Technology & Innovation, the Undisputed Drivers of Modern Agriculture in India

“Science and technology coupled with improved human capital have been powerful drivers of positive change in the performance and evolution of smallholder systems.”
There is no denying the fact that agriculture is fundamental to the growth of the Indian economy. It employs more than 50% of the total workforce in India and contributes more than 17-18% to the country’s GDP. As with other industries, technology is taking over the farming sector as well, and modern agriculture in India is moving towards mechanisation at a fast pace to increase productivity and profitability.

Technology & Innovation – the only way forward for a profitable future
Modern agriculture uses science and technology to improve and optimise the resources at hand to increase productivity, both in quantity and quality. It is a progressive approach that uses the latest agricultural innovations and farming practices to help the farmers improve their efficiency while conserving the natural resources, thereby reducing the adverse impact on the ecosystem.
Technology helps in making all domains of life better, and agriculture is no exception. Let us look at a few agricultural inventions that are augmenting the agriculture development in India.
High-Tech Irrigation Techniques
Irrigation is most certainly among the most evolved areas of modern agriculture in India and employs technology to improve the efficiency of natural resources like water. New techniques like Drip and Sprinkler irrigation play a pivotal role in helping sustain the environment. Soil moisture sensors, weather and other field data availability on phones and computers support the farmers make informed irrigation control decisions.
Water & Soil Sensors
Soil and water sensors ensure the optimum use of land and resources by the farmers. The unpredictability of the environmental factors like rain, wind, hail, drought or insects, can play havoc on the crop. The use of soil and water sensors can help the farmers address these issues more cost effective and efficient use of resources. It also helps the farm to be more environmentally friendly by conserving natural resources, limiting erosion and reducing the chemical levels in adjoining land and nearby lakes and rivers.
Farming Apps to Track Weather
Agriculture development in India is getting redefined with the use of computerised weather tracking which is increasingly becoming hi-tech. Rain, humidity levels, wind, temperatures; all can be measured more precisely. These help hugely in allowing the farmers to make informed decisions and take protective measures to protect their crop or at least minimise the losses.
Satellite Imaging of Crops
Another breakthrough invention of modern agriculture in India, satellite imaging allows the farmers to focus on each crop according to the care required. Satellite imaging follows the real-time crop imagery and lets a farmer get a bird’s eye view of the plant without actually being there. Instead of a one size fits all, GPS provides farmers with information on the status of the crop. It is an effective way to save on time and money while being able to tend to the crop that needs attention- insect infested, over or under watered etc. The GPS tracking can also be aligned with the soil and water sensors as well to improve the crop further.
Technology is transforming every aspect of lives, and farming is no exception. Apart from the ones discussed above, newer techniques like ultra-high density plantation, tissue culture technique, use of nanotechnology, to name a few, are triggering sweeping changes in the agricultural landscape across the globe.




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