Smart Irrigation System with GSM Module using PIC16F690

Farming and agriculture account for a large share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in developing and developed countries. Thus, improvising and optimizing the current farming technologies is a necessity. This will not only help in the flourishing sustainable development of mankind, flora, and fauna but will also help in dealing with global crises such as climate change and drought. With better technological advances comes better harvest; thereby preventing situations like starvation and malnutrition. As water is becoming scarce around the world, there is a need to use the water resource wisely to have water in the future for consumption and agricultural use. An irrigation method used before such as furrow irrigation which does not consider the amount of water required by crops has contributed to water wastage. This has also killed crops and caused a loss of revenue which then also contributed to food insecurity. Loss of revenue is a dent in the economy, which means an imminent need for water rationing must come into effect. The study aims to ensure water is used sparingly and wisely while also ensuring that crops develop properly, thus ensuring food security and increasing revenue for business owners. This project is what is needed in most parts of the world that face water crises with cities such as Port Elizabeth and/or countries such as Ethiopia where damns are drying up. This research uses automotive devices and methods to ensure that the process of watering the crops, testing out the conditions of the water requirement, turning ON/OFF irrigation, and water pumps are done through minimal human interaction. In this research, a microcontroller is programmed with a set of instructions as to when to turn ON/OFF the water and Irrigation pumps with signals received from sensors according to the water requirement.