Smart irrigation system main buyer country

When you hear “smart irrigation system,” the first thing that comes to mind is completely autonomous solutions with a bunch of sensors. But in practice, the key point is adaptation tobuyer's main country, its climate, soil and even local water use regulations. At Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC, we often encounter the fact that clients want the “most modern”, not taking into account that for the arid regions of Central Asia, for example, it is not so much automation that is critical, but resistance to high salt content in water.

Mistakes when choosing irrigation systems

I remember that in 2022 the system was delivered to Kazakhstan - the customer insisted on maximum automation. Six months later we received complaints: soil moisture sensors failed due to high mineralization. We had to redo it, add additional filters and change the location of the sensors. Conclusion: you cannot blindly copy solutions that work, say, in Europe - they have different water and soil standards.

Another common mistake is underestimating local infrastructure. In some regions of Russia, for example, power outages are the norm. If the system is tied to constant power supply, but there is no backup, the harvest is at risk. In such cases, we always recommend hybrid solutions with manual control and non-volatile components.

By the way, about manual control - this is not always 'backward'. For small farms in Uzbekistan, a simple system with remote control via GSM is sometimes more optimal than a complex AI controller. Cheaper to maintain, and local specialists are quicker to master.

Technical nuances for specific countries

Let's take Turkmenistan - there are strict limits on water intake. The system should not just water, but count every liter. We integrate accounting modules with the ability to generate reports for local authorities - this is a mandatory requirement, without which the project will not pass approval.

For Mongolia, another challenge is wind erosion. Drip irrigation is often useless there: the wind blows away the drops, and the moisture does not reach the roots. We had to develop low-pressure fine irrigation systems that work in high wind conditions.

And in Belarus, where the humidity is high, the emphasis is on the prevention of fungal diseases. Sensors not only for soil humidity, but also for air temperature and dew point. The system itself adjusts the watering schedule if dew is predicted - so as not to create excess humidity.

Integration with local conditions

The experience of Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC shows that the success of a project depends 70% on how deeply local conditions are studied. On the website https://www.lyzhihuinongye.ru we post cases - not for advertising, but to show how the same equipment works differently in Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.

For example, in Azerbaijan, compatibility with existing drainage systems is important - there is a lot of sloping land there. It is necessary to add groundwater level control modules to avoid flooding.

And in Kyrgyzstan there are often problems with pressure in main pipelines. Standard pumps can’t cope – we develop individual solutions with booster stations. This increases the cost of the project, but without this the system simply will not work.

Economic component

Often customers from the CIS ask for “like in Europe”, but are not prepared for the cost of service. We have to explain that German sensors, in conditions of dust storms in Kazakhstan, require weekly cleaning, which means additional labor costs. Sometimes it is better to install less accurate, but more durable Turkish analogues.

Another point is the availability of spare parts. If you have to wait a month from Germany to replace the filter, it’s simple. We in Shandong Linyao always offer options: premium equipment with imported components or a simpler one, but with full localization of spare parts in the region.

By the way, about cost - more expensive does not always mean better. For cotton fields in Uzbekistan, simple timer systems with domestically produced soil moisture sensors are sufficient. Savings of 40-50% without loss of efficiency.

Development prospects

Now I see a trend towards hybrid solutions - not fully automatic, but with elements of smart control. Especially in countries with transition economies, where there are no resources for complete digitalization, but point solutions are already in demand.

For example, a weather forecasting module with irrigation adjustment is relatively inexpensive, but provides significant water savings. In Kazakhstan, for example, this makes it possible to meet strict water use limits.

Another promising direction is simple SCADA systems in Russian with adaptation to local standards. Many Western analogues do not take into account, say, the reporting requirements in the countries of Central Asia.

At Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC, we are currently working on a universal controller that can be quickly adapted to the legislation of a specific country - so as not to reprogram it from scratch every time.