Technology can lead to more efficient and sustainable farm practices

Our Bureau

Engineering can participate in a massive function in building Indian agriculture extra sustainable, productive and worthwhile. The 1st wave of agricultural systems that ushered in the Green Revolution has been instrumental in building India foods secure. India these days is just one of the top rated producers of foodgrain in the earth.

Continue to, Indian agriculture suffers from many basic flaws. Efficiency of many crops developed in the nation is incredibly minimal in comparison with other countries. Similarly, even nevertheless only 60 per cent of arable land is irrigated, the dependence on groundwater for agriculture is among the maximum in the earth. It is stated India’s h2o use for agricultural functions is extra than that of China and the US place with each other. The mechanised farming that can assist improve efficiency is mostly unsuitable for Indian farms in the latest kind as their dimensions are as well tiny to be effective.

Engineering can assist conquer many of these difficulties. For occasion, gene-edited seeds can improve efficiency. The have to have of the hour is to acquire seed kinds with better qualities that supply higher yields, or are resistant to ailments and serious climate disorders. Emerging systems these as gene modifying and speed breeding can be valuable in bringing more recent kinds to the farm.

Developments in biology and chemistry, especially in frontier regions these as nanoscience, can guide to extra productive fertilisers and crop security items. Nano fertilisers, for occasion, can supply better plant nutrition and reduce soil toxicity. They can also minimise the potential adverse outcomes of too much chemical fertiliser use, and reduce fertiliser software frequency.

There is a have to have to make farm irrigation productive in the nation so that important h2o can be saved to deal with extra land. Many thanks to sensor-centered systems and micro-irrigation, it is now probable to reduce h2o use by 90 per cent or extra. Though all these can make precision farming a reality, advancements in artificial intelligence and satellite systems are especially important for crop checking and produce assessment.

Satellite-centered remote sensing, alongside with other advanced methods these as world positioning systems and geographical information systems, is valuable in evaluating and handling agricultural activities.

The challenge is building these systems available to Indian farmers, who are predominantly tiny and marginal, at inexpensive prices. The BusinessLine Agri Summit, to be held on February 27 & 28, in New Delhi will deliberate on these issues in detail.