Vegetable growers in Northern Tanzania are mulling the possibility of adopting the ‘Chameleon Sensor,’ technology from South Africa to ensure effective control of soil moisture in their farms.
“Just like chameleons, these sensors change color depending on the environment around them, but operate like traffic lights, switching between green, blue and red according to moisture levels of the soil,” said Dr Manuel Magombeyi.
Dr Magombey, who introduced the Chameleon Sensor Technology to the vegetable growers in the Sangananu Village in the Nkoanekoli Ward of Meru District, hails from the International Water Management Institute of South Africa.
“This technology is applicable in all types of irrigation farming including drip, furrows and channel irrigation methods,” stated Dr Magombeyi explaining that, when the sensor lights flashes blue it means there is adequate moisture in the soil.
“Green indicates that it is time for farmers to prepare for the next round of irrigation while red signals that the soil is dry and needs to be watered promptly,” added the expert from South Africa, who was introduced to the local farmers by the World Vegetable Center.
Judith Assenga Paul is the Research Associate, Agronomist and Agro-Business Specialist from the World Vegetable Center said it is high time growers use new technology so as to remove guess work as far as the contents of their inputs are concerned.
“Adopting new tech as well as responsible farming is some of the topics that the World Vegetable Center addresses in the ongoing series of special field training for farmers through the ‘Fresh,’ program which is an abbreviation for ‘Fruits and Vegetables for Sustainable Diet.’”
Other new technologies that were introduced to Arumeru farmers include Wetting Front Detectors also known as ‘Full Stop,’ which can analyze fertilizer content in the soil.
The other farming oriented gadget is the Lectric Conductivity Measure which tests the salinity of the soil on the particular patch of land.
The expert who introduced the gadgets pointed out that there are direct relations between water content and fertilizers applied which meant farmers must regulate water versus fertilizer ratio which can only be achieved perfectly through the sensors.
The Nkoanekoli Ward Extension officer, Dorcus Mbise said the field training sessions are useful to local growers in the area especially when it comes to responsible farming and the adaptation of new tech.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.