IoT-enabled Soil Monitoring System established in ICAR-RCER, Patna

27 May 2026, Patna

ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna inaugurated an indigenous IoT-enabled Soil Monitoring System today, developed in collaboration with Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Patna Campus, to promote smart and climate-resilient agriculture in eastern India. The system has been developed to address major agricultural challenges in the region, including erratic rainfall, declining groundwater levels, rising irrigation energy costs, and inefficient water application practices. In eastern India, small and fragmented landholdings and limited access to real-time soil moisture information often led to over-irrigation, poor water-use efficiency, low productivity, and soil degradation.

The initiative has been undertaken under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ICAR-RCER and BIT Mesra, with the objective of fostering collaborative technological innovation in agricultural water management. The current deployment represents the first phase of the project. Calibration and performance evaluation of the developed system are currently underway under field conditions to assess its accuracy, reliability, and suitability for wider adoption among farmers.
 
Under the leadership of Dr. Anup Das, Director, ICAR-RCER, Patna, the institute envisions developing “smart farms” where irrigation decisions are guided by real-time field data. This approach has the potential to transform conventional farming by enabling precise and efficient use of water resources. He emphasized the institute’s commitment to developing affordable, scalable, and farmer-friendly technologies suited to the needs of the region.

Speaking on the occasion, it was stated that smart irrigation using IoT technology enables real-time soil moisture monitoring, allowing farmers to irrigate crops only when required, thereby improving water-use efficiency.

The significance of the innovation in minimizing water loss and enhancing crop water productivity was also highlighted during the programme.
The team also demonstrated the established IoT-enabled soil monitoring system at the research farm and explained its role in real-time monitoring and precision agriculture. The initiative is expected to strengthen climate-resilient farming by integrating sensor-based irrigation with improved agronomic practices, paving the way for efficient water management, enhanced water productivity, and sustainable agriculture in eastern India.

More than 50 participants, including Heads of various divisions, scientists, staff members, professors from BIT Mesra, Patna Campus and students from ICAR-IARI Patna Hub, actively participated in the programme.

(Source: ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna)