The heart-wrenching incident involving farmers Abhinath Marandi and Rabi Marandi, who resorted to suicide in Godagari Upazila, Rajshahi, sheds light on a critical issue troubling Bangladesh's agricultural sector. Unable to secure water for their land, the farmers had to purchase what should have been freely provided by the government-owned irrigation system. The corrupt practices of deep tube-well operators, demanding bribes for water, led to this unfortunate tragedy. In the aftermath, TechGarlic Limited has initiated the development of an IoT-enabled device to address water distribution issues, eliminate dishonest middlemen, and introduce monitored oversight.

Water management is of utmost importance in global agriculture, particularly given the growing scarcity of clean water. Effective water management revolves around maintaining optimal soil moisture levels, ensuring the timely application of water, and thereby reducing costs while augmenting crop production. Despite the government's good intentions, the presence of dishonest middlemen obstructs farmers from realizing the intended benefits of water resources. Core problems identified include improper water distribution, the lack of real-time monitoring, corruption, delayed maintenance, and the farmer's inability to control the system.

In response to these challenges, TechGarlic Limited proposes a transformative solution—a centralized monitoring and IoT-based smart irrigation system. This innovative approach, utilizing IoT, provides farmers with prepaid cards containing essential information, including their name, national ID number, and mobile number. Farmers can recharge the card, ensuring transparent water allocation. The system autonomously controls pump operations, deducting usage costs from the card and sending SMS alerts when the balance runs low. A mobile app and web application offer detailed usage insights, empowering farmers with control over their water distribution.

The benefits of this proposed system are multifaceted. Firstly, it eliminates human intervention, allowing farmers to access water by simply recharging their cards. Secondly, the IoT-based solution ensures precise pump operation, addressing the common issue of inadequate water distribution. Thirdly, it contributes to energy conservation by automatically turning off the pump after a specified time, reducing electricity wastage. Fourthly, the system eradicates nepotism and favoritism, as no operator is required to interfere with the water distribution process. Additionally, centralized monitoring enables authorities to supervise pump houses across the country from a single workstation, ensuring equitable water distribution. Lastly, the smart system monitors and updates pump health, potentially extending pump lifetimes and saving significant government expenditure.

In conclusion, TechGarlic Limited's proposed smart irrigation system stands as a beacon of innovation, addressing critical water management challenges in Bangladesh's agricultural landscape. By integrating IoT technology with transparent and autonomous features, this solution not only benefits individual farmers but also contributes to the larger goal of sustainable and equitable water distribution. The potential impact extends beyond immediate challenges, fostering a resilient and efficient water management system for the future.