No. 12-7/2014-CU-IV
Ministry of Agriculture& Farmers Welfare
Department of Agriculture, Cooperation& Farmers Welfare
Crops Division
*****************
\.
Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated: 18 th July, 2016
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Minutes of the Meeting to demonstrate Utility of Soil Moisture
Indicator held on 28 th June, 2016 at 11.00 A.M. in Committee
Room No. 138, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
The undersigned is directed to forward the approved minutes of the
meeting to demonstrate Utility of Soil Moisture Indicator held on 28 th June,
2016 under the chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Agriculture,
Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) at 11.00 A.M. in Committee
Room No. 138, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi for information & necessary
action.
Q.kq~)
~
(Dr. Shaf\van Kumar)
Asst. Commissioner (Crops)
Distribution,
1. Director, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore
2. Joint Secretary (RFSINRM), Department of Agriculture, Cooperation &
Farmers Welfare
3. Joint Secretary (M&T), Department of Agriculture, Cooperation &
Fanners Welfare
Copy for information to:
1. PPS to Secretary (DAC&F\V)
2. PPS to Director General (lCAR)
3. PPS to Agriculture Commissioner
4. PPS to Joint Secretary (Crops)
Minutes of the Meeting on Utility of Soil Moisture Indicator' by Sugarcane
Breeding Institute, Coimbatore held on 28 th June, 2016 at 11.00 A.M. in Committee
"Room No. 138, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi under the chairmanship of Secretary
(DAC&FW)
A meeting under the chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Agriculture,
Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) was held on 28 th June, 2016 at 11.00 A.M
in Committee Room No. 138, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. The Director, Sugarcane
Breeding Institute made a power point presentation to demonstrate the equipment Soil
Moisture Indicator along with details on its utility, cost & operational justifications. List
of participants is at Annexure-I.
2.
The Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI), Coimbatore has informed that the
institute has developed an electronic moisture indicating device {Soil Moisture
indicator (SMI)} which is effective for irrigation scheduling (based on soil moisture &
efficient irrigation management) in farmer's fields particularly in sugarcane crop in
order to save water. The cost of SMI was stated to be Rs. 1200 per unit.
3.
The Scientist, from ICAR-SBI, Regional Centre, Kamal demonstrated the utility
of SMI In the meeting. Joint Secretary (Extension), asked about the
technology/principle behind the SMI. Director, ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore replied that the
device works based on the principle that electrical conductivity of the soil is directly
proportional to the soil moisture present & indirectly proportional to the soil electrical
resistance. Director, ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore also informed that for an accurate
assessment, five observations, four at the comers & one at centre of the field need to be
taken for I Acre area.
4.
Joint Secretary (Crops), informed that similar instruments are already available
in an open market at lower price& therefore the cost of the device has to be lr:wered.
Director, ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore replied that as the production/output increases the cost
will get reduced.
5.
Agriculture Commissioner asked how the device is different from other soil
moisture measuring devices. Director, ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore informed that SMI is
easy to use, simple & can be used in any type of soil from sandy to clay soils, and will
help in deciding irrigation scheduling & cost effective, whereas, other soil moisture
measuring devices have chances of breaking & leakage, permanent installation at
multiple units, need regular filling up of water in the reservoir tube, etc.
6.
Secretary, DAC&FW asked about the utility of SMI on different types of soils.
Director, ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore informed that SMI can be used on all types of soils &
~2
.
crops. As the SMI is simple, easy to use & effective, Secretary, DAC&FW directed to
popularize the device among the farmers. It was also decided that ICAR will be
""'~
requested for preparing a user manual of SMI & at the same time the instrument needs
to be calibrated for requirement of different crops irrigation scheduling/requirement.
Once the user manual & calibration are prepared, States can popularize SMI by
following standard procedure of store purchase rules of the State Government. The
Machinery Division may also demonstrate SMI in Machinery Mela. The details of the
instrument along with the literature available may be uploaded on the websites of
DAC&FW for wider publicity.
7.
l.
11.
111.
IV.
The following action points emerged in the meeting:
Information about the SMI may be uploaded on websites ofDAC&FW.
(Action: Joint Secretary(Crops»
Preparation of user manual & calibration of water requirement of different crops.
(Action: Director, ICAR-SBI)
After the calibration of SMI for different crops & development of user manual,
subsidy to SMI may be provided in the Scheme of Pradhanmantri Krishi
Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)/ National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
(NMSA). However, States need to procure as per standard procedure of State
purchase rules of State Government.
(Action: Joint Secretary(NRM & RFS»
SMI may be demonstrated in Machinery Mela.
(Action: Joint Secretary(M&T»
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the chair.
Annexure-I
ist of participants in the meeting held on 28.06.2016 at Krishi Bhawan,
New Delhi
S.No
\l.
Name
Shri S.K.Pattanayak
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Shri Raghvendra Singh
Shri Jalaj Shrivastava
Dr. SoK.Malhotra
Shri Narendra Bhooshan
Shri RoBoSinha
7.
8.
9.
10.
Shri Dinesh Kumar
Shri Ashwani Kumar
Shri P oK.Gupta
Dr. A.P.Singh
, 1L
12.
Dr. Bakshi Ram
Dr. Ravinder Kumar
13.
14.
15.
Dr.R.P.Singh
Mr. B.S.Patil
Sd. Sanjeev Kapoor
1
I
Designation/Address
Secretary, Department of Agriculture,
Cooperation & Fanners Welfare
(DAC&FW)
Additional Secretary, DAC&FW
,I
Additional Secretary, DAC&FW
i
Agriculture Commissioner, DAC&FW
Joint Secretary (Extension), DAC&FW
Joint Secretary (NRM & RFS),
DAC&FW
Joint Secretary (Crops), DAC&FW
I
Joint Secretary (M&T), DAC&FW
Director (IT), DAC&FW
Additional Commissioner (Crops),
DAC&FW
Director, ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore
Scientist, ICAR-SBI, Regional Centre,
Kamal
Assistant Director (Crops), DAC&FW ,i
STA (Crops)
Assistant
i
-l
SoU Moisture Indicator for Efficient 'Irrigation Management
ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI), Coimbatore has
developed a handy and user friendly electronic moisture indicating
device named as "Soil Moisture Indicator" (SMI). The device is made
for irrigation scheduling based on soil moisture and efficient irrigation
management in farmer's fields particularly in sugarcane crop to save
water. SMI has been found superior over tensiometer in assessing the
moisture status in farmers' fields and also cheaper, handy and efficient.
L
t
Field capacity and permanent wilting point are two levels of soil
moisture used to calculate available water for plant. This SMI has been
designed to objectively indicate soil moisture status. This device works
based on the principle that electrical conductivity of the soil is directly
proportional to soil moisture or soil electrical resistance is indirectly
proportional to soil moisture content (similar to gypsum block technique).
SMI has two metal sensor rods, when inserted in soil and on pressing the
switch; the electronic circuit translates conductivity or resistance and
indicates soil moisture level through a colour glow of LED. Three LEOs
are provided for approximation and to suit different soils. The device
indication is as follows,
./' Moisture status slightly above permanent wilting point is indicated by
red or orange LED light glow. This status indicate immediate
requirement for irrigation .
./' Soil moisture status sufficiently above wilting point and less than
field capacity (sufficient soil moisture) is indicated by Green glow. No
need for immediate irrigation can wait for few more days.
./' Soil moisture at field capacity is indicated by Blue glow. Excess or
more than sufficient soil moisture.
SMI is a simple device to assess soil moisture in the field / potted plants and based on
the indication, t e farmer may plan the schedule for irrigation. Soil Moisture Indicator is a
novel instrument for its versatility viz., objective indication, easy in handling, user-friendly,
sturdy, low cost, low maintenance and suitable for field use.
ICAR-SBI
has licensed this technology through NRDC to the following
three
entrepreneurs;
1, Tech Source Solutions, Bengaluru Mobile: +91 9035067427,
Email: [email protected].
2. KSNM Marketing, Coimbatore http://www.ksnm.co.in/. +91 93632 61175, +91 93603
88900 Email: [email protected]
3. Nagarjuna Agrochemicals Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad Phone:07660000650,
Email: [email protected], http://www.nagarjunaagrochemicals.com
It was found that scheduling irrigations based on soil moisture status, the number of
irrigations required considerably reduced saving precious water without affecting productivity.
The cost of Soil Moisture Indicator is Rs. 1200 per unit and very useful to save precious water.
The subsidy may be provided to make this instrument popular among the small and marginal
farmers. Therefore, Soil Moisture Indicator, a user-friendly device may be included in the
government schemes for sensitizing the farmers about efficient use of irrigation water and
scheduling irrigations based on soil moisture status.
For further information, Director, SBI, Coimbatore ([email protected].
Phone-0422-2472986) can be contacted.