Yogyakarta- Nowadays farmers get difficulty to predict planting and harvesting time. So far they tend to determine the time using traditional ways passed from old generation by seeing regular rain cycle. However, the precipitation is not regular. This makes the farmers get difficulty to produce good quality crops because they can no longer depend on the tradition.

The condition motivates Andi Kurniawan, a student of UMY (Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta) majoring in electrical engineering, to invent a practical tool to detect precipitation whose production cost is reasonable. On Monday  (26/12) at UMY integrated campus, Andi says that the production cost can be minimized to be some Rp. 400,000.

Andi explains that the tool uses simple components, such as funnel, lever, mikrontroler, wireless transmission, and data display gadget like computer. The funnel is used to contain rain water. Then the water is channeled to the lever. The leverage will happen if the volume of water has reached a given limit.  The account of leverage is counted by Optocoupler as a censor.

The leverage data counted by Optocoupler will be processed and sent to wireless computer. The data is saved automatically in the computer as precipitation data. "I use wireless type TRW 2.4G. The precipitation data that appears is also managed by milimeter per hour. It can also be changed based on the need and cost," said Andi.

According to Andi, in fact so far BMKG (Meteorology Climatology and Geophysic Body) has a tool that can be used to measure precipitation and other needs. The problem is the tool only represents an area within 10 kilometers. Furthermore, the tool is expensive, so BMKG only puts the tool in limited spots.

Andi also says that BMKG finds a problem in informing the precipitation to public. "So far, many farmers come to see the precipitation report, but it is not efficent because it needs time and money. So they prefer to predict using a traditional way," said he.

Andi hopes his invention can be used by farmers and people to make precipitation measurement easier. Apart from the reasonable price, the use is easy and it doesn't need long time. "Using this tool, we can see the result on the computer screen without doing any process. When the tool is working, the data will be automatically saved. Eventually, the farmers can produce crops with better quality." (www.umy.ac.id)

(trans by hamzah - uhamka)