Technologies and Sustainable Agriculture
Agriculture sector has been the backbone of rural development supporting livelihoods for the majority of the rural population. Traditionally, it has been characterised as labour intensive, highly differential in investment and risk taking ability. On the other hand, farmers are facing challenges like uncertain climate and markets; higher costs of production, lower returns and labour shortages owing to migration etc. Unable to cope with these, many are also leaving farming in search of better livelihood opportunities. This is further affecting the food production and food security of the nation.
Under such circumstances, we see technology making its way into agriculture sector. Presently the use of technologies has pervaded every aspect of food production be it crop management, pest management, monitoring, marketing to post harvest processing. In recent times, conventional technologies, digital technologies as well as modern technologies such as satellite based ones and drones is gaining popularity. In this issue, we have included some interesting experiences in the use of technology in agriculture.
There is a general perception that farmers are averse to new technologies. The experiences in this issue prove otherwise. When technologies are made accessible and affordable, they are easily picked up by the farmers. Also training and investment support with continuous handholding is necessary. aid in efficient resource use leading to better crop growth and enhanced production. For example, the agronomic technology of Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) reached more than 5 lakh farmers across 10 states of India, when several institutions provided the necessary support. (Ishani Sharma et al., p..). DSR provided a transformative opportunity to conserve water, improve farmer incomes, and enhance environmental outcomes. Similarly, the establishment of cold storage infrastructure powered by renewable energy, resulted in many more benefits than just improving the livelihoods women and youth of small horticulture farmers in Sadali village in Karnataka. Through private sector expertise and local FPO collaboration, farmers are maintaining renewable energy supported ‘Solar Cold Room’, making it available on rent to fellow farmers at a cheaper rate, in their own vicinity. (Y Nagaraju, et.al.,p…)
Innovative initiatives are being promoted to enhance access to credible extension services. With mobile vans equipped with videos for demonstration, requisite testing facilities, and accessible expert to guide them near their own farms, the Kisan Gyan Vahan initiative in Bihar, is reaching many farmers, effectively. Moreover, these mobile services believe in two way interaction to know farmer’s real needs and therefore, appropriately advise. (Aditya Sinha, et al.,p…)
Sophisticated monitoring and advisory services, satellite based precision farming services are being offered by few agencies, enabling monitoring of large areas of land and offering timely recommendations. With digitisation of plots backed by AI powered insights, large plantations are being monitored and guided on crop health. (Honey Jain, p. ).
Finance is key to adopt any technology. However, the farming community’s financial requirements being context specific, diverse and timely, there is still a gap which needs to be addressed in terms of risk management, cash flow monitoring, climate change induced crop failures and therefore, crop insurance. New digital financial tools and assessment criteria of giving credit scores for timely credit access need to be prioritsed. (Jagannath, p. ).
The silver lining is the plethora of mainstream mission programs promoting organic farming programs using various technologies. Mobile telephony support in the North East, National Agriculture Market (E-Nam), Bio Resource Centres considering simple certification and branding, and drone based spraying in Haryana are some noteworthy developments. These illustrate how technologies could positively influence farm and rural lives and livelihoods, by ensuring higher productivity and efficiency in producing healthy food while reducing carbon foot print.
