MuthoSech – Putting Technology in the Farmer’s Hand

A Question in the Dark

In the vast, green paddy fields of Rajshahi and Chapai Nawabganj, a farmer’s life is dictated by the rhythm of the water pump. I grew up seeing the struggle: a farmer waking up at 2:00 AM, walking kilometers through pitch-black fields—braving snakes, mud, and exhaustion—just to turn a switch on or off.

If they arrived late, crops died. If they forgot to turn it off, precious groundwater was wasted, and electricity bills skyrocketed.

I asked myself: If I can control a lightbulb from my phone in Dhaka, why can’t a farmer control his pump from his bed?

This question gave birth to MuthoSech (Handheld Irrigation)—a low-cost IoT system designed to automate irrigation and save resources.

The Problem: The Midnight Walk

Commercial automated irrigation systems exist, but they cost thousands of dollars—impossible for a marginal farmer in Bangladesh to afford. The reality for our farmers was harsh:

• Wasted Water: Pumps ran for hours longer than necessary because the farmer couldn't get back to the field in time to stop them.
• Wasted Energy: In a country fighting for energy efficiency, uncontrolled motors were a massive drain.
• Physical Risk: Nighttime trips to the pump house were dangerous and physically draining.

For decades, irrigation control meant a long walk through dark fields to a manual switch.

The Solution: Smart, Solar, and Simple

Developed during the early days of Tinkers Technologies and my involvement with Arduino Community Bangladesh, MuthoSech was an engineering challenge with a social heart.

We didn't just want a remote control; we wanted an intelligent assistant.

Automated Sensing

We used capacitive soil moisture sensors. The device "felt" the soil. If the ground was dry, the pump turned on. If it was wet enough, it turned off.

Solar Independence

Since electricity in fields is unreliable, the system ran on a small 3.7V Lithium battery charged by a 20W solar panel.

The Brain: ESP32

We used the ESP32 microcontroller. Why? Because it supports Deep Sleep modes, waking up only to check the soil or receive a command, ensuring the battery lasted for days even without sun.

Early MuthoSech demo prototype integrated with an electric pump control board.

Under the Hood: Engineering for the Village

Designing for a lab is easy; designing for a mud-filled field is hard.

Power Optimization

We utilized MOSFETs to cut power to the sensors when they weren't reading data, ensuring zero wasted energy.

Connectivity

The system created its own local WiFi network or connected to GSM modules, allowing farmers to set schedules or check water levels via a simple mobile interface.

Safety

We isolated the high-voltage pump controls from the low-voltage logic to ensure no farmer ever faced an electrical hazard.

The Impact: More Than Just Water

MuthoSech was more than a gadget; it was a statement. It proved that Agri-Tech doesn't have to be imported. It can be built by local engineers who understand the local soil.

By automating the process, we aimed to:

• Save Water: Preventing over-irrigation preserves the water table.
• Save Money: Reducing electricity usage lowers production costs for farmers.
• Save Time: The farmer gets to sleep. The machine does the work.

A Maker’s Philosophy

This project solidified my belief that the best engineering doesn't happen in air-conditioned offices; it happens where the problems are.

MuthoSech was open-source, affordable, and rugged. It was our way of saying to the farmers of Bangladesh:

We are engineers, and we are here to help you grow.

Field Demo & Media