Agriculture is part and parcel of our daily lives. It provides us with food and raw materials for industries. As the world population continues to grow and climate change poses a threat, there is a need for innovative technologies to be incorporated into agriculture practices. Here are some of the ways in which technology is changing agriculture.
Precision Agriculture
Precision agriculture is the use of technology to apply the right amount of various inputs, such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides, onto crops. With precision agriculture, farmers are now able to use information gathered from sensors, satellites, and drones, to deliver inputs to crops in a controlled and highly precise manner.
The use of these technologies ensures the right amount of these inputs are used, minimizing wastage and consequently increasing efficiency. With the increased efficiency comes the reduction in environmental impact.
Vertical Farming
Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in a controlled environment vertically stacked on one another. This technology involves the use of LED lights to artificially create the environment required for sustained plant growth.
Vertical farming is revolutionizing food production, enabling fresh food production in metropolitan regions with limited land space. Besides, the technology allows for 365 days of crop harvesting, unlike the traditional method of crop growing, which is dependent on the weather cycle.
Advanced Machinery and Robotics
The use of advanced machinery and robotics has impacted agriculture positively. Farmers can now use autonomous machines to carry out various farming operations such as planting, harvesting, and even spraying pesticides.
With the incorporation of robotics into farm machinery, farmers can now perform various farm operations efficiently and quickly. Besides the efficiency, this technology provides significant cost savings as advanced machinery can perform tasks without the need for extensive labor.
Conclusion
Adoption of innovative technology can have a long-lasting impact on agriculture. It can increase efficiency and productivity while reducing environmental impact. Besides, it provides economic benefits to the farmers who adopt these new technologies by reducing labor requirements and other operational costs. The incorporation of technology in agriculture is set to continue, further revolutionizing agriculture practices globally.#16#