Precision agriculture (PA), in India, is synonymous to Remote sensing, GIS, GPS, VRA and VRT. These are old technologies and during last 3-4 decades enough research has been carried out. But the latest introductions in the field are: automation and Internet of things (IoT), Artificial intelligence (AL), Machine Learning (ML), Big data, Block Chain, Drone based hyper spectral imagery and so on. Very few institute of excellence are doing research on these. Is it the right time to shift towards application for for latest tools and software? How? Is there any research and support system worldwide? What the developing countries will do with small holders?
I dont think so and more so in those areas where farm size is so small. Such precision tools have shown promise only bigger farm sizes ...But applucation of sensors has shown great utility in regulating irrigation in many crops. If we are able to standardize VRA , it will save our natural resources and contain the nutrient mining....
@Dr. Anoop, thanks for your opinion. Presently, I've witnessed benefits of IoT and sensors (soil moisture, RH and temp) in protected cultivation. These are the nice decision making and automation tools.
In India it is not economically suitable for farmers as we are having 92% marginal farmers in India and as per the adoption of PA we should have minimum 20ha of land holding to convert your conventional farm into PA farm....
Researches on precision agriculture across the country showed the benefit on various resources by saving and enhancing the productivity of the crops. But in real field condition need to develop the strategies which can help the farmers to adopt the technology easily like development of small scale machinery and variable rate applicator with low cost to afford by the farmers and creating awareness can help to adopt the precision farming by the farming community
@Drlatief_Ahmad, the concept of PA has been changed. There is no need of thinking big areas. Even in 1000 sq.m. or less area IoT can be adopted by using different sensors for perfection in decisions making and managing crops, more particularly in greenhouse. Actually, orthodox concepts of PA are different and latest development is amazing.
@Patil, VRA, RS etc is applicable for large scale. But so many sensors and gadgets are there for small scale application. Even small farmers can apply these. IoT plays a major role in applications, decision making and support system. Besides, applications of AI and ML can be used at small as well as large scale.
There is no size fits all for worldwide use of precision agriculture. Cost will be decisive as these technologies are quite expensive. Then comes know how or skills needed to use these tools and interpret results.
@ All, use of different sensors and IoT, different android based apps (outcome of ML) can be used for smallholders also. These are cost effective.
Yes, RS, VRT, VRA etc are suitable for larger areas. But now so many options are available for small farms. My opinion is: let's find and apply as per suitability and compatibility.
Sir, Your question itself has answer and your wish "now". In India due to fragmented and smaller size farm holdings the usage of IOT and its allied tools may not be possible immediately. Subsistence farming is widely followed. In commercial farming, when practiced by big farmers, it may be done. When the farm holdings are fragmented and smaller in size, only Government with all subsidies and support, it may be practiced as a model in a village. In Tamil Nadu Precision agriculture was done in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts with Government support. It was a successful project. (http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/pdf/Precision%20Farming.pdf - tamil nadu precision farming project - TNAU)
This is the right time for adoption of PF but only for those farmers which are having more than 20 ha of land, then only they can see the benefit of adoption, as we are aware of the fact that 92% of Indian farmers are having marginal lands.
Yes why not. Needed for commercial large scale farming. And Some tools Like Leaf Colour Charts can be used in small holdings.Soil test based fertilizer application,Soil specific nutrient management ..Lots of resarch has been conducted on them. need to be adopted now
@Raihana, always large land is not required. For example, environmental control in a poly house (may be 1000 sq m) smart management can be assured by using some sensors and IoT. Sensor based disease identification can be done easily. Apps can be developed by collecting data from farmers field and crop management. And so on.
All: Thanks for your valuable comments. For nutrients management, LCC, SPAD, Green seeker are proven technologies. Other than that, different sections and image processing (hyper spectral imagery) are also coming up. Artificial intelligence based decision making system will be the future of precision agriculture. ML also play a crucial role in farming in terms of nutrients management. Further, automation in agriculture through IoT is a proven technology even for small farms.
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