Class 12 Student Built Smart Irrigation App - Farmers Save Cost

Class 12 student's app helps farmers irrigate smartly, boost yield, cut water & fuel use

New Delhi, October 10th, 2025: In Sonipat, a 17-year-old student, Sharanya Mehta, has built a smart irrigation app that uses real-time soil moisture readings. This app is designed to guide farmers on when, where, and how much to irrigate. Mandaura farmers often struggle with water scarcity and crop losses from overwatering. The app helps by indicating how much to irrigate, saving water, cutting diesel use, and keeping their crops healthy.

How Does the Smart Irrigation App Work?

The app functions as a Decision Support System (DSS), integrating soil sensors, satellite imagery, and weather forecasts. Farmers receive alerts, colour-coded maps, and voice prompts in local languages. It can also connect to pump controllers to automate irrigation, reducing both labour and fuel costs. By providing an irrigation schedule, this innovative app allows farmers to minimize their crop damage due to over- or under-watering. 

Field Trials and Impact of the Decision Support System App

Field tests in Sonipat showed immediate benefits. Farmers reported healthier crops and reduced water and diesel consumption. Ramesh Chandra, a farmer in Mandaura, said the app recommended skipping watering even when the soil appeared dry. This helped his crops grow stronger by midday and cut fuel costs. Another farmer, Jagvir Singh, highlighted that he is able to irrigate his crops more efficiently with this app. 

What Inspired the Creation of DDS?

Sharanya’s idea was inspired by summers spent on her grandfather’s farm in Alwar, where she witnessed crop stress due to poor irrigation. By Grade 9, she founded Project Jal to experiment with water-harvesting methods. With mentorship from Commodore Sridhar Kotra, co-founder of Agrimatrix India, she developed her concept into a practical tool for farmers.

Recognition and Future Prospects

By early 2025, Sharanya had moved the project to field trials, integrating multiple soil sensors, ISRO Bhuvan and Sentinel-2 satellite data, and weather models. In August 2025, she applied for a provisional patent and received the CREST Gold Award for innovation. With agriculture consuming over 80% of India’s water, Sharanya’s app provides a data-driven, farmer-friendly solution that supports sustainable farming, especially in water-scarce regions.

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