Smart farming has emerged as a crucial need for the Indian agriculture sector. It is more efficient than the traditional methods of farming. Smart agriculture entails the application of sensors and automated irrigation practices to help monitor agricultural land, temperature, soil moisture, etc. This enables farmers to monitor crops from anywhere.
The Indian government is taking a slew of measures to develop the sector, considering its importance. Notably, the government is exploring ways to enhance agricultural efficiency and profitability of farmers and to help farmers double their incomes by 2022 compared to the base year 2015–16.
Smart farming uses technologies like apps and AI to help farmers. It has been a way in which India can easily deal with its challenges of low productivity and climate change. A technology expert explains how new innovations are transforming agribusiness. The internet of things is also transforming agribusiness. These trends will shape the industry.
A Changing Agricultural Landscape
India’s agriculture sector is facing a serious challenge. Low productivity and climate resilience are due to the dependence on traditional and inefficient farming methods. The budget allocation for agricultural and associated industries in India has grown more than fivefold during 2013-14. This underscores the sector’s importance as an economic activity for millions of people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised the use of technology for the overall growth of agriculture in the country. This is to improve the condition. Smart farming is emerging as a major commercial solution. It utilizes software and artificial intelligence to aid farmers.
Climate change is negatively impacting the global farming industry. Solutions for drought and desertification are being rapidly developed by experts worldwide. This is to meet the growing food demand. They are also investigating the situation.
As technology advances, smart farming is converting agriculture from a practise highly relied on farmers’ expertise and intuition. It is now a data-driven business, allowing for greater engagement in the process. In addition, the advancement of tools powered by technology is also a great contribution to the farming industry moving ahead. Tractors such as the Kubota B2741 are definitely helping farmers do more in a lot less time and march towards success.
Boosting Production with Better Data
A defining characteristic of smart agriculture in India is the use of technology. It is used to better plan and manage crops. This includes utilizing satellite imagery to determine soil characteristics, monitor plant development, and estimate yields. It also includes analyzing data on weather patterns to manage crops.
Armed with these tools, Indian growers are able to develop more efficient practices. They can precisely apply agricultural chemicals like pesticides and fertilizer. This saves time and energy while boosting outputs.
Another prominent feature of smart farming in India is its ability to benefit individual farmers. It also benefits entire agricultural communities by increasing productivity and bolstering the economic clout of growers.
For instance, rice farmers can use real-time maps based on data from satellite imagery. They can more accurately monitor nitrogen levels of juvenile plants as they develop. Then they can apply fertilizers as needed.
Producers can also utilize satellite technology to ascertain the level of protein in rice kernels. This is an important indicator of flavor. It helps them gauge the optimal time to harvest. Adjusting farming practices with respect to the latest data will produce larger and higher-quality yields. It will also keep output consistent from season to season.
It will also make it simple to control for specific qualities and characteristics. This further paves way for development of regional brands of rice and other farm products. These products will have more nationwide marketability.
Autonomous Farming
Another core aspect of smart farming is the automation of agricultural equipment. The team at Tech Mahindra has developed the Atmanirbhar Krishi App, which enables farmers to access various AI technologies through their smartphones. One of these technologies is the autonomous tractor, which can execute duties like as seeding, ploughing, and harvesting without the assistance of a human. The tractor has sensors and software that enable it to identify impediments, manoeuvre the field, and interact with other equipment. The farmer can monitor and control the tractor remotely using the app.
Advances in technology have continued to expand the range of automated farming equipment on the market. New offerings include a self-governing mower that trims the embankments between fields and a robot that prunes and harvests the leaves of tea plants. Looking toward the next generation of autonomous equipment, industry, academia and the government are working closely together to develop field robots that can be remotely monitored and are capable of fully independent navigation.
Conclusion
The benefits of smart farming for Indian farmers are manifold. Tractors like the Kubota MU4501 stand proof to this fact. In that spirit, there is no denying that smart farming is marching quickly forward. Therefore, to keep up with the pace, stakeholders like central and state governments, agricultural research and extension centers, farmers’ cooperatives and associations, and farmers themselves must keep a close eye on new developments in the rapidly changing field of smart agriculture.
