Key Highlights
- R M Drip enters IoT-based smart irrigation automation segment starting March 2026.
- Strategic shift from hardware-led model to integrated hardware plus software platform.
- India irrigation automation market projected to grow to USD 899 million by 2030 at 24.1% CAGR.
- Global irrigation automation market expected to reach USD 12.4 billion by 2030.
- Smart irrigation segment expected to contribute around 5% of revenue in FY27.
- Company targets nearly 30% growth in automation segment from FY27 onwards.
- Nationwide rollout planned through 1,000 plus dealer and retail touchpoints.
- Entry aligned with water conservation, solar irrigation and digital agriculture initiatives.
R M Drip and Sprinklers Systems Limited has announced its strategic entry into the smart irrigation automation segment through a technology partnership focused on IoT-based agricultural solutions. The development marks the company’s expansion beyond traditional micro-irrigation hardware into integrated digital agriculture platforms aimed at enabling precision farming and recurring revenue opportunities.
The Nashik-based micro-irrigation manufacturer stated that the initiative, scheduled to commence from March 2026, represents a significant milestone in its transition toward technology-driven growth. The move is expected to strengthen the company’s long-term scalability while enhancing operational efficiency and customer value through automation, analytics, and mobile-enabled farm management solutions.
Expansion into High-Growth Irrigation Automation Market
The company’s entry aligns with strong industry growth prospects. India’s irrigation automation market is projected to expand from approximately USD 252 million in 2024 to USD 899 million by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.1%. Globally, the irrigation automation market is expected to grow from USD 7.2 billion in 2025 to USD 12.4 billion by 2030, indicating sustained adoption of precision agriculture technologies.
Through this initiative, R M Drip aims to evolve from a hardware-centric business model into a combined hardware-plus-software ecosystem. The company plans to generate additional revenue streams through smart devices, subscription-based services, mobile applications, and analytics platforms. Management expects the smart irrigation segment to contribute around 5% of total revenue in FY27, with growth in the segment projected at approximately 30% from FY27 onwards.
Alignment with Government Policy and Agricultural Modernisation
India’s irrigation sector is transitioning from micro-irrigation adoption toward integration of solar solutions and automation during the current policy phase. The company believes this structural shift, supported by government subsidies and sustainability initiatives, will accelerate adoption among farmers.
The strategy also aligns with national priorities including water conservation, renewable energy adoption, digital agriculture transformation, and improvement of farmer incomes. Near-term demand is expected to be supported by increasing solar pump installations, rising awareness, and growing greenhouse and polyhouse farming activity.
Long-Term Technology Roadmap
The company expects medium-term advancements to include integration of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and precision agriculture tools, ultimately evolving toward comprehensive digital farm management platforms. Over the long term, smart irrigation is anticipated to become a standard agricultural practice driven by climate challenges and sustained policy support.
Commenting on the development, Managing Director Atharva Nivrutti Kedar said the company remains focused on innovation and long-term strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening market positioning and delivering future-ready agricultural solutions.