Smart Irrigation Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025 - 2032)

Smart Irrigation Market Trends and Growth Drivers

Advanced Features in Systems are a Major Trend

Smart irrigation systems are widely employed in agricultural fields, golf courses, sports grounds, and residential areas. IoT-enabled smart irrigation systems aid in water level detection by automatically irrigating crops and others based on the moisture level in the soil, as well as keeping track of the land condition. Moreover, the rising need for IoT and cloud technologies in this field is attributable to the increasing demand for smart irrigation solutions.

Advanced features, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), enable temperature and soil moisture sensing, weathering pattern tracking, long-term environmental forecasts, and water level prediction, as per real-time observations. These precision irrigation methods are highly imperative to optimize water usage and prevent wastage.

For example, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Gear Lab is making precision agriculture more accessible, particularly to subsistence farmers across regions where there is a paucity of water. The solar-powered drip irrigation systems of GEAR Lab can reduce water and energy usage, while optimizing the crop yield at a low cost. Further, its smart controller combines weather data and AI inputs for the exact scheduling of irrigation, which reduces water usage by 44%. Such solutions improve sustainability and efficiency and help in agricultural resource optimization.

Government Initiatives for Sustainable Farming Drive Market

The various initiatives taken by governments across the globe to promote sustainable agriculture and water conservation are boosting the growth of the smart irrigation market. In many water-scarce areas in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, the financial incentives, subsidies, and grants to install water-efficient technologies positively influence the growth of this market.

Policies for the reduction of water consumption, accompanied by other stringent environmental regulations, necessitate farmers’ switch to alternatives, including IoT-based irrigation systems.

Government-supported research and development programs also facilitate the uptake of affordable, smart irrigation technologies for better drought and water management. In India, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has allocated INR 93,068.56 crore to enhance access to water at farms. This scheme, coupled with Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP), Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), and Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), intends to improve irrigation efficacy and water access, while promoting sustainable resource usage in agriculture.

These initiatives, combined with partnerships among governments, the private sector, and research institutions, make smart irrigation technologies accessible to farmers, mainly smallholder and resource-poor farmers.

Rapid Advancements in 5G Networks and Communication Technologies Offer Several Opportunities

Continuous advancements in communication technologies allow farmers and residential users to remotely access their irrigation systems. Wireless data transmission technologies are replacing traditional hardwire systems, as advanced wireless sensors provide mobility, convenience, and other benefits. Irrigation systems use radio frequency technologies to communicate with wireless signal transmission networks. Thus, technological advancements improve interoperability between the control center and the equipment, increasing the efficiency of the systems.

Moreover, the use of 5G in the agriculture sector has the potential to improve the whole value chain, from precision farming to smart irrigation; and advance soil and crop monitoring and animal management. Thus, farmers can carry out more efficient and effective irrigation with the usage of 5G technology. They can utilize soil probes that are buried under the soil and can be connected easily via 5G connectivity. Further, these devices can capture data, such as soil patterns, moisture content, and salinity, which, in turn, provide insights to farmers related to the health of their crops. Therefore, these factors offer several opportunities to players in the smart irrigation market.

Smart Irrigation Market Analysis

System Analysis

• Weather-based controller system accounts for the higher revenue, of USD 1.4 billion, in 2024.
• It is extensively used in big-scale agricultural operations, residential landscaping, and sports grounds since it automates irrigation as per the weather, thus improving efficiency.
• It also finds application at golf courses, public parks, greenhouses, and urban planning, where optimal water management is vital.
• It is preferable in areas with sporadic rainfall and unstable weather conditions, for better resource use.
• The market for sensor-based controller systems is expected to witness the faster growth over the forecast period.
• This can be due to the surging use of sensor-based irrigation systems in agriculture to save water and boost crop productivity.
• These systems can analyze and control exact data from numerous sensors deployed on a field, such as temperature, soil moisture, rain, and humidity sensors.

The systems evaluated here are:

• Weather-based Controller System (Larger Category)
• Sensor-based Controller System (Faster-Growing Category)

Component Analysis

• The controller category is the highest revenue generator in the smart irrigation market in 2024.
• Smart irrigation controllers are in great demand, due to the efficiency they offer to irrigation operations and they are easily linked to cloud solutions.
• Furthermore, rapid growth in the global population, food and water shortages, increased farmer knowledge of the advantages of smart irrigation, government promotion and investment, low irrigation cost, and high productivity are also driving the demand for smart irrigation controllers.
• The sensor category is the fastest-growing in the market, with 13% CAGR.
• Sensors monitor all aspects of irrigation in real time and give updated information on the soil moisture, humidity, temperature, and other environmental factors, along with plant health.
• The growing demand for precision in agriculture propels the usage of sensors.
• Their integration with cloud-based services facilitates seamless data transfer, making them popular at golf courses, sports complexes, and landscaping.

The components evaluated here are:

• Controller (Largest Category)
• Sensor (Fastest-Growing Category)
  • Soil sensor
  • Water sensor
  • Climate sensor
• Water Flow Meter
• Others

Application Analysis

• The non-agricultural category accounts for the larger market share, of 75%, in 2024, and it is expected to retain its position in the coming years.
• The increased relevance of effective watering methods and irrigation systems for non-agricultural applications such as residential, turf & landscaping, and golf courses, is a major driver of the market.
• It is also because the development of smart cities is a growing trend in many regions of the world. Water management systems are gaining popularity in both commercial and residential settings in smart cities.
• Due to rapid urbanization, green cover areas are diminished to make space for concrete infrastructure. It is critical to preserve the green balance, which is why the smart irrigation concept is being used.
• The agricultural category is the faster-growing in the market, as farming utilizes nearly 70% of the freshwater, thereby compelling the use of sustainable solutions, especially smart irrigation.
• To improve crop outcomes, conserve water, and significantly diminish operational expenses, effectual water management is imperative.
• Advanced irrigation solutions, including weather-based and sensor-based controllers, are being adopted for large-scale agricultural operations and small farms.
• The increasing awareness among farmers to use advanced rain, climate, soil moisture, temperature, and fertigation management technologies can lead to the automation of several operations.

The applications evaluated here are:

• Agricultural (Faster-Growing Category)
  • Open field
  • Plant factory
• Non-Agricultural (Larger Category)
  • Residential
  • Golf course and sports ground
  • Turf and landscape

Regional Analysis

In 2024, the North American smart irrigation market has the largest share, of 40%. This is ascribed to the steady rise in disposable income, growth in urbanization, rise in adoption of IoT-based irrigation methods in countries such as the U.S. and Canada, surge in penetration of smartphones and other devices for remotely accessing field data, and increased investment in the regional ag-tech industry.

Furthermore, with the advent of new agricultural technologies and gadgets, governments are taking steps to educate and teach people about the proper use of smart irrigation systems. Also, these systems are being used to irrigate fields and grounds in the region, with golf course operators using smart irrigation technology to cut their water use.

The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing in the smart irrigation market, with 13% CAGR. This region is densely populated and frequently faces water shortages due to the overexploitation of water resources. Additionally, agriculture is a major source of livelihood in India. Smart and efficient irrigation methods are essential to optimize the usage of water in agriculture.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), China is transitioning toward green agricultural technologies and strategies and making sustainable efforts for climate-smart agriculture. It is also encouraging advanced agricultural mechanization to increase productivity and maintain soil health.

The Chinese government, under its National Agricultural Sustainable Development Plan, intends to extend the share of irrigated areas that showcase effective water saving to nearly 75% of the total irrigated land and the efficacy of water use for this purpose by at least 0.6 by 2030.

The geographical breakdown of the market is as follows:

• North America (Largest Regional Market)
  • U.S. (Larger Country Market)
  • Canada (Faster-Growing Country Market)
• Europe
  • Germany (Largest Country Market)
  • Spain (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Italy
  • France
  • U.K.
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific (APAC) (Fastest-Growing Regional Market)
  • China (Largest Country Market)
  • India (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • South Korea
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • Rest of APAC
• Latin America (LATAM)
  • Brazil (Largest Country Market)
  • Mexico (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Rest of LATAM
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Saudi Arabia (Largest Country Market)
  • U.A.E. (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • South Africa
  • Rest of MEA

Smart Irrigation Market Share

The smart irrigation market is fragmented in nature because of the extensive range of applications, both agricultural and non-agricultural. Furthermore, the presence of a variety of technologies, such as weather and sensor-based controllers as well as AI and ML-driven and IoT-powered systems, leads to more segmentation. More players can enter the market with niche and personalized products. The variations in the availability of water, climatic conditions, and soil across the earth also lead to the entry of regional companies catering to local requirements. Additionally, technological advancements drive the market fragmentation, with companies increasingly offering innovative products for a competitive edge.

Smart Irrigation Market News

In April 2024, Rain Bird Corporation showcased its new irrigation systems, such as the ESP-2WIRE controller, FG100 flow sensor, and 11000 long-range spray head, at the 10th Beijing International Irrigation Technology Expo. These products are designed to ensure efficient irrigation at big lawns and sports complexes.

In February 2024, HydroPoint launched the HydroPoint 360, which provides real-time information, monitors the flow of water, detects anomalies, and assists in making water management decisions. It also helps in lowering the expenses associated with ill-managed water and enhances sustainability, while complying with water conservation objectives.

In April 2023, Water Ways completed an irrigation automation project in Western Sichuan, China. This project uses advanced technologies to assist in the remote management of farming operations, including irrigation, ventilation, and heating.