Role of Modern Technology in Agriculture

Despite employing about 65 percent of the entire workforce, the agriculture industry accounts for just around 18% of India’s GDP. Despite significant improvements in food grain output, the government faces many hurdles as it seeks to raise agricultural production as a percentage of GDP.

India’s agriculture relies heavily on natural resources like rain water, hence climate change and global warming make farming uncertain. As a result, farmers must be educated on using contemporary technologies and novel ways to boost production and profitability.

Over time, agricultural development techniques have been thought to deplete natural resources faster than they can be replenished. In addition, the growing human population is increasing the demand for food and shelter, straining the land’s “natural” capacity.

Pollution, soil degradation, wildlife population reduction, and human-caused modifications to flora and fauna are all signs of natural imbalance. It is realistic to expect that the human population increase will continue, putting more strain on the agro-ecosystem. As a result, technology in agriculture has played and will continue to play an essential role in agriculture and sustainable development.

Agriculture innovation is driving an evolution of farming techniques, lowering losses, and enhancing efficiency. Farmers are benefiting from this. Digital and analytic tools drive continual agricultural improvement, resulting in higher crop yields and helping farmers earn more money.

Importance of Technology in Agriculture

Technology in Agriculture impacts many aspects, including fertilizers, herbicides, seed technology, etc. Pest resistance and higher agricultural yields have been achieved as a result of biotechnology and genetic engineering. Mechanization has resulted in more effective tilling & harvesting and reduced physical work. Irrigation and transportation networks have improved, and the impact can be seen in all regions across the country.

Among them are mechanization, robotics, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and other emerging technologies. Some agricultural technical breakthroughs include:

1. Improved Agricultural Production Due to Mechanization

Tropical conditions impose energy and output constraints on manual labor and hand tools used in agriculture. Resistance to agricultural automation, particularly among smallholder farmers owing to accessibility, cost, and upkeep concerns, is sometimes negative. Combine Harvesters are increasingly being used to eliminate manual work and speed up procedures. Indian farming is distinguished by modest landholdings, necessitating collaboration with others to benefit from modern machinery.

2. Weather Prediction

AI is a significant advancement in agriculture. AI-powered equipment and technologies enable data collection and aid in precision farming and informed decision-making. For example, drones, remote sensors, and satellites collect weather patterns in and around fields seven days a week, 24 hours a day, giving farmers critical information on temperature, rainfall, soil, humidity, and so on.

AI is slowly gaining traction in a nation like India, where marginal farming, fragmented landholdings, and other factors function as hurdles. However, there is not even an iota of doubt that AI-based technology can bring accuracy to large-scale agriculture and exponentially increase output.

3. Biotechnology

Agriculture refers to a diverse set of procedures that includes conventional breeding methods, genetic engineering, and the generation of agricultural microbes. In general, genetic engineering employs an understanding of DNA to find and manipulate genes to boost crop resistance to pests. The production of high-yielding variants also benefits animals.

Biotechnology in agriculture has resulted in overall advantages for farmers and end users. Though specific aggressive tactics have led to resistance to biotechnology adoption, there is little question that the future of agriculture is significantly reliant on safe biotechnology, given the changing environment and population growth.

4. Agriculture Sensors

In India, communication technology has advanced quickly. Sensors are being utilized in agriculture to offer farmers, relevant data to monitor and optimize crops in response to environmental conditions and difficulties. They help farmers save money on pesticides and labor, resulting in more effective fertilizer applications.

Conclusion

The advantages of technology in agriculture include reduced transportation, transactional, and corruption waste. It can improve product traceability, disease, pest tracking, and storage. They can deliver a lot of the world’s agriculture, boost efficiency, and lessen the environmental effect of farming in underdeveloped nations.

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