13 Acres · Diesel-Powered RainGun · Since 2004 · Kadaloor, Tamil Nadu
In 2004, Mr. Bharathi, along with three farming partners, approached Thumba Agro Technologies through the CODISSIA Trade Fair. They had a combined holding of 10 + 3 = 13 acres of Vettiver (Khus grass) in Kadaloor — a coastal location just 100 metres from the seashore. Sandy coastal soil, high evaporation, and no reliable water retention made irrigation critical for the crop.
The biggest challenge: no grid electricity was available at the site. A standard electric-motor RainGun installation was not possible. Our team designed a diesel-engine powered semi-permanent system — with a diesel pump unit, a main pipeline laid across the field, and movable lateral pipes and stands that the farmers could reposition between sections.
This gave Mr. Bharathi and his partners the irrigation coverage of a full RainGun system without needing a single unit of grid power. The semi-permanent design also suited the coastal terrain where underground piping was not yet the preferred approach.
Project at a Glance — Phase 1 (2004)
On 26 December 2004, the Indian Ocean Tsunami struck the Tamil Nadu coastline. Mr. Bharathi's farm, situated just 100 metres from the sea, was directly in the impact zone. The field was damaged, as were many neighbouring farms along the Kadaloor coast.
Yet in the years that followed, something unexpected happened: the Tsunami became a turning point for irrigation adoption in the region. Farmers who had seen Mr. Bharathi's RainGun system operating before the disaster recognised the value of modern irrigation as they rebuilt their farms. Many neighbouring farmers came to Thumba Agro and commissioned their own RainGun systems — a ripple effect triggered by one early adopter.
By 2006, buoyed by results and post-Tsunami farm revival, Mr. Bharathi expanded his operation to 22 acres. For this larger footprint, a semi-permanent system with repositionable pipes was no longer efficient enough. Our team designed a fully permanent installation using the "Mariner" RainGun head — one of our heavy-duty units with a 130-foot (≈40 metre) irrigation radius.
The Mariner's wide coverage radius means fewer stand positions are needed across a large field, reducing labour and improving uniformity. On 22 acres of coastal vettiver, this made it possible to irrigate the full holding in a single operational cycle — a major step up from the 2004 semi-permanent setup.
| Year | Phase | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Phase 1 — Installation | 13 acres (10+3), diesel semi-permanent RainGun. No grid electricity. Kadaloor coastal site. |
| Dec 2004 | Tsunami Impact | Farm damaged by 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. 100m from seashore. |
| 2005–06 | Community Adoption | Neighbouring coastal farmers commission RainGun systems, inspired by Mr. Bharathi's example. |
| 2006 | Phase 2 — Expansion | Upgraded to 22-acre permanent system with Mariner 130ft RainGun heads. |
"Even where there is no electricity, there is a RainGun solution. Mr. Bharathi's farm proved it — and after the Tsunami, the whole neighbourhood followed."
— Nallamuthu, CEO, Thumba Agro Technologies — from customer project records
| Phase 1 — System Type | Diesel-Powered Semi-Permanent RainGun |
| Power Source | Diesel Engine (no grid electricity) |
| Phase 1 Area | 13 Acres (10 + 3 acres, shared by 4 farmers) |
| Crop | Vettiver (Vetiveria zizanioides / Khus grass) |
| Location | Kadaloor, Tamil Nadu (100m from seashore) |
| Installation Year | 2004 |
| Phase 2 — System Type | Permanent RainGun with Mariner Heads |
| Phase 2 Area | 22 Acres |
| RainGun Head | Mariner — 130ft (≈40m) radius |
| Expansion Year | 2006 |
From diesel-powered semi-permanent systems to large-acreage Mariner installations — we design RainGun systems around your actual field conditions, power availability, and crop needs.
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