Irrigation Controllers Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Product (Smart Controllers, Tap Timers, and Basic Controllers), By Irrigation Type (Sprinkler Irrigation, Drip Irrigation, and Others), By Application (Non-Agriculture, Agricultural Fields and Greenhouses), and Region Forecast 2019-2030

The irrigation controllers market size was valued at US$ 37,982.1 million in 2023 and is projected to reach a value of US$ 109,304.2 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 16.3%from 2024-2030. Moreover, the U.S. Irrigation Controllers market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of US$ 49,083.4 million by 2032. 
Increasing water scarcity and increased focus on water efficiency in agriculture and landscaping are the main growth drivers for the irrigation controller’s market. The technical progression being carried out in IoT and smart systems is enhancing the efficiency of irrigation, which is supplemented by government initiatives for the adoption of sustainable practices. A major challenge to the adoption of this technology is the high initial cost, the technical complexity, and being dependence on internet connectivity. Others include continued market expansion over the next few years, increasing demand for sustainable agriculture, and integration with precision farming technologies and mobile solutions in remote control.

Key Players  

Calsense, FlyBird Farm Innovations Pvt Ltd, Galcon Ltd., Hunter Industries, HydroPoint Data Systems Inc, Nelson Irrigation, Netafim Ltd. (Orbia), Rachio Inc., Rain Bird Corporation, The Toro Company, Valmont Industries Inc., Weathermatic, etc.

Key Takeaways

•   The largest region in the irrigation controllers market in North America
•   Asia-Pacific is growing at the fastest rate
•   Based on the Product, the Smart Controllers segment holds a 32.1% market share
•   Based on the Irrigation Type, the Drip Irrigation segment holds a 47.2% market share
•   Based on the Application, the Agricultural Fields segment holds a 67.2% market share

Facts & Figures 

•  In 2022, about 27% of U.S. farms had adopted some form of smart irrigation technology, indicating a growing trend toward automation.
•  As of December 2022, drip irrigation systems were used on approximately 30% of all irrigated land in the United States, reflecting their increasing popularity in agriculture.
•  By June 2024, approximately 70% of golf courses in the U.S. had implemented smart irrigation technologies to optimize water usage.

Key Developments

• In February 2024: Hunter Industries launched a new line of smart irrigation controllers that utilize AI to optimize watering schedules based on real-time weather data and soil moisture levels.
• In June 2024: Toro Company introduced an advanced weather-based irrigation management system that can be integrated with existing infrastructure, targeting both residential and commercial markets.
• In October 2024: Rachio Inc. announced a partnership with a major agricultural technology firm to develop a new platform that combines irrigation control with crop health monitoring, enhancing productivity for farmers

Irrigation Controllers Market Segmentation

By Product: The smart controllers segment dominated the market for irrigation controllers, due to the growing need for efficient and automated solutions in water management. Weather-based irrigation controllers proved particularly popular because they integrate real-time information from weather stations into optimized schedules that minimize water wastage while maximizing soil water levels. Soil moisture-based controllers also significantly contribute to this end, allowing users to water based on true conditions inside the soil, and increase efficiency further. The other category, and therefore quite a growing one as well, is tap timers. Tap timers are also relatively easy to use and are affordable for homeowners. The basic controllers, on the other hand, constitute a more backburner option due to their limited functionality, which doesn't compete well in today's market where 'automated' and 'efficiency' stand at the center stage of marketing.

By Irrigation Type: The market of irrigation controllers is dominated by the drip irrigation segment due to higher efficiency in water use and effectiveness in the delivery of water directly to the roots of the plant, thus highly suitable for a variety of crops and landscapes. This method is particularly favored in water-scarce regions. Of equal importance is the sprinkler irrigation segment: the product is widely used in agricultural and landscape applications, mostly because it is versatile and covers large areas. The others segment comprises surface and sub-surface irrigation methods, which provide lower market share but covers specific applications.

By Application:  The segment of agricultural fields and greenhouses accounted for a dominant share in the market for irrigation controllers. Such a trend was witnessed due to the imperative need to utilize water resource management efficiently for producing food and cultivation of crops. That part is supported by growing interest in high-precision agriculture with adaptation of irrigation to specific crop needs. After this, the non-agriculture segment, primarily the residential sub-segment is gaining traction since residential users seek smart and efficient irrigation solutions for their lawns and gardens. Besides this, sports grounds and golf courses require specific types of irrigation systems to maintain ideal turf conditions, thereby adding to the market.