Precision Agriculture In Precision Agriculture In IndiaIndia

And it’s FutureAnd it’s Future……By : Ramesh VishwanathanBy : Ramesh Vishwanathan

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OverviewOverview

Definition of Precision FarmingDefinition of Precision Farming Need for Precision Farming (PF)Need for Precision Farming (PF) ScopeScope Components of PFComponents of PF Challenges / Issues towards its Challenges / Issues towards its

implementationimplementation Probable StrategyProbable Strategy ConclusionConclusion

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Definition of Precision Ag.Definition of Precision Ag.

Management philosophy or approach to Management philosophy or approach to the farm rather than definable prescriptive the farm rather than definable prescriptive system.system.

Identifies critical factors where yield is Identifies critical factors where yield is limited by controllable factors and limited by controllable factors and determines intrinsic variability.determines intrinsic variability.

Record variations in crop or soil properties Record variations in crop or soil properties within a field which forms the basis for within a field which forms the basis for taking management decisions.taking management decisions.

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Need for Precision FarmingNeed for Precision Farming

Increased Land degradation.Increased Land degradation.

(In India, out of 169.7 million ha (In India, out of 169.7 million ha about 144 million ha of land are affected about 144 million ha of land are affected by water or wind erosion alone)by water or wind erosion alone)

Depletion of Water resourcesDepletion of Water resources..

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Need for Precision Farming Need for Precision Farming (Contd..)(Contd..) Socio economic need for enhanced Socio economic need for enhanced

productivity / unit of land, water and time.productivity / unit of land, water and time.

Environment Pollution because of Environment Pollution because of increased use of fertilizers and chemicals.increased use of fertilizers and chemicals.

PF is essential in order to address poverty PF is essential in order to address poverty alleviation, enhance quality of life and food alleviation, enhance quality of life and food securitysecurity

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ScopeScope

CountryCountry Total landTotal land

(Sq. Kms)(Sq. Kms)

Total arable & Total arable & permanent land permanent land (mha)(mha)

Agriculture Agriculture growth growth indicesindices

USAUSA 91,58,96091,58,960 179179 117117

IndiaIndia 29,73,19029,73,190 169.7169.7 121121

However,two thirds of the arable land in India are rain-fed which has a potential of higher productivity. Therefore, In the present scenario, PF holds good promise for techno – green revolution.

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Components of PFComponents of PF

Geographic Information Systems Geographic Information Systems (GIS)(GIS)

Global Positioning Systems (GPS)Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Variable Rate Technology (VRT)Variable Rate Technology (VRT) Yield MonitorYield Monitor Remote Sensing etc.Remote Sensing etc.

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Challenges / Issues towards Challenges / Issues towards Implementation of PFImplementation of PF

Lack of Technical Lack of Technical Expertise knowledge & Expertise knowledge & Technology.Technology.

Small land holdings.Small land holdings. High - cost technology of High - cost technology of

PF systems.PF systems. Internet Access.Internet Access. Illiteracy (Approx. 40%)Illiteracy (Approx. 40%)

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Probable StrategiesProbable Strategies

Farmer’s co-Farmer’s co-operatives.operatives.

Pilot projects.Pilot projects. Cheaper applications Cheaper applications

to start with.to start with. Combined effort of Combined effort of

Researchers and Researchers and GovernmentGovernment

Laser machines level the Laser machines level the fields for saving water fields for saving water usage for rice cultivationusage for rice cultivation

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Probable strategy Contd..Probable strategy Contd..

Inexpensive way of acquiring Inexpensive way of acquiring images with camera in visible and images with camera in visible and infra red bands using Powered infra red bands using Powered parachute parachute

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ConclusionConclusion

Precision Farming may help farmers Precision Farming may help farmers to harvest fruits of frontier to harvest fruits of frontier technologies without compromising technologies without compromising on the quality of land and produce.on the quality of land and produce.

The PF would trigger a techno-green The PF would trigger a techno-green revolution in India which is the need revolution in India which is the need of the hour.of the hour.

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ReferencesReferences

www.gisdevelopment.net/application/ www.gisdevelopment.net/application/ agricultureagriculture/overview/mi03127.htm - 10k – /overview/mi03127.htm - 10k –

www.tatachemicals.net/0_farm_centres/ www.tatachemicals.net/0_farm_centres/ precisionprecision__farmingfarming.htm - 27k – .htm - 27k –

www.irri.org/publications/annual/pdfs/www.irri.org/publications/annual/pdfs/AR2001/ladha.pdf AR2001/ladha.pdf

http://www.nationmaster.com/country/in/http://www.nationmaster.com/country/in/EducationEducation

http://www.amesremote.comhttp://www.amesremote.com http://www.fao.org/docrep/v9909e/http://www.fao.org/docrep/v9909e/

v9909e00.htm#Contentsv9909e00.htm#Contents

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QuestionsQuestions ?? ??