African Post-Harvest Technology (Food Science/Technology) | 02 July 2008
Intelligent Irrigation Systems on Coffee Plantations: A Case Study in Costa Rica and Madagascar
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Abstract
Coffee production in Costa Rica and Madagascar is significantly affected by climate variability and water scarcity during critical growth stages. Inadequate irrigation leads to reduced yields and quality, necessitating innovative solutions. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data analysis and qualitative interviews was employed. In Costa Rica, a randomized controlled trial tested different watering schedules; in Madagascar, surveys assessed farmers' perceptions of the system's effectiveness. In both regions, intelligent irrigation systems led to an average increase of 15% in coffee yield compared to traditional methods, with significant reductions in water usage. Farmers in Madagascar reported a 20% improvement in soil moisture levels post-implementation. Intelligent irrigation systems have proven effective in enhancing coffee yields and resource efficiency without compromising environmental sustainability. Farmer training played a crucial role in system adoption and success. Communities should be provided with ongoing support to ensure sustained benefits from the technology, including technical assistance and financial incentives for farmers adopting these systems. The maintenance outcome was modelled as $Y<em>{it}=\beta</em>0+\beta<em>1X</em>{it}+u<em>i+\varepsilon</em>{it}$, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.