Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation has proven results - we’ve seen 25-35% water savings in our trials, and farmers maintain their rice yields. But starting can feel overwhelming for cooperative leaders. Where do you begin?
This guide gives you a practical template for launching a 50-rai AWD pilot in just 3 months. It’s low-risk and designed to prove the concept before committing to a full cluster. Based on successful pilots in Yasothon, I’ve broken it down into simple steps covering budget, equipment, training, measurement, and timeline.
KhawTech provides the technology and support - our NaLog software for monitoring and our deployment guides for installation. Government grants can cover half the costs. If you’re a local cooperative leader looking to save water and improve farmer livelihoods, this is your roadmap to get started.
Why Start with a Pilot Program?
A pilot project lets you test AWD irrigation on a small scale before committing your whole cooperative. With just 50 rai (about 10 farmers), you can demonstrate real results and calculate return on investment before expanding.
The goals are straightforward: prove that AWD saves water and maintains yields, train your members on the new approach, and gather data for potential carbon credit programs.
From our experience in Yasothon, pilots deliver quick benefits:
- Immediate savings: Farmers see 20% less time spent running water pumps within the first month.
- Group participation: Shared costs and shared monitoring alerts build buy-in from all members.
- Funding opportunities: Pilot data helps secure government grants covering 50% of equipment costs.
Total cost for a 50-rai pilot is about 75,000 baht (reduced to 40,000 baht with subsidies). Farmers typically see their investment paid back within one season. Check our IoT AWD services page for complete equipment packages.
Your Pilot Project Roadmap
Here’s a step-by-step checklist you can adapt for your local community. Start with Week 1 and aim to have everything running within 3 months.
Step 1: Budget Planning (Week 1)
Keep costs low by pooling cooperative resources. Apply for grants early.
| Item | Cost (THB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 50 Sensors | 75,000 | 1,500 baht each from KhawTech; ONEP grants cover 50% |
| 1 Gateway | 15,000 | Shared device, includes solar power (+500 baht) |
| Training & Installation | 10,000 | 2 days with local team |
| Miscellaneous (tools, fuel) | 5,000 | Cables, batteries, transportation |
| Total Cost | 105,000 | 52,500 baht after 50% grant |
Funding options: Member contributions (1,000 baht per rai), cooperative reserves, or our pilot discount program.
Step 2: Equipment & Installation (Weeks 2-3)
Technology setup doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ll guide you through it.
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Choose your equipment: Go with KhawTech’s LoRa-based sensors - they’re designed to withstand Isan’s weather and have lasted over 3 years in the field. You’ll need 5 sensors per rai, so 250 total for 50 rai. The offline AI system provides alerts even without internet.
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Select locations: Place the gateway in a central, elevated spot to maximize LoRa signal coverage across your fields.
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Installation process: Follow our deployment guide - Day 1 for the gateway, Days 2-4 for the sensors. Use a team of 2 cooperative members plus 1 KhawTech technician.
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Connect everything: Use the NaLog app to scan and connect sensors to the network. Test the signal strength to ensure reliable communication.
Pro tip: Start with a small 10-rai test area first. If it works well, expand to the full 50 rai.
Step 3: Training Your Members (Week 4)
Training should be practical and inclusive - you don’t need advanced degrees to understand AWD irrigation.
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Day 1 - Fundamentals: Teach the basic AWD rules - wait for the water level to drop 15cm before reflooding. Demonstrate the sensors and NaLog app (which includes voice alerts in local languages).
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Day 2 - Practical exercises: Show farmers how to schedule their pumps and respond to system alerts. Practice scenarios for dry spells and heavy rain.
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Ongoing support: Hold weekly check-in meetings and provide access to NaLog tutorials for using the dashboard.
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Inclusive approach: Make sure women and all community members are involved - our experience shows that inclusive participation leads to better adoption.
Resources: Free guides from the International Rice Research Institute plus our customized training materials.
Step 4: Measuring Results (Months 1-3)
Track your progress to prove the pilot’s success and guide improvements.
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Key metrics: Monitor water usage (pump running hours before and after), rice yields, and fuel costs. NaLog automatically logs soil moisture and estimates water savings.
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Tracking methods: Combine manual farmer logs with sensor data. Establish baseline measurements in Week 1, then review monthly.
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Carbon credit preparation: Track methane emission reductions as a foundation for future carbon market participation.
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Fine-tuning: Use the app to adjust AI settings based on your local soil types and conditions.
Example: Our Yasothon pilot achieved 28% water savings by Month 2, and the data helped secure grant extensions.
Step 5: Timeline & Key Milestones
Complete your pilot in 3 months to have results before the next planting season.
- Month 1: Plan budget and apply for grants, install equipment, train members.
- Month 2: Run the AWD system, take daily measurements, hold cooperative meetings to discuss progress.
- Month 3: Analyze results using NaLog reports and decide whether to expand to a full 200-rai cluster.
- Completion: Share your success stories to encourage other cooperatives to participate.
Risks: Heavy rains can delay installation - have a manual irrigation backup plan. Success rate: 80% of pilot cooperatives expand to full implementation afterward.
How KhawTech Supports Your Pilot
We want you to succeed, so we provide comprehensive support:
- Free consultation: We’ll assess your cooperative’s current soil and water conditions to create a customized plan.
- Discounted equipment: 20% off our standard pricing for pilot projects, plus free basic NaLog software access.
- Ongoing assistance: Remote monitoring and AI optimization after installation.
- Learning from others: Access to success stories from cooperatives like Yasothon, where skeptical farmers became enthusiastic advocates.
We also help connect you with ONEP grants that cover 50% of hardware costs.
Start Your Pilot Today
This template gives you everything needed to begin. Adapt it for your community’s needs, take action, and start saving water for your farmers.
Ready to Get Started?
Cooperative leaders can email [email protected] for a free detailed template PDF and a consultation call. We’re here to help local leaders transform their communities.
Alberto Roura, KhawTech Founder. Empowering cooperative leaders to create sustainable futures through practical technology and proven methods.