Large tracts of land in the delta region of Bangladesh are left fallow or are cultivated with low input crops during the dry winter months. Surface water based irrigation opens up new opportunities for sustainable intensification by enabling the production of a high yielding crop. To ensure an optimal use of irrigation pumps, CIMMYT is currently developing an advisory system for irrigation scheduling, which calculates a daily soil water balance and estimates crop water use based on ground cover derived from satellite data. We propose to replace satellite data by RGB photos taken with smartphones as these do not depend on weather conditions and are accessible to famers. We will not only focus on a thorough validation and calibration of the new system, but ensure proper training of potential users, including women and illiterate farmers. This project contributes to a better water management while increasing food production and farmer?s livelihoods.