Development of a Web-Based Administration System for Water Distribution in Cluster Farming

Water is an essential resource used in agriculture, with irrigation being the primary means of supplying crops. Effective management of water is therefore crucial, especially in cluster farming where resources are shared. The developed system is aimed at combating the issue of inefficiencies in water distribution by monitoring and controlling water usage. It employs a metering system which includes a physical sensing unit to measure the water flow to each farmland. The collected data is stored and managed by a centralized database over the Internet. Users interact with the system via an online web interface. Upon signing up, each user is assigned a flow meter which then grants the ability to purchase tokens on the site. This token represents a particular volume that can be utilized by the user. Once a volume value has been set on the website, a solenoid valve physically opens to allow water flow to the farmland. The developed device was tested at the Elizade University Smart Irrigation facility. Experimental results revealed the flow meter measured the amount of water flowing to the farm and once the user’s volume is depleted, the solenoid valve automatically closed, stopping the flow of water. The user’s accounts was managed by an admin who has the ability to view the flow data of each user as well as other information of the users ensuring real-time monitoring and accountability. Possible applications include the Nigerian water board system, fuel dispensing in filling stations, irrigation systems, and estate water monitoring.