Precision Agriculture : Equipments and Technologies

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Traditional Agricultural practices

   Mechanised Agricultural Practices


 Precision Agriculture


                              
  Ø Application of right amount of input to crops at the right time and right place.
    Ø It is an approach to farm management by the farmer to use an adequate amount of crop inputs at optimum place, while keeping in mind the motive to apply the inputs at the required place only and resulting in saving of inputs, time and energy.
    Ø Assuring farmers with maximum possible profit.

Procedure
    Ø Data is collected initiaaly by GIS/GPS/Sensors etc.
    Ø Analysed by models/Decision Support System etc.
    Ø Ensured Profit/Benefits/Increased productivity.
Components of Precision Agriculture(PA)
    Ø GPS/GLONASS Navigation.
    Ø Sensors
    Ø Remote Sensing
    Ø Analysing Models
    Ø Data Management
    Ø Yield Monitoring
    Ø Automatic mechanisms
    Ø Variable Rate Application Sensors
    Ø Telematics
Equipment
    Ø GPS/GLONASS
    Ø Sensors(Location, Optical, Air flow, electrochemical,       mechanical  etc)
    Ø Navigators
    Ø Drones

    Ø Satellite(for Remote sensing)
Emerging Technologies
    Ø Robots
    Ø Drones and Satellites
    Ø IOT
    Ø Smart Phone applications
    Ø Machine learning
4 Ms of PA 
        1.  Measurement
    Ø Measurement of parameters(data)
        2.  Mapping
    Ø Draw map to portray the field conditions
        3.  Monitoring
    Ø Changes in field conditions
        4.  Modelling
    Ø Alternative actions and processes
3 S of PA
1. Satellites
Ø Accessed with GPS/GLONASS/GALILEO System/GAGAN Navigation System(ISRO)
2. Smart Phones
Ø Navigations
Ø Sensors Controlling
3. Softwares
Ø GIS(Geographic Information System)
Ø QGIS(Quantum GIS)
Ø SAGA GIS(System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses GIS)  etc.
Remote Sensing

Ø  Collecting data without having any physical contact with it.
Ø  Two types of sensors used: Active and passive
Ø Active instruments are those that emit their own light for measurement of data.
Ø Passive instruments emit or radiate natural light or any other light most commonly sunlight.
Ø Active sensors: Laser altimeter, Lidar, Radar, Ranging instrument, scatterometer, sounder.
Ø Passive sensors: Accelerometer, Imaging radiometer, Hyperspectral radiometer, Radiometer, Spectrometer, Spectroradiometer.
Precision inputs application, Yield Monitoring & Data Management
    Ø Variable Rate Application with help of navigators, GPS.
    Ø More precise data can be obtained by using précised technologies.
    Ø GIS software provide adequate information.
Benefits
    Ø Maximum Yield
    Ø Minimum Losses
    Ø Early yield prediction
    Ø Early harvest
    Ø Increased Productivity
    Ø Timeliness in operation
    Ø Good quality yield
Issues
    Ø Costlier approach
    Ø Weather interferes in signals 
    Ø Not suitable for small-scale farmers 
    Ø Farmer’s negative attitude
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (DRONE)
    Ø Can carry up to 2.6 gallons (10 liters) of liquid (pesticide, herbicide or fertilizer)
    Ø Have a flight range of 7-10 acres per hour   
    Ø Microwave radar enables the drone to maintain the correct distance from crops and ensures even coverage 
    Ø Easier to control
    Ø Easier to distribute crop inputs at the right place
    Ø Less-fatigue
    Ø No-human labor required
Issues
Ø Time taking
Ø Image processing Complexities
Ø Difficulty of operation
Ø Costly
IoT in agriculture
    Ø Internet of things is another helpful approach in precision agriculture.
    Ø It was estimated that IoT devices in agriculture will increase from 30 million in 2015 to 75 million by 2020 at a compound annual growth rate of 20%.
Precision Livestock Farming
    Ø Robotic Milking
    Ø Huge scope for commercial cattle farming due to the high demand for milk and milk products.
    Ø Poultry monitoring with image processing assessed by softwares.
Why Precision Agriculture?
    Ø Decreased losses
    Ø Increased profits
    Ø Increased yields
    Ø Less Overlap and missed areas (Navigators, drones)
    Ø Protect Environment
    Ø Feed 7.7 billion people of the WORLD
INDIA
    Ø Doubling the income of farmers by 2020
    Ø Employment
    Ø Less deaths of farmers due to pesticides intake, losses and malnutrition.
Precision agriculture solutions
    Ø Custom hiring centres
    Ø Greenhouse robot harvesting
    Ø Smart phone applications
And much more…..



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