E X P E R T I N S I G H T S
A McKinsey reports says there are significant problems holding back India ’ s untapped potential . If resolved , a flourishing agriculture industry could both boost the economy and significantly improve farmer livelihoods and income . But collaboration will be crucial . While agtechs may facilitate better decisionmaking and replace manual farming practices , such as spraying , reducing dependence on retailers and mandis , existing systems remain important in the new ecosystem for R & D and supply of chemicals and fertilizers .
The report also says that agtechs have a unique opportunity to become ideal partners for companies seeking market access . In this scenario , existing agriculture companies are creating value for farmers by having more efficient and cost-effective access to the farmer vis-à-vis traditional manpowerintensive set-ups . This system builds and more the agtechs know the farmer , the better products they can develop .
India ’ s Future in Digital Agriculture
Remote-sensing , soil sensors , unmanned aerial surveying , market insights and other technological interventions enable farmers to gather , visualize and evaluate crop and soil health concerns in various phases of production in a practical and economical manner . They can serve as a first indicator to spot possible problems and offer solutions to address them quickly .
AI / ML algorithms can generate in-themoment actionable insights to assist in soil screening , increase crop production , control pests and reduce farmer workload . With the help of blockchain technology , you can track your food and track tamper-proof , accurate data about farms , inventories and transactions . As a result , farmers no longer need to rely on files or paperwork to record and save crucial information .
Advantages of Digital Agriculture
By adopting the above-mentioned technology solutions in practice , farms may be managed and monitored
Some More Advantages of Digitization
Reduces production costs and increases productivity in agriculture
Lowers chemical use in production
Inhibits soil degradation
Encourages effective and efficient use of water resources
Improves workplace safety
Brings down negative environmental and ecological impacts
Improves socio-economic standing of farmers
68
BioVoiceNews | September 2023