12 Acres · Permanent RainGun · 2017 · Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu · Animal Husbandry & Fodder Cultivation
In 2017, Mr. Arun from Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu approached Thumba Agro Technologies for his large animal husbandry farm with more than 100 animals. To feed this herd year-round, he cultivated 12 acres of fodder crop — a high-demand, tall-growing crop reaching up to 10 feet in height. He needed a permanent RainGun irrigation system capable of covering the entire 12 acres uniformly, despite the tall crop canopy and the challenge of reaching every corner of the field.
After studying the farm's layout and water availability, our team designed the project as two separate stretches: a 4-acre zone and an 8-acre zone. The water source was a 60-feet open well with 7.5HP grid-connected power. One key challenge: the farm had limited water availability, so the system had to deliver efficiently — maximum coverage from every litre pumped, with no wasted water on dry patches or over-irrigated areas.
Our solution was a permanent RainGun system built on our 85% overlapping concept — a layout principle where each RainGun standpipe position is placed so its coverage circle overlaps with adjacent positions by 85%. This design eliminates the common problem of dry corners and uneven irrigation that occurs with simple grid layouts. Every square foot of Mr. Arun's 12-acre fodder field — including the corners — receives the same uniform application of water.
The results exceeded expectations. Maximum yield achieved on the farm was 200 Tons per acre per annum — extraordinary for fodder cultivation. In addition, Thumba installed a fully automatic GSM mobile control system, allowing Mr. Arun to start and stop his 7.5HP motor remotely from his mobile phone — even during night-time irrigation runs — without needing to be physically present at the farm.
Project at a Glance (2017)
| System Type | Permanent RainGun Irrigation |
| Motor Power | 7.5 HP (Grid / Mains Supply) |
| Water Source | Open well — 60 feet depth |
| Total Field Area | 12 Acres (2 stretches: 4 acres + 8 acres) |
| Crop | Fodder — 10 feet height tall crop |
| Farm Type | Animal Husbandry — 100+ animals |
| RainGun Size | 1.5 inches |
| Coverage Radius | 75 feet per position |
| Discharge | 180 Litres per Minute (per gun) |
| RainGuns Running at Once | 4 Nos. simultaneously |
| Overlap Design | 85% overlapping concept — uniform coverage including all corners |
| Motor Control | Fully automatic GSM mobile control |
| Location | Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu |
| Installation Year | 2017 |
| Peak Yield | 200 Tons per Acre per Annum |
"A 12-acre fodder farm with 100+ animals needs water like clockwork. We designed the 85% overlapping layout specifically so no corner goes dry — and added GSM control so Mr. Arun can manage his irrigation from his phone at any hour. When a farm runs this efficiently, 200 Tons per acre becomes achievable."
— Nallamuthu, CEO, Thumba Agro Technologies — from customer project records
Yes. A 1.5-inch RainGun head mounted at the right pillar height throws water in a wide arc that clears tall fodder crops — including crops reaching 10 feet. At Mr. Arun's farm, the permanent system with 75-foot radius coverage irrigated all 12 acres of tall fodder uniformly, reaching every corner using our 85% overlapping design. The sequential rain-like pattern from the rotating gun also reduces disease risk compared to flood irrigation.
In a basic RainGun layout, adjacent gun positions may leave dry patches at corners and between coverage circles. Thumba's 85% overlapping concept positions standpipes so that 85% of the coverage circle from each gun overlaps with its neighbours. This eliminates dry corners and edges — every square foot of the field receives the same amount of irrigation water, regardless of position. It is particularly important on large farms and in fields with irregular shapes.
Mr. Arun's 12-acre fodder farm in Mahabalipuram achieved a maximum yield of 200 Tons per acre per annum under permanent RainGun irrigation. Fodder crops have high water demand at every growth stage and respond strongly to regular, uniform irrigation — which is exactly what a permanent RainGun with overlapping design delivers. Actual results will vary based on variety, soil, water quality, and farm management practices.
GSM mobile motor control is a fully automatic system that lets the farmer start, stop, and schedule his pump motor using any mobile phone — from any location, at any time. At Mr. Arun's farm, Thumba installed this alongside the permanent RainGun system so he can control his 7.5HP motor remotely, including during night-time irrigation runs, without being physically present. The system works on standard GSM signals and does not require a smartphone or internet.
For Mr. Arun's 12 acres, we divided the field into two irrigation zones — a 4-acre stretch and an 8-acre stretch — each with its own permanent standpipe positions. 4 RainGun heads run simultaneously in the active zone. The farmer completes irrigation on one stretch, then switches to the other. This ensures the 7.5HP pump delivers the correct pressure and 180 LPM discharge to each gun rather than spreading flow too thinly across all 12 acres at once.
We'll design the right RainGun layout — including overlapping concept and GSM control — after a free field study of your farm.
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