Modern farms and agricultural operations work far differently than those a few decades ago, primarily because of advancements in technology, including sensors, devices, machines, and information technology. Today’s agriculture routinely uses sophisticated technologies such as robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology. These advanced devices and precision agriculture and robotic systems allow businesses to be more profitable, efficient, safer, and more environmentally friendly.
Importance of Agricultural Technology
Farmers no longer have to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides uniformly across entire fields. Instead, they can use the minimum quantities required and target very specific areas, or even treat individual plants differently.
Benefits include:
➢ Higher crop productivity
➢ Decreased use of water, fertilizer, and pesticides, which in turn keeps food prices down
➢ Reduced impact on natural ecosystems
➢ Less runoff of chemicals into rivers and groundwater
➢ Increased worker safety
In addition, robotic technologies enable more reliable monitoring and management of natural resources, such as air and water quality. It also gives producers greater control over plant and animal production, processing, distribution, and storage, which results in:
➢ Greater efficiencies and lower prices.
➢ Safer growing conditions and safer foods.
➢ Reduced environmental and ecological impact.
Applying modern tech to agriculture
It is possible for farmers to utilize scientific data and technology to improve crop yields and keep themselves up-to-date with cutting edge methods of farming.
Here are some examples of how modern technology can be used to improve agriculture:
1. Monitoring and controlling crop irrigation systems via smartphone
Mobile technology is playing an important role in monitoring and controlling crop irrigation systems. With this modern technology, a farmer can control his irrigation systems from a phone or computer instead of driving to each field. Moisture sensors in the ground are able to communicate information about the level of moisture present at certain depths in the soil.
2. Ultrasounds for livestock
Ultrasound is not only for checking on baby animals in the womb. It also can be used to discover what quality of meat might be found in an animal before it goes to the market. The testing of DNA helps producers to identify animals with good pedigrees and other desirable qualities. This information can also be used to help the farmer to improve the quality of his herds.
3. Usage of mobile technology and cameras
Some farmers and ranchers use apps like ‘Foursquare’ to keep tabs on employees. They also put-up cameras around the farm. Livestock managers are wiring up their barn feedlots and pastures with cameras that send images back to the central location like an office or home computer. They can keep a closer eye on the animals when they are away or home for the night.
4. Crop Sensors
Crop sensors help apply fertilizers in a very effective manner, maximizing uptake. They sense how your crop is feeling and reduce the potential leaching and runoff into ground water. Instead of making a prescription fertilizer map for a field before you go out to apply it, crop sensors tell application equipment how much to apply in real time.
Optical sensors are able to see how much fertilizer a plant may need, based on the amount of light reflected back to the sensor. Some technologies will need to be developed specifically for agriculture, while other technologies already developed for other areas could be adapted to the modern agricultural domain such as autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence and machine vision. If modern agriculture is applied widely in the near future, millions of farmers will be able to benefit from the acquisition of real-time farm information.
How the technology is changing the future farming??
Agriculture- The future of farming technology
Future agriculture will use sophisticated technologies such as robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology. These advanced devices and precision agriculture and robotic systems will allow farms to be more profitable, efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly. Governments can play a key part in solving the food scarcity issue. They need to take on a broader and more prominent role than their traditional regulatory and facilitating function.
By challenging the traditional legacy model and pursuing such a program, governments can:
➢ Ensure food security and reduce dependency on imports.
➢ Become a net exporter not only of products but also IP and new solutions.
➢ Increase productivity and support the shift towards an innovation- and knowledge-based economy.