology we will be able to monitor all types of vegetables and produce good quality”.
The system can also be used in health and mining fields to detect dust pollution. It can also identify the contamination of water in rivers and dams. The young entrepreneur said despite the market penetration challenges he has not limited his innovations to farming only but also assembles computers.
“We have recently acquired the manufacturing license to manufacture the computer processors that will enable farmers to use cooling system for seedlings.” Nwako highlighted that some of the challenges that limits young entrepreneurs to advance in farming technologies is the government bureaucracies.
“We are creative and innovative and capable but we fail to progress because of bureaucracies. In most cases the country adopts technologies and standards from other countries which are most ineffective in our environments. We fail to deliver our own innovations as a country”.