IoT sensors for irrigation water accounting
Kochkor villages
Description
Under FAO’s “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Drought-Prone and Salt-Affected Agricultural Production Systems of Central Asia and Türkiye” project, six Internet of Things (IoT) sensors have been integrated into the irrigation systems run by the water resource management departments in the Kochkor district in Kyrgyzstan. The sensors provide real-time information on the volume of water at the gauging stations of Kockhor district that is transmitted to computers equipped with a specialized program for data processing. The purpose of this automated water accounting system is to provide control over water distribution among users, demonstrating the benefits of a transparent system for the dissemination of water distribution information. District water management specialists process the received information to gain an accurate understanding of the irrigation water situation in the district. Based on these data, agreements are made with water users, and payments for water deliveries are calculated and scheduled.
Technology
The IoT sensors are designed to measure the water level at the gauging station by determining the distance to the water surface with an accuracy of ±5 mm. The microprocessor, utilizing pre-set parameters, records the water flow and volume over a specified period, saves the information to the device’s memory, and then transmits it via an in-built GPRS module with a SIM card (using cellular operator channels) to computers in the district water resource management office and the Water Users Association (WUA). The devices operate autonomously on batteries. The installed software on the computers in the district water resource management office and the WUA receive, display and generate data in a convenient tabular form.
Target
IoT sensors supporting irrigation water accounting installed in district water resource management departments and the Water Users Association of the Kochkor district transmit data to the software, which is then used by personnel of water resource management departments to track and control the distribution of irrigation water among users. As irrigation is calculated and scheduled, farmers in the area receive irrigation water without disruption or delay, depending on the availability of water and their specific needs.
Business model
The acquisition of IoT sensors for the collection of data on irrigation water levels and flows, and the creation of the necessary software for the storage and presentation of the transmitted data, were supported financially by FAO and the Global Environment Facility under the “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Drought-Prone and Salt-Affected Agricultural Production Systems of Central Asia and Türkiye” project.
Impact
The installation of IoT sensors to support irrigation water accounting in Kyrgyzstan’s Kochkor district was carried out to address the challenges associated with the absence of an objective and reliable system for irrigation water accounting. The absence of water accounting has historically resulted in such issues as non-compliance with irrigation norms, the inefficient utilization of water resources, and the degradation of the reclamation state of lands. Irrigation water is now accurately accounted for, calculated and distributed based on availability and the needs of farmers, leading to a decline in conflicts and misunderstandings among community members. Furthermore, the systems have streamlined the monitoring process for the staff of the district water resource management and the Water Users Association by providing real-time information on water levels and distribution among users directly to their offices, thus removing the need for physical checks at the gauging stations. This transition from manual checks has not only led to savings in time, but also reduced resource-intensive tasks.
Partners
FAO, Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, Foundation Camp Ala Too, National Association of Pasture Users of Kyrgyzstan
Four Betters
Better environment
Better life
