Smart irrigation device created by Omani innovator wins global award
Young innovator Ahmed al Jabri, 24, from the wilayat of Mudhaibi in North Sharqiyah, has done Oman proud by being chosen for the 2020 Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators award. A global competition that rewards businesses that demonstrate excellence in innovation and gives entrepreneurs a chance to shine on a global platform, the event was held in Netherlands recently.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry - North Batinah branch, have also honoured Jabri for his smart irrigation device.
Speaking to Muscat Daily, Ahmed al Jabri, CEO of Qutra, said, “The startup was founded in 2015. The smart irrigator has helped solve an environmental problem. Water is scarce and this device reduces water consumption. Studies have shown that 85 per cent of the water used for irrigation is wasted.”
Jabri was awarded the runners-up prize in the ‘Environment and Circular Economy’ category of 2020 Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators.
Explaining how his device works, Jabri said that a sensor placed near crop measures soil moisture. These readings control activation and shutting down of an irrigation system, depending on soil type and crop variety.
The Qutra app can be downloaded to a smartphone through which a user accesses data on water retaining capacity of various soil types and requirements of crops. The sensor is programmed to the crop variety and water requirement.
Jabri’s smart irrigation device has a competitive advantage as it is sustainable for operations in natural conditions and uses solar power to run. It works automatically without human intervention and can be upgraded to keep pace with Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.