IRRIGOPTIMAL is a cutting-edge technology that integrates ground sensors, meteorological services, and a centralized software platform powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. It refines irrigation practices and reduces water consumption by conducting test cases on lands with varying native crops and soil configurations. <\/p>\n
Installation of two irrigation sensors were completed on June 7th, 2024, by a team led by Alessio <\/span>Bucaioni<\/span> CEO of Wes Trade, accompanied by Ms. Simone Lewis-Regional Coordinator of Global Water Partnership-Caribbean and Kerron Martinez Administrative Officer at Global Water Partnership-Caribbean<\/span>. <\/span>They were installed on the Mirabeau Agricultural\/ Propagation Station in St. Andrew and on the Farm of Theresa Marry show (<\/span>St.David<\/span>).<\/span><\/span> <\/span> <\/p>\n “Leveraging AI through solutions like IRRIGOPTIMAL is crucial for addressing water scarcity in Grenada. By <\/span>optimizing<\/span> irrigation practices, we can ensure efficient water use, support sustainable agriculture, and secure water resources for future generations,\u201d explained Simone Lewis Regional Coordinator for the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean.<\/span><\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Noting this year\u2019s severe drought conditions and the declaration by the Government of Grenada due to the changes in precipitation and rainfall, Supervisor of Propagation at the Mirabeau Propagation Station Nigel Gibbs, is optimistic about the benefit to the station. <\/span> <\/span>According to him, \u201cThis sensor will guide the process for our crop development in terms of our irrigation practices, making sure we have <\/span>standardised<\/span> and <\/span>stablised<\/span> soil moisture that will affect the crop.\u201d <\/span> <\/p>\n \u201cThe impact here will be noticed as the results will be sent into a system that we will be able to <\/span>analyse<\/span> and respond to; based on the parameters that are measured here in terms of moisture content. This is <\/span>timely<\/span>, as last season we experienced extensive drought and experienced challenges without irrigation system, which <\/span>impacted<\/span> our yield of yams,\u201d he added. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>Theresa <\/span>Marryshow<\/span>, a prominent <\/span>farmer<\/span> and President of the Grenada Rural Women Producers (GRENROP), <\/span>also welcomed the introduction of this technology on her farm<\/span>. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span>\u201cI was <\/span>very excited<\/span> when I was contacted. I was eager to give my support and offer my farm <\/span>for<\/span> the pilot. With the word now advancing agriculture with technology, I will be working with the <\/span>organisation<\/span>, supporting <\/span>them<\/span> and giving them feedback,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Building Capacity ON IRRIGOPTIMAL<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n T<\/span>h<\/span>e <\/span>IRRGOPTIMAL pilot also<\/span> ran<\/span> a parallel educational academic program <\/span>that <\/span>raise<\/span>d<\/span> awareness of its importance among stakeholders, Community-Based <\/span>Organisation<\/span> CBOs), Students and other groups, empowering them to contribute <\/span>to Grenada\u2019s agricultural development<\/span>. <\/span> The <\/span>trainings<\/span> for these stakeholders <\/span>were<\/span> held <\/span>on June<\/span> 25 and <\/span>June 27<\/span> respectively.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n While this technology was <\/span>identified<\/span> a<\/span>s new for<\/span> Farmer Evans Goodings- President of the <\/span>NorthEast<\/span> Farmers <\/span>Organisation<\/span> (NEFO),<\/span> he <\/span>was <\/span>happy that he <\/span>participated<\/span>. <\/span>He <\/span>states<\/span>, <\/span>\u201cOur knowledge alone cannot help us, any technology that can assist us is welcomed; I am interested because I have learned that can help me to know how much water is needed for my crops and how much to water my crops.\u201d<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt is going to be an interesting learning curve, in the development of this project, we are optimistic <\/span>that this<\/span> might help us to have some interesting results,\u201d explained another of the participating farmers Brian Whyte. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n P<\/span>articipating student<\/span>, a fourth form student, at the St. Joseph\u2019s Convent <\/span>Grenville Jenelle<\/span> Bartholomew posited <\/span>that this technology <\/span>could<\/span> support the agricultural sector as it helps, \u201cFarmers to save water, in the face of the realities experienced as a result of Climate Change.\u201d<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n This pilot project, titled “Tackling Water Scarcity in Grenada’s Agricultural Sector with the Use of Artificial Intelligence,” <\/span>underscores the Global<\/span> <\/span>W<\/span>ater <\/span>P<\/span>artnership<\/span>–<\/span>C<\/span>aribbean<\/span>‘s commitment to <\/span>disseminating<\/span> and facilitating the use of advanced technologies in addressing water scarcity and promoting a water-secureCaribbean through innovative, integrated solutions. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) embarked on an innovative Pilot project to tackle water scarcity in the agricultural sector. In response to Grenada\u2019s most recent drought experienced this year, GWP-C sought to promote strategies to tackle water scarcity and implement procedures for water conservation. As such the organisation raised awareness on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Agriculture through the use of IRROGOPTIMAL technology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) embarked on an innovative Pilot project to tackle water scarcity in the agricultural sector. In response to Grenada\u2019s most recent drought experienced this year, GWP-C sought to promote strategies to tackle water scarcity and implement procedures for water conservation. As such the organisation raised awareness on the use of Artificial…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/caribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/caribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/caribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/caribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/caribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2159"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/caribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2688,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/caribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159\/revisions\/2688"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/caribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/caribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/caribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/caribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}