TITLE:
Design of Automatic Irrigation System for Small Farmers in Rwanda
AUTHORS:
Gasore Geoffrey, Munyaneza Jean de Dieu, Ngendabanga Jean Pierre, Twibanire Aimable
KEYWORDS:
Photovoltaic Water Pump, Irrigation, Automatic Control System
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.6 No.3,
March
6,
2015
ABSTRACT: In Rwanda, agricultural industry depends on seasonal rain, and this has been a great challenge to agriculture in Rwanda. The designed sample of Photovoltaic pumping system is for irrigation on a piece of land, with 100 m2 field fed by underground water tank of 8 meters of elevation collected during rainy seasons. The adapted 100 m2 field is based on the fact that Rwanda is a densely populated country, also is adapted to be used especially in horticulture to increase exportation. In this system, a photovoltaic system is used as a power source; a pump is coupled with electric motor to drive it and hosepipe to convey water to the storage tank. A sensor is used to send a signal to the driver section at the same time sending a signal to the microcontroller that controls the driver unit and the corresponding relay, which switches off the motor when the water level reaches the lowest level.