The realm of agriculture has undergone a significant overhaul in the past few years, and the shift towards technology use is unsurprisingly playing a significant role in this transformation. Agriculture is considered to be one of the oldest professions, but with the advent of technology, it faces a massive change in how it is practiced. From artificial intelligence to automation technologies, the future of farming is undoubtedly challenging and exciting at the same time.
With the global population predicted to rise to over nine billion by 2050, it will be necessary to produce 70% more food than what is currently being produced. Hence technology has also been introduced to help farmers increase productivity, improve efficiency, and reduce cost. Here are some ways e-technology is transforming agriculture:
Precision Agriculture
Precision agriculture involves the use of technology such as GPS mapping, sensors, and drones to track crop yields and data. This technology helps farmers to know which areas of their farm require more attention, ranging from watering, fertilization, weed control, and pest control. By only focusing on the particular part of the farmland that needs it, farmers can more effectively use their resources like chemicals and water where they are most needed, in turn, minimizing waste.
Smart Irrigation
Water is a vital resource in farming, and most often, it is overused. With smart irrigation technologies like soil moisture sensors or smart irrigation controllers, farmers can now monitor variables such as precipitation, temperature, humidity, and wind in real-time and adjust irrigation automatically and accordingly. This would reduce massive water waste and ensure that crops receive just enough water for optimal growth, thus increasing yield and lowering water costs.
Automation
The adoption of autonomous equipment, such as Robots, promises to transform how farming is practiced forever. The future of farming will likely involve harvesting machines, planting-related robots, and equipment with improved precision that would function autonomously. Already farmers rely on autonomous equipment such as tractors fitted with GPS positioning systems to plant and spray more efficiently than ever before.
Big Data
Data analytics is transforming the farming industry by deploying sensors, global positioning systems and global information systems to gather data about each crop and a whole farm’s interrelationships. This data can be used to make decisions about a farm’s productivity and sustainability and suggests the optimum time to plant or harvest crops. With the help of big data, farmers can make informed decisions that ensure optimal utilization of resources, improved yield, and reduced environmental impact.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the future of farming is already here, and farm technology has improved crop productivity, lower production cost and increase yields significantly. These new technologies ultimately help farmers optimize their operations, produce more food, and sustainably feed an ever-growing global population. As the technologies mentioned above continue to progress and mature, we can only expect that they will become an even more significant part of agriculture practices in the future.
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