Irrigation Automation Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2033

Irrigation Automation Market Size and Growth

The global irrigation automation market size was valued at USD 4.86 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach around USD 23.04 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 16.83% from 2024 to 2033. The market is expected to witness an incremental surge in demand due to increased water scarcity instances and the shifting trends towards mechanization of agricultural processes across the globe.

Irrigation Automation Market Key Takeaways

• Asia Pacific led the market with the largest market share of 34% in 2023.
• North America is expected to expand at the fastest at the fastest CAGR of 16.95% in the market over the forecast period.
• By automation type, the time-based automation type segment has held the maximum market share of 34% in 2023.
• By automation type, the real-time-based automation type segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period.
• By component, the controller segment has contributed more than the 35% of market share in 2023.
• By component, the sensors segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market.
• By irrigation type, the drip irrigation type segment accounted the largest market share of 39% in 2023.
• By irrigation type, the sprinkler irrigation type segment is projected to grow at a solid CAGR of 16.47% during the forecast period.
• By application, the agricultural segment has recorded more than 64% of market share in 2023.
• By application, the non-agricultural application segment is poised to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 17.81% over the first period.

Irrigation Automation Market Size in the Asia Pacific 2024 to 2033

The Asia Pacific irrigation automation market size was estimated at USD 1.65 billion in 2023 and is predicted to be worth around USD 7.95 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 17.02% from 2024 to 2033.

Asia Pacific dominated the irrigation automation market in 2023, mainly due to its extensive agricultural lands, shifting climate patterns, and efforts to reduce water waste, backed by government support. Moreover, high population density and declining water levels in countries like India and China are driving the adoption of sensor-based irrigation systems, which are expected to boost regional market growth in the future.

North America is expected to show the fastest growth in the global irrigation automation market over the forecast period. Due to its strong agricultural sector and widespread use of advanced irrigation systems, North America leads in irrigation automation. The push for automation comes from the desire to save water, cut labor expenses, and enhance irrigation effectiveness. As water becomes scarcer and mechanization in farming increases, there's a growing demand for advanced irrigation methods in the region.

• In September 2023, Precision Irrigation Management startup Treetoscope completed its latest seed fundraising round, securing $7 million to aid with R&D, fuel overall growth, and accelerate commercial agriculture expansion in North America and beyond.

Irrigation Automation Market Size in North America 2023 to 2033

The North America irrigation automation market size was calculated at USD 1.41 billion in 2023 and is projected to expand around USD 6.80 billion by 2033, poised to grow at a CAGR of 17.03% from 2024 to 2033.

Irrigation Automation Market Overview

Irrigation automation streamlines the process of watering plants by employing automatic systems, minimizing the need for manual intervention. It efficiently manages every aspect of irrigation, catering to various methods like drip, sprinkler, and surface systems. Reducing labor requirements effectively cuts down irrigation expenses. Moreover, irrigation automation aids in water conservation by eliminating wastage, which benefits both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. The integration of hardware components such as controllers, sensors, and valves is crucial for its proper functioning. Also, government support for advanced irrigation systems and water conservation initiatives is expected to bolster the global irrigation automation market shortly.

Irrigation Automation Market Growth Factors

• Rising demand for advanced irrigation systems for cultivation worldwide can drive the growth of the irrigation automation market.
• Government support and initiatives for the installation of automation systems can further propel the irrigation automation market growth.
• The adoption of innovative irrigation technologies and water conservation systems can soon fuel the growth of the irrigation automation market.
• Mechanization of agriculture, specifically in emerging economies, can also boost market growth.

Irrigation Automation Market Scope

Irrigation Automation Market Dynamics

Driver: Increasing instances of water scarcity and unpredictable rainfall patterns

A major force behind the global rise of irrigation automation is the escalating water scarcity and erratic rainfall patterns. Traditional farming methods struggle in these conditions, pushing the demand for more advanced irrigation solutions. By incorporating feedback-based methods, automated systems now manage resources more effectively than older approaches. Furthermore, there's a growing emphasis on conserving water and enhancing irrigation efficiency worldwide, which can further fuel the demand for advanced techniques provided by the irrigation automation market.

• In February 2024, Ethos Connected, a trailblazer in water conservation and sustainable agriculture technology, announces the inauguration of its state-of-the-art sensor production facility. Located strategically in Lincoln, NE, this facility embodies Ethos Connected’s commitment to conserving natural resources, protecting rural communities, and securing American agriculture.

Restraint: High installation cost

In the irrigation automation market, systems can be pricey, needing a substantial upfront investment. This expense isn't feasible for many farmers in developing nations, where financial resources are limited. Also, the high cost might impede market expansion in the foreseeable future. Additionally, a lack of awareness and education among farmers regarding the advantages and cost-effectiveness of advanced irrigation methods compared to traditional ones could also slow down market growth.

Opportunity: Government initiatives

Government initiatives promoting water conservation globally, along with increasing farmer awareness of automated irrigation techniques, are critical drivers of the projected growth in the global irrigation automation market. As labor and electricity costs rise, farmers are becoming more aware of the benefits of automated irrigation. They've noticed significant reductions in power consumption and the time and effort spent on watering fields. By automating tasks, farmers can make fewer trips to their farms, cutting down on labor expenses. Innovative irrigation technologies are revolutionizing agriculture and landscape management by conserving natural resources, cutting input costs, and increasing profits. These technologies monitor soil conditions, weather patterns, water levels, and watering schedules by incorporating tools like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

• In December 2022, Orchard, the top AI-based Agritech startup in Jammu and Kashmir, and Fyllo, an AI and IoT-enabled agri-science platform based out of Bengaluru have partnered to jointly work on temperate fruits in the country. The cooperation is a positive development for orchardists all over India and will advance efforts to transform the nation's temperate orchard ecology.

Automation Type Insights

The time-based automation type segment dominated the irrigation automation market in 2023. The growth of this segment can be credited to advantages like better control over irrigation, reduced fuel usage, and lower labor expenses. Time-based systems stand out for their ability to let users monitor crops, intervene, and exercise better control over irrigation stages at regular intervals. This feature is a crucial driver behind the segment's notable growth for the upcoming period.

The real-time-based automation type segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period. The growing preference for using tensiometers and sensors to monitor temperature, weather, and rainfall is driving the demand for real-time-based automated irrigation systems. These systems are considered more sustainable than other options on the market, leading to lower water consumption.

Component Insights

The controller segment dominated the irrigation automation market in 2023. The segment's growth is primarily fueled by rising demand for semi-automatic systems like volume-based and time-based systems worldwide. Additionally, controllers play a crucial role in delivering the necessary amount of water at the right time as per the desired schedule, further driving the segment's growth in the foreseeable future.

The sensors segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the irrigation automation market. The segment's growth is fueled by its many advantageous features, including real-time monitoring of soil moisture levels to assess irrigation requirements. Moreover, dripping systems, in conjunction with automated and advanced technology, can enhance productivity while reducing reliance on manual labor, and hence expectedly boosting market growth significantly.

• In February 2024, CropX Technologies, a global leader in digital agriculture solutions, announced the launch of a new product in partnership with Reinke Irrigation to refine water management for farmers through field-specific Evapotranspiration measurements of crop water use. Reinke Direct ET™ by CropX is an innovation that provides affordable Actual Evapotranspiration (ETa) measurements with a sensor mounted on a Reinke center pivot irrigation system, available exclusively through Reinke.

Irrigation Type Insights

The drip irrigation type segment dominated the irrigation automation market in 2023. Drip irrigation systems reduce water waste due to field run-off and evaporation. Furthermore, Factors like reduced water usage and lower costs of drip systems are driving the growth of this segment. Drip irrigation is considered the most effective irrigation method globally, except in certain Asia Pacific countries like Japan and China, where water-intensive crops like rice are cultivated.

• In June 2022, Rivulis Pte. Ltd. and Jain Irrigation Systems Limited ("Jain Irrigation") announced that they entered into definitive transaction agreements under which Rivulis will acquire multiple overseas subsidiaries, including Jain Irrigation's International Irrigation Business ("IIB").

Tthe sprinkler irrigation type segment is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. Sprinkler irrigation, widely used in agriculture, entails spraying water over crops with sprinklers. This method leads the global market due to its rising adoption in crops like wheat, corn, and soybean. Moreover, its simple installation and operation, compared to other methods, contribute to the segment's growth.

Application Insights

The agricultural application segment dominated the irrigation automation market in 2023. Agriculture is a significant occupation worldwide, particularly in many countries. Agricultural products are often standardized and cost less to produce, making them accessible to consumers, especially in emerging economies like India, China, and Indonesia.

The non-agricultural application segment is the fastest-growing segment over the first period. The growth is driven by the increasing number of golf courses, sports fields, gardens, residential areas, and turf and landscapes worldwide. Irrigation automation systems ensure timely watering with the right amount of water for these non-agricultural uses, reducing water bills. Additionally, automatic irrigation systems in golf courses enable owners to adjust irrigation based on time or volume and control it remotely.

Irrigation Automation Market Recent Developments

• In June 2023, Hunter Industries launched two new field servers, namely Hunter FS-3000 and FS-1000, to enable custom irrigation management in automation platforms. These new field servers allow users to incorporate resource management and irrigation control into custom facilities.
• In March 2023, Jain Irrigation announced that it had completed the transaction with Rivulis to merge its international irrigation business, which had been intimated in June 2022. The merged entity is expected to be the 2nd largest global Irrigation and Climate leader and will explore opportunities in technology innovation, ESG, and hi-tech agricultural inputs.
• In April 2022, Viridix Ltd. launched its most advanced precision irrigation system. Viridix's new Gen3 system integrates with remote monitoring and irrigation control solutions to create a revolutionary autonomous irrigation solution.
• In October 2022, Rubicon Water signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan to develop a modernized plan for the country’s irrigation landscape. The project involved the installation of remote management software, along with 26 automated control gates.

Irrigation Automation Market Companies

• The Toro Company
• Hunter Industries
• Valmont Industries Inc.
• Rain Bird Corporation
• Jain Irrigation Systems
• Lindsay Corporation
• Netafim
• Galcon
• Rubicon Water
• Nelson Irrigation

Segments Covered in the Report

By Automation Type

• Time-based
• Volume-based
• Real-time-based
• Computer-based Control System

By Component

• Controllers
• Sensors
• Valves
• Sprinklers
• Others

By Irrigation Type

• Sprinkler Irrigation
• Drip Irrigation
• Surface Irrigation
• Others

By Application

• Agricultural
  • Open Fields
  • Greenhouses
• Non-Agricultural
  • Golf Courses
  • Residential
  • Sports Grounds
  • Others

By Geography

• North America
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa