How is Advanced Technology in Agriculture Modifying Agriculture Practices?

The world is going through massive changes in the way businesses, routine work, management, processes and operations were done over the past two decades. Industry 4.0, the industrial revolution, is the only reason behind all the transformations. Technological evolution is altering traditional practices in all industrial sectors, and agriculture can not stay behind!

The use of technology in agriculture started with the introduction of tractors about a century ago. Since then, various instruments, equipment and small machinery were developed to carry out field activities. Along with the equipment, traditional farming practices started changing, and the modern agriculture era began.

The agriculture life cycle includes stages starting from tillage, seeding, irrigation, chemical spraying, harvesting, storage, and transportation. Advanced technology in agriculture is dedicated to making these stages more straightforward, accessible & manageable, independent, affordable, and precise.

Previously, farmers had to spend more time observing, understanding, decision-making, and carrying out field activities with human labour. Farmers can get information regarding each crop's health through wireless sensor networks incorporated in advanced technology in agriculture. Using this information, they understand whether crops need water, nutrition, pesticide, fertiliser, or it has reached the right harvest time. The right decision at the right time to carry out the suitable activity using technology in agriculture results in better farm management and enhanced productivity.

Advanced technology in agriculture is changing agriculture practices. Farmers were majorly dependent on human labour, weather and resources available. Still, present-day farmers do not need to wait for human labour and carry out activities using machines and automated vehicles. It not only provides farmers independence, but the speed of activities increases rapidly. For example, big harvest machines can finish the work in a day for which human labour may need a week or more.

Farmers had limited scientific knowledge of agriculture, which resulted in failed or limited experiments, improper resource usage, and economic and crop losses. Advanced technology in agriculture provides detailed information based on scientific data collected from the field. Therefore, farmers can follow accurate methods and techniques that will increase productivity and reduce the damage to soil fertility, wastage of resources, and environmental impacts.

The worldwide use of technology in agriculture is still limited, but its positive impact on agriculture has been significant on productivity, sustainability, and profitability. First world countries were the first to adopt and experiment with the technology in agriculture, which led to enormous advancements and modifications in agricultural practices. They have set an example showcasing how the future agriculture sector will look like all over the world!