Manama:The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture have launched the second edition of the Irrigation Solutions Innovation Competition, following directives from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Applications for this competition will be accepted from November 5, to February 5, 2027.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the competition aims to inspire creative ideas and innovative solutions that utilize surplus treated water efficiently in agriculture and afforestation. It also focuses on supporting sustainable resource management, environmental protection, and the expansion of irrigation networks, in alignment with the development goals led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Interested participants can submit applications through the Ministry of Works' website at www.works.gov.bh.
The initiative seeks to foster a culture of creativity and innovation, encouraging participants to propose ideas that enhance irrigation methods and efficiency. The competition is open to individuals, engineering offices, contractors, universities, institutes, scientific research centres, and other institutions. Winning ideas will be implemented by relevant authorities.
The first edition of the competition saw three innovative ideas selected for implementation, including a smart water transportation system using IoT and AI, the reuse of the rainwater drainage network for irrigation, and a smart irrigation system to detect leaks and optimize water usage. The competition supports the Afforestation Plan, which aims to double the number of trees by 2035, contributing to environmental sustainability and climate action goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.