The agriculture industry is said under the fourth revolution, also called smart farming or smart agri. It is an emerging concept of managing farms using advanced information and communication technologies (ICT) with the aim of improving the productivity and efficiency of farming while optimising required human labour. To improve productivity, continuous monitoring, tracking and controlling the farming activities is essential. Agriculture productivity and quality majorly depend on farming activities at the right time and resources in the correct quantity. To get insights on the resources, smart agri uses farming technology solutions.
Farming technology comes in a range and has the potential to carry out single or multiple farming activities. There are machines that carry out each task in the field, from seeding to harvesting. Smart agri technology depends on modern technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), ICT and data analytics. The integration of these technologies provides farming technologies that can work independently and automatically.
Present-day farmers have technologies that include sensors, software, location, connectivity, and robotics. Sensors are deployed in fields to collect data on soil, light, water, temperature and humidity in the soil and crops. IoT-enabled software solutions are specialised to target specific field types and use cases. Software platforms are available that analyse input parameters and provide data-driven suggestions to individuals in the agriculture field. ICT has provided the most essential part of the smart agri, that is connectivity. Farms and farmers are now connected to other agriculture stakeholders globally and can interact, share, and discuss their problems and solutions.
Satellites have changed our aspect towards several things, and farming is one of them! Satellites provide information about field location, help in field mapping and getting other details from the field with satellite imagery. Even weather alert systems use satellites and alert farmers regarding extreme weather conditions in advance. It helps them to prepare for the extremities and reduce the impact on their yield. Robotics has altered traditional farming practices of tillage, cultivation, seeding, harvesting with autonomous robots and processing facilities.
The major shift in farming practices is seen with the introduction of data analytics in farming technologies. As a result, farmers receive most scientific information that improves their understanding, decisions and actions in the field, resulting in better productivity and improved efficiency. Though smart agri is a new term, it is gaining popularity with proven potential to transform conventional agriculture into more sufficient, independent and capable of reducing economic, social and health-related problems worldwide.