Smart irrigation has emerged as a game-changer in agriculture with its capability to automate the entire irrigation process and thereby reduce inefficiencies like overwatering that are associated with traditional irrigation systems. Unlike traditional irrigation systems, smart irrigation can tailor watering schedules and run times by analyzing soil moisture levels and climatic conditions.
Smart irrigation technology can monitor soil conditions, weather, and water conditions with the help of controllers, sensors, and meters. It can automate irrigation systems and adjust the watering schedule on the basis of parameters like soil moisture content, wind speed, wind direction, plant water content, and local weather data.
There are mainly two types of smart irrigation controllers – weather-based and soil moisture sensor-based smart irrigation controllers. While weather-based controllers use local weather data to adjust watering or irrigation schedules, soil moisture sensor-based controllers measure the soil moisture content and adjust the irrigation schedule accordingly.
The global Smart Irrigation Systems market is predicted to grow at an impressive CAGR of 13.1% during the period from 2017 to 2026 and reach a value of USD 2.32 billion by the end of 2026. The growth of the global market is being driven by the rapid proliferation of IoT-based architecture in the irrigation system and increasing adoption of the smart irrigation system with drones.
Drones help identify the parts of the field that are dry and require prompt watering. Smart irrigation thus ensures the optimal use of water and reduces water wastage along with labor cost. Increasing government initiatives to reduce water wastage and promote water conservation will fuel the growth of the global Smart Irrigation Systems market.
Apart from these, the growing need to increase farm profit with the help of automated irrigation solutions, increasing investments in R&D for developing reliable smart irrigation solutions, and the need to control water requirement in the field due to the scarcity of water across the globe are some other factors that will propel the growth of the smart irrigation system market.
North America is currently dominating the global smart irrigation market. The dominance of the region can be explained by the presence of key global players in the region and also by the fact that this region has always been an early adopter of new technologies. High investment in smart irrigation R&D by countries like the US and Canada is another reason behind the growth of the smart irrigation market in this region.
Another region that is expected to grow at an impressive CAGR in the coming years is the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific smart irrigation market will be mainly driven by growing concern about water preservation and increasing adoption of digital technologies in countries like India and China. During the period from 2018 to 2023, the Asia-Pacific smart irrigation market is expected to grow with the highest CAGR.
The key players operating in the global Smart Irrigation Systems market include The Toro Company, Hunter Industries, Rain Bird Corporation, Telsco Industries Inc., Orbit Irrigation Products Inc., Rachio Inc., HydroPoint Data Systems, and Netafim, among others. The smart irrigation market is presently witnessing the trend of mergers and acquisitions in various parts of the world, which is expected to make the competition more intense in the coming years.
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