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There are no more items in your cartHow IoT solutions are transforming agriculture with Milesight and MiRO
- Maggie Kruger
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Modern agriculture faces a growing set of challenges: water scarcity, climate unpredictability, soil degradation, and labour shortages. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to boost productivity and sustainability. In response, farmers are embracing IoT technologies to monitor, automate, and optimise their operations.
Milesight, a trusted global manufacturer of LoRaWAN®-enabled sensors, gateways, and controllers, together with MiRO as its official distributor in Southern Africa, is enabling this transformation across the region. Their solutions deliver long-range, low-power connectivity, making them ideal for large or remote agricultural sites.
Why IoT matters in agriculture
IoT technologies support real-time monitoring, automation, and data-driven decision-making. This leads to:
- Better resource allocation, including water, fertiliser, and electricity
- Cost savings through predictive alerts and automation
- Reduced losses and downtime
- Increased crop yields and improved environmental efficiency
- Scalability from smallholdings to large commercial farms
Milesight device capabilities and use cases
| Device or Series | Article claims | Details and notes | ||
| SG50 Solar Gateway | Solar power, battery backup, long range, IP67, 4G backhaul | Designed for remote, off-grid areas with robust housing and reliable connectivity | ||
| EM500 Series Sensors | Soil moisture, temperature, conductivity, CO₂, light, pressure, water level | Multiple models support various sensing needs for precision irrigation and environmental monitoring | ||
| WTS Weather Stations | Localised weather monitoring including temperature, wind, humidity, rainfall, solar radiation | Supports microclimate management and planning for climate-sensitive crops | ||
| AT101 GPS Tracker | Livestock and asset tracking | Real-time monitoring of animals and equipment to reduce theft and improve operational oversight | ||
| UC, WS, CT Controllers | Automate pumps, fans, nets, detect leaks, monitor power usage | Enables infrastructure automation for irrigation, ventilation, and energy management |
Cloud integration and automation
Milesight devices integrate seamlessly with the Milesight IoT Cloud and other third-party platforms such as ChirpStack and The Things Industries. These platforms offer:
- Real-time dashboards and historical data visualisation
- Configurable triggers for alerts and automation
- Role-based user access for collaborative teams
- Automated reporting to support compliance and decision-making
Designed for scale and resilience
Milesight’s solutions are built for the demands of agriculture:
- Long-range communication of up to 15 km (line of sight) using LoRaWAN®
- Low power consumption with battery or solar operation
- IP67-rated enclosures designed for harsh outdoor environments
- Easy deployment and integration without the high costs of traditional infrastructure
Real-world impact: vineyard use case
Milesight’s IoT ecosystem has been successfully deployed in agricultural environments across the globe, including vineyards in Ningxia, China. In one documented case, farmers used Milesight LoRaWAN® devices to automate irrigation and monitor environmental conditions, resulting in measurable improvements in efficiency and sustainability. Other documented studies from regions like Portugal and Australia have reported up to 15% water savings through the adoption of IoT in agriculture—demonstrating the broader potential of connected technologies to reduce resource usage and improve operational outcomes.
Farming today demands resilience, adaptability, and smarter use of resources. With Milesight’s IoT devices and MiRO’s local expertise, farmers across Southern Africa can access a complete solution to monitor their environments, automate processes, and make informed decisions, all of which help to overcome modern agricultural challenges and build a more productive future.
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