Scientists invent new technology to prevent crops flooding
Simple and economically friendly mobile weather stations are to be introduced to help farmers to react quickly to protect crops from flooding
Scientists have invented a simple and economically efficient mobile weather station to send data of rainfall levels to farmers through mobile phones.
The new mobile technology could assist farmers to adapt to bad weather conditions in advance to prevent the damaging of crops.
According to the scientist leading the initiative Yann Chemin, the new mobile weather stations made mainly from local parts are starting to give farmers quick access to rainfall data, enabling them to plan better for floods or other extreme weather conditions.
The sensors cost about $250 to produce compared with the price of $10,000 for standard weather stations.
Eventually, after additional systems have been produced, Chemin hopes to programme a text message service sent from the sensors directly to farmers and government officials when rainfall levels are expected to rise in a specific area.
Once the information has been received by farmers, they will have approximately six hours to empty irrigation tanks and make the necessary adjustments to prevent crop losses from floods.
Chemin told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that “This isn’t rocket science, but it does give people time to react so they can save lives and crops”.
In the north of Sri Lanka over the recent two years 65 per cent of crops have been destroyed due to floods and other disasters linked to climate change.
The information will also allow rural households to get ready to collect rain water for drinking.
Chemin said several dozen Sri Lankans, including rural blacksmiths, electricians and urban electronic designers have been hired to produce the weather stations which has created jobs within the community as well as assistance to cope with climate change.
