If you were asked to provide one word, just one, of what you think helped the farming sector revolutionize so fast that today it has become a key component of modern day economies, what would be your answer?
I bet it would come as a surprise to hear an answer that is not in one way or the other directly, indirectly related to technology or tech as technology platforms like Teqnamo often put it.
From the improved production, marketing and processing means just to name a few, each and every agricultural innovation over the years has contributed to the advancement and enhancement of the sector.
For example, imagine how many miles behind we would be if we were still relying on our hoes and animal ploughs to prepare a 10 acre tract of land, would there really be the efficient commercialized kind of farming we have today?
Or even waking up to scenes of pests infested crops or even crop diseases never experienced before. Like, what would effectively work better to combat the diseases, pests?
It is hard to imagine the well researched modern strategies falling short and the solution coming from the traditional farming practices that are associated with many risk factors, in short there is always but am not sure it will work thought to contend with.
However, this should not serve to downplay some positives that come with some traditional farming practices because we also are aware of some of the too obvious cons that have been brought about by the modernized module of farming.
Here, are six ways experts think technology has overhauled and served to revolutionize agriculture.
“India is slowly shifting towards modern methods of farming from the traditional ones. Weather monitoring systems are being put into place for predicting and limiting climate risk to agriculture, thus reducing the losses incurred due to bad weather. Many IT startups have been established which provide web-based and mobile phone enabled financial assistance and delivery platforms.”
“World’s population continues to grow every single year. Therefore, the problem of nutrition is among the most urgent ones that humanity has to resolve. We have to find new ways to obtain more food and use our land plots more effectively. Old ways of increasing crop yield and livestock growth are not very efficient. According to experts, by 2050 the demand for food will have grown up to 70%! In other words, if the amount of food we grow remains unchanged, people might face such disasters as famine. To prevent such a state of affairs, it is necessary to apply the latest developments in the IT sphere – both technologies and appropriate apps for agriculture.
“Technology has always been aid and support in agriculture. Today nearly 15% of the net irrigated area is under the micro irrigation system in the country. Many agri / horti crops under drip / sprinkler irrigation system has benefited with quality and higher productivity. There has been use of pump, fertigation and automation in making the irrigation based on frequency and volume. This only saves water but also improves efficiency of fertiliser and agro-chemicals use in cultivation. There has been use of biotechnology – tissue culture labs to raise disease free tissue plants by keeping both genetic and climate resilient factors to get optimum yield in crops. Use of internet, IoT, GIS, GPS etc. in agri-commodity market intelligence, markets, up-gradtion of local markets, use of precision agriculture, carry out agri extension measures, training of human resource etc. Establishment of weather station and agromet services to aid & support cultivation of different crops and issue advisories in the event of natural disaster, calamities and also help farmers by issuing crop cultivation advisories.”
“Technology has changed agriculture with a tractor increasing the depth of soil tillage and line sowing has increasing the scope for effective intercrop culture and weed removal by mechanical means. Paddy and wheat harvesters have made possible to complete harvesting of total crop in weeks, in comparison to months earlier. Creation of SILO for storage, containerized movement and agriculture produce processing plants, will be pillars of future growth and security.”
“Technology has taken food production out of the hands of individuals and created the factory farm, putting our food production into the hands of large chemical companies who look for ways to use more cancer causing (according to the World Health Organization) poisons on our foods.”
“Technology has a huge role to develop the agricultural industry. Today it is possible to cultivate a larger land with the help of tractors and other harvesting technology. It is easier to transport the crops worldwide from Asia to Africa and from Europe to America. With the help of Modern and Fast Transportation, the crops or products will be easily available in the market. A customer can get a fresh product which was imported from one country to another country. Modern and Fast Transportation Technology will help the farmers to easily transport the crops and fertilizer from or to their farms. Fast transportation speeds up the supply of agricultural products and crops from the farmer to the market. Nowadays it is possible to cultivate a larger area or land in a minimum time with the less number of labors with the help of Tractors and other Machines. Today, in agriculture or farming time and quantity of production are very important to fulfill the demand. It is important to plant, cultivate, harvest in time. It is also very important to deliver the product to the store as fast as possible.
“Changes in technology are particularly notable in the agriculture industry. Drone technology is helping farmers gather data to make more informed crop management decisions, to identify problems and determine whether it can be fixed. The future is already here. We’re more connected than ever. There are more changes coming. If utilized successfully, Colby said technology can help farmers boost yields as they work to meet the goal of doubling food production by 2050. We have a lot of work to do and no question technology will play a key role. It’s about getting a better view of the crop.
Colby, founder and owner of Colby AgTech and an expert on UAV’s
If you are looking to buy Fresh Fruits & Vegetables, Fish & Seafood, Meat & Livestock, Nuts & Oil seeds, Spices & Herbs, Grains and Pulses, Tubers and Agricultural Commodities like tea, coffee and cotton from Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Madagascar and Ethiopia.
Also read https://www.selinawamucii.com/never-told-buying-kenya-avocados/