With COVID-19 seeing Australian’s rush to their backyard to plant vegetables, many don’t realise an Australian government organisation has been helping backyard farmers across the Indo-Pacific for nearly 40 years.
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has been funding research since 1982, commissioning Australia’s leading agricultural scientists and researchers to work with rural communities in developing countries to grow more food and reduce poverty.
This research has had a profound impact on food security throughout the region, with countless innovations blossoming from the longstanding research partnerships.
One of these innovations—the Chameleon Soil Water Sensor—is just as effective at growing food and saving water in Australian backyards as it is helping farmers in the fields of Africa.
Do my plants need watering?
It’s a question we ask ourselves before turning on the tap and filling up the watering can. But rarely do we have the information to decide whether our plants need watering and for how long.
For smallholder farmers living in the water-stressed continent of Africa, making the right decision about whether to water their crops can be life-changing.
While not enough water stresses the plant and reduces the potential yield, too much water can wash away valuable nutrients in the soil, further reducing a plant's ability to grow food.
For rural African communities—many living on the edge of poverty—maximising the efficiency of how they irrigate with the Chameleon Soil Water Sensor has been profound.
The language of colour
Developed by Dr Richard Stirzaker from the CSIRO, the Chameleon Soil Water Sensor uses colour to cut through language and literacy barriers and create an easy-to-use system that anyone can understand.
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This language of colour and the associated research project is helping smallholder farmers in Southern Africa understand and innovate how they irrigate their crops and inform wider policy in water management.
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Dr Richard Stirzaker in the field with researchers in Africa. Image: Richard Stirzaker
While the Chameleon Soil Water Sensor is helping farmers in Africa, it can easily be installed in Australian backyards to help urban farmers and gardeners understand how their soil retains moisture and whether plants need watering.
Installing a sensor in the backyard will not only help you save water and produce more food, but you'll also be supporting scientific research efforts to improve food security and reduce poverty in Africa.
Get involved - Purchase your own Chameleon Soil Water Sensor
The Virtual Irrigation Academy is an Australian–African collaboration, combining ACIAR project management and funding with CSIRO expertise.
The Virtual Irrigation Academy uses new irrigation monitoring tools and an online communication and learning system.
Water, not bread, is arguably the staff of life. In an Australian–African collaboration, scientists are helping to ensure this precious commodity is used efficiently.
