A team of scientists from ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore—Dr. K. Hari, Dr. D. Puthira Prathap, Dr. P. Murali, Dr. A. Rameshsundar, and Dr. B. Singaravelu—has been honored with the ‘Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Puraskar – 2025’ under the category ‘Innovation & Technology in Agriculture & Allied Sciences’. This category recognizes agricultural scientists and researchers who have developed impact-making innovations and technologies. The award was presented by Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan on 16 July 2025, during the 97^th Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), in the august presence of Minister of State Shri Bhagirath Chaudhary, Ministry & ICAR officials and farmers.

This prestigious award, introduced from this year, recognizes significant contributions in agriculture, education, extension, and innovation. The team had developed a portable device called the Soil Moisture Indicator (SMI), which assists farmers in monitoring soil moisture levels and planning irrigation effectively—helping save water without compromising on crop yields.

The technology is based on soil electrical conductivity, which correlates with moisture levels. According to Dr. K. Hari, the lead inventor, using SMI-based irrigation increased sugarcane yield from 55.8 to 60.4 tonnes/acre/year. Field trials in five Tamil Nadu districts showed that about 15% of irrigation water could be conserved through SMI-guided irrigation. Recently, in a public-private partnership mode, an improvised version of SMI called ‘Digital Soil Moisture Sensor (DSMS), an android compatible device, has been developed that could be used to ascertain available soil moisture.

Dr. D. Puthira Prathap, co-inventor, added that the SMI was tested in diverse soil conditions, including trials involving sugarcane farmers, and developed under the Ministry of Jal Shakthi –funded Farmers’ Participatory Action Research Project monitored by the Central Water Commission. He added that the results and impacts of this innovative research are in line with the country's National Development Priorities.

Developed using a Farmers’ Participatory Technology Development approach, the SMI was refined, with support from farmers, ICAR-KVKs and sugar factories. So far, 22 companies have been licensed, one patent filed, and four designs have been registered—the first ever design registered by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research). SMI has also been included in the guidelines for National Occupational Standard of a Sugarcane Cultivator and recommended for central government subsidy schemes. Several states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana are adopting it in their water conservation programmes. Besides sugarcane, SMI’s use has been well-demonstrated in crops such as, brinjal, chillies, banana, groundnut areca nut, pomegranate, tomato as well as in potted plants.

Lauding the scientist-team for the accomplishment, Dr. P. Govindaraj, Director of Sugarcane Breeding Institute, emphasized that devices like the SMI are critical in addressing water scarcity, improving water-use efficiency, and promoting sustainable agriculture. He mentioned that the currently retails for around Rs. 2000. As part of the Institute’s water-conservation outreach initiatives, field demonstrations of SMI were held in several districts of Tamil Nadu, during the recently concluded Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (Mission for Developed Agriculture), which evoked substantial response from the farmers, he added.

 

 

 

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(Release ID: 2145486)