May 16, 2016 | ProgressTH We just visited a site in the middle of nowhere where an automated farm is being set up. They can do this because they are using solar power to move the water and power the timers and valves used to automate it.

The first step is conditioning the soil with organic fertilizer, but after that, solar powered water pumps and fertilizer mixers will be added so that after you plant your crops, everything is taken care of until its time to harvest.

The solar panel is pretty small (12 Watts), and charges a 12v battery that powers 2 timers (one for irrigation, the other for fertilizer application) a water pump, and up to 5 solenoid valves.
The next step of course is to make the automated farm "smart" by adding sensors so that it is not just set on timers, but reacting to conditions in the environment. This will save water when none is needed, and compensate when weather is hotter and drier than usual.

Until then, this automated farm, being built by a network of volunteers in Thailand's Phetchaburi province, will serve as a model that will be replicated. Through this network, when we develop the sensor suite, it can be disseminated across the automated farms they are building now.

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