UPSC Articles
AGRICULTURE/ SCIENCE & TECH
Topic: General Studies 2,3:
- Different types of irrigation and irrigation systems
- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Precision Agriculture
About
- It is an approach to farm management that uses information technology (IT) to ensure that the crops and soil receive exactly what they need for optimum health and productivity.
- It is an approach where inputs are utilised in precise amounts to get increased average yields, compared to traditional cultivation techniques.
- The goal of PA is to ensure profitability, sustainability and protection of the environment.
- PA is also known as satellite agriculture, as-needed farming and site-specific crop management (SSCM).
- Precision agriculture relies upon specialized equipment, software and IT services.
- The approach includes accessing real-time data about the conditions of the crops, soil and ambient air, along with other relevant information such as hyper-local weather predictions, labor costs and equipment availability.
Advantages precision farming
- Helps increase agriculture productivity in sustainable manner
- Prevents soil degradation
- Reduction of chemical application in crop production
- Efficient use of water resources
- Dissemination of modern farm practices to improve quality, quantity and reduced cost of production
- Developing favourable attitudes
- Precision farming changing the socio-economic status of farmers
Precision farming in India
- Some of the schemes like PMKSY’s (Per Drop More Crop) involve Precision Agriculture practices.
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has formulated a project entitled “SENSAGRI: SENsor based Smart AGRIculture”.
- The major objective is to develop indigenous prototype for drone based crop and soil health monitoring system using hyperspectral remote sensing (HRS) sensors.
- Drone technology is also being used. It has ability for smooth scouting over farm fields, gathering precise information and transmitting the data on real time basis.
- Mobile apps are being used to provide farmers with weather information and provide early warning.
Drawbacks of precision farming
- High cost
- Lack of technical expertise knowledge and technology
- Not applicable or difficult/costly for small land holdings
- Heterogeneity of cropping systems and market imperfections
Conclusion
- The need of the hour is to adopt state of the art technology to make agriculture sustainable and profitable.
- Agricultural renaissance can take shape on a strong digital foundation.
- Adoption of technology will help in sustaining food security and enhanced livelihood opportunities.
- In addition, the farming community needs to diversify and take up allied activities like fisheries, dairy and poultry as well to double the on-farm incomes.
Connecting the dots:
- New Farm Bills and Opposition to it
