Harvesting Machinery Market Assessment, By Equipment Type [Combine Harvesters, Forage Harvesters, Vegetable Harvesters, Fruit Harvesters, Others], By Technology [Manual Harvesters, Automated Harvesters], By Power Source [ICE, Electric], By Region, Opportu

Harvesting Machinery Market Assessment, By Equipment Type [Combine Harvesters, Forage Harvesters, Vegetable Harvesters, Fruit Harvesters, Others], By Technology [Manual Harvesters, Automated Harvesters], By Power Source [ICE, Electric], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F

Global irrigation controllers market is projected to witness a CAGR of 15.21% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 1.37 billion in 2023 to USD 4.27 billion in 2031. The market is on the rise owing to the rising need for effective water management and the growth in smart agriculture practices. Such devices can be controlled by specific environmental parameters and help to create efficient watering schedules. As a result, they are becoming increasingly important in agriculture, as well as residential and commercial landscapes. There is an increasing focus on saving water, especially in dry regions, which is a significant factor that is anticipated to create the demand for these systems. Various countries are implementing resource management policies to encourage efficient water use.

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and sensor-based technologies is transforming irrigation systems to be more accurate, easy to use, and efficient. There is an increased insurgence of smart controllers that amend the watering timetable based on real-time information on weather forecasts and soil moisture content. This is very useful to farmers handling large-scale agricultural operations, whose sole focus is to maximize water use without necessarily reducing crop yield.

From a geographical perspective, North America occupies the dominant region in the market due to the early adoption of smart irrigation technologies and generous support from the government. Nevertheless, the fastest-growing region is Asia-Pacific, driven by the growing agricultural practices, enhancement in water management awareness, and rising technological developments. Residential and commercial sectors are using irrigation controllers to manage their landscapes effectively.

The projection for the market is on the brighter side as various sectors are beginning to focus on sustainability and optimal use of resources. Also, as technology keeps evolving and the aspect of managing water efficiently becomes a necessity, the market for irrigation controllers across the world will grow more, presenting great prospects for the current and emerging players.

In April 2022, Viridix Ltd. introduced the latest system for Precision Irrigation. The Gen3 system created by Viridix incorporates remote monitoring and control of irrigation systems, providing a revolutionizing irrigation system. The Gen3 Auto-Pilot systems consist of Viridix RooTense, a patented and proprietary water potential sensor that imitates the roots of the plant to provide real-time analysis and is complemented by the company’s proprietary AI software that collects RooTense data and external data and processes it for decision making, allowing the system to generate and execute the decisions made autonomously.

Technological Innovations to Catalyze Market Expansion

The expansion of the global irrigation controllers market is significantly fueled by technological advancements. Smart technologies, such as IoT and AI, have elevated conventional irrigation systems to intelligent automatic ones. Automation enables real-time tracking and precise calibration of water distribution depending on weather, soil moisture, and crop conditions, which enhances water efficiency greatly. The controllers equipped with the Internet of Things technology can work remotely, therefore providing users with convenience and flexibility.

Such developments are particularly interesting in agriculture, where there is great emphasis on efficiency and water-saving practices. With technological advancement, it is projected that the market will expand globally due to the provision of better tools, higher levels of productivity, and provision of solutions to deal with water stress issues.

In September 2024, Netafim Ltd. introduced GrowSphere, an operating system that facilitates automated irrigation and fertigation processes. GrowSphere has produced gains in productivity for thousands of farmers in many different geographical settings. The system has been shown to enhance the level of worth per hectare by improving the efficiency of operations and ensuring service delivery for all growers at different levels of irrigation and fertigation automation.

Increasing Water Scarcity to Influence Market Growth

The global irrigation controllers market is primarily influenced by the adoption of water conservation strategies. Due to the increasing concern over the diminishing levels of water supply efficiency, effective water control has become a major concern in the agricultural landscape and for domestic use. Intelligent irrigation controllers optimize the use of water depending on climatic factors, the moisture level of the soil, and types of plants, nearly eliminating water wastage. Globally, institutions and governments are adopting measures and encouraging the utilization of technologies that promote efficiency in water use. Such initiatives are geared toward sustainability and are critical in areas that have tendencies to experience drought or water deficits. Contemporary irrigation systems are used to solve environmental issues without compromising food production and the growth of urban green spaces.

In July 2023, Hydro-Rain, an affiliate of Husqvarna AB, introduced the High Station Count Controller (HSC), its newest product. HSC is ideal for commercial irrigation applications because of its superior water management capabilities, which are applicable to all types of projects. Due to B-hyve connected technology, HSC enables full control and monitoring via a smart device or web. The HSC-1600-M includes two 8-station factory-installed modules with additional modules that can be incorporated to extend up to 48 total stations.

Sprinkler Irrigation to Hold a Significant Market Share

Sprinkler irrigation is one of the most popular irrigation systems across the globe, owing to its applicability to almost all agricultural and non-agricultural activities. This practice entails inducing artificial rainfall over a large area to enhance crop production and is useful for a wider range of crops and landforms. Sprinklers are useful in conserving water, especially in areas that are prone to drought and have limited groundwater resources. The increasing adoption of technological innovations in the agricultural sector, such as smart controllers, that schedule sprinkler systems to work according to climatic and soil conditions, is expected to increase the demand for the sprinkler irrigation segment. The adaptability and size of sprinkler irrigation systems help to advance the growth of the market, as they are available in most countries worldwide.

In November 2023, ImoLaza INC. advanced the shift into smarter gardens by launching the latest product in the series, ImoLaza PRO. Combined with the cost-efficient ImoLaza ET Master Smart Sprinkler Controller, ImoLaza PRO presents a revolutionized smart irrigation system. ImoLaza PRO incorporates the Smart Weather Genius into it. This system works by integrating satellite data from the National Weather Service, radar data from Local Weathermen, and real-time figures obtained from 375,000 Personal Weather Stations to InmoLaza Pro, which assists in tracking and forecasting the air temperature, wind speed, amount of sunlight, and rainfall at the location of the customer.

North America to Dominate the Market Share

The global irrigation controllers market is primarily concentrated in North America due to the advanced agricultural methods and marketing of smart technologies. Water scarcity and droughts in the region, especially in the United States, foster the trend of smart irrigation systems. The market growth has been enhanced by government measures such as subsidization of water-saving agricultural practices. Moreover, North America’s majority market is further reinforced by the increasing demand for automated irrigation systems in residential and commercial landscapes. Apart from that, the region's supremacy is due to the improvements in technology, including integrated IoT and AI. Moreover, as the understanding of the concepts of sustainable water management increases, North America is anticipated to hold its place firmly in the global market.

In September 2023, Irrigreen, Inc. introduced its newest invention, Smart Controller 3. The modern sprinkler controller redefines lawn care in terms of control, integration, and efficiency for homeowners and landscaping professionals. This device is equipped with a display unit for easy access to the functions. The product enables users to handle the essential sprinkler functions easily using the app or alternatively from the controller itself.

Future Market Scenario (2024 – 2031F)

The trend of smart irrigation controllers optimized with IoT and AI technology will gain predominance by incorporating real-time data monitoring, predictive analytics, and automation for efficient use of water resources.

The increasing environmental issues will lead to a rise in the need for water-efficient solutions in line with global sustainability objectives, especially in agriculture and landscaping.

With the growing popularity of smart home systems, irrigation controllers will connect to them, making things easier for homeowners.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The global irrigation controllers market is shaped by the presence of numerous key players who contribute to the market's competitiveness and innovation. These players focus on developing advanced controllers that integrate smart technologies, such as weather-based automation, soil moisture sensors, and mobile connectivity. The market is witnessing strong growth due to the increasing demand for water conservation, particularly in agriculture and landscaping.

Key participants in the market are expanding their offerings to include user-friendly, energy-efficient systems that align with environmental sustainability trends. For instance, in April 2024, Rain Bird Corporation launched its latest BAT-BT Bluetooth Battery-Operated Controller. The controller provides hassle-free installation and operation. It comes with features such as advanced mapping, offline mode, controller sharing, monthly seasonal adjustment, cycle and soak feature, seconds-based irrigation, calendar and permanent days off, and many other features required for total irrigation management. Using the Rain Bird 2.0 App, available for iOS and Android devices, the company strives to enhance the user experience.

The market is expected to see continued expansion, particularly in regions experiencing water scarcity, such as the Middle East and parts of Asia-Pacific. Additionally, government initiatives promoting water conservation practices and smart farming technologies are anticipated to drive the adoption of irrigation controllers. Innovations in IoT and AI integration are expected to offer new growth opportunities, making the landscape increasingly competitive and dynamic.