Luanar students invent irrigation technology
Two students from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) have made an innovation in irrigation system where users using the facility will be able to irrigate using their mobile phones.
The two, both aged 23 years, have said it has taken them three years to come up with the innovation which, among others, will enable users to irrigate at night in the comfort of their homes.
Emmanuel Banda and Thokozani Kalonde are both in their fourth year at Luanar pursuing their bachelor’s degree in horticulture.
Banda said the system will also enable farmers to utilise power subsidies offered by Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom).
“The control box of the system is connected to the phone, so the user can either command the irrigation system to commence irrigating or command it to stop. The system will enable users to use less water when using the system at night as a lot of water is not close to evaporation at night,” he said
Luanar Acting Vice Chancellor Emmanuel Kaunda said the university is very proud of the two students because since its inception, the innovation is the first of its kind.
“The university will try everything it can to link these two innovators with the industry to buy their technology. We want to set aside an innovation fund this coming June and we shall set aside K50 million to be used for the students who will be coming up with different innovations,” he said.
Banda and Kaunda have since been given K100, 000 each by the university.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
