Here are the 10 best INSPIRE Award MANAK science project ideas on agriculture, especially designed to be innovative, low-cost, and real-life problem-solving—ideal for winning district/state-level awards:
1. Smart Irrigation System Using Soil Moisture Sensor
Problem: Over-irrigation and water wastage
Innovation: A simple sensor-based irrigation model using soil moisture sensor, Arduino, and a water pump system
Working Model: When the soil is dry, the motor pumps water automatically
Benefit: Saves water, increases crop yield
2. Solar-Powered Insect Trap
Problem: Crop damage due to pests
Innovation: Create a solar light-based insect trap using LED, solar panel, and sticky sheet
Working Model: Attracts and traps insects without chemicals
Benefit: Eco-friendly pest control for organic farming
3. Rainwater Harvesting Model for Crop Irrigation
Problem: Lack of water during dry seasons
Innovation: Collect rainwater from roofs into tanks and use gravity for drip irrigation
Working Model: Cardboard roof, pipes, tanks, drip lines
Benefit: Sustainable water source for farming
4. Low-Cost Vertical Farming Using Waste Bottles
Problem: Less land for farming
Innovation: Use plastic bottles to create vertical layers for growing vegetables
Working Model: Bottles fixed in rows with water drip system
Benefit: Ideal for urban and small-space farming
5. Bio-Fertilizer Production from Cow Dung and Kitchen Waste
Problem: Overuse of chemical fertilizers
Innovation: DIY model to convert organic waste into compost using earthworms or microbes
Working Model: Compost bin with layering
Benefit: Organic fertilizer production at home
6. Seed Sowing and Covering Machine Using Syringes
Problem: Manual seed sowing is slow and uneven
Innovation: Cardboard + syringe model that sows seeds and covers them automatically
Working Model: Rotate wheel → seed drops → covering arm follows
Benefit: Ensures proper spacing and depth of seeds
7. Anti-Bird Net Using Motion Sensor and Buzzer
Problem: Birds destroy crops
Innovation: Motion sensor and buzzer fixed in fields
Working Model: When bird comes, sound is activated
Benefit: Scares birds without harming them
8. Crop Health Monitoring with Natural Indicator
Problem: Farmers can’t easily detect crop diseases
Innovation: Use turmeric paper test or litmus tests to detect diseases (like fungal rot)
Working Model: Cards change color in presence of disease spores
Benefit: Low-cost early detection for poor farmers
9. Wind-Powered Water Pump
Problem: No electricity in rural farms
Innovation: DIY windmill with plastic blades + syringe pump
Working Model: Wind rotates fan, pushing syringe to pump water
Benefit: Free and renewable energy for irrigation
10. Multicrop Harvester Using Bicycle Chain Mechanism
Problem: Manual harvesting is time-consuming
Innovation: A mini model showing how one machine can harvest multiple crops using cutting blades powered by bicycle chain system
Working Model: Rotate handle → blades cut crops
Benefit: Saves time and labor in harvesting