Next Generation Farming

Dr. Chinmoy Kumar Sarma

World’s population is expected to reach nearly ten billion by 2050. Against this backdrop, problems such as climate change, soil degradation, water scarcity etc. threaten the world’s existing food production systems. In future, agriculture is required to produce food, energy, high value commodities, pharmaceuticals etc. and is expected to take place with some modern approaches, even beyond traditional cultivated areas.

Climate change and scarcity of arable land might lead future agriculture to respond to production needs, even under more extreme environments. May be, more crops would be grown also in urban environments in cities in near future, with little or no ground available which might help reduce the environmental impact of agricultural activities while contributing to food security sustainably. It will necessitate adoption of technology, scientific innovation and sustainable practices to create more sustainable, accessible and resilient agricultural systems. 

In India, agriculture remains the largest sector as a source of livelihood and therefore, progress in agriculture sector will decide the condition of low income group. However, there has always been apprehension that farming is becoming non-profit making overtime, affecting interest of the people on farming due to low and highly fluctuating farm income and is forcing more and more farmers, particularly younger section to leave farming as there is always disparity between farmers’ income and income of those working in nonfarm sectors.

Many a times, traditional form of agricultural system diverts interest of the younger section from farming to other nonfarm activities.  Participation and retaining youth in agricultural sector can give solution to the problem of unemployment in our country. But the question is how youth are to be motivated to take up agriculture as a profession and whether the agriculture sector has enough prospects to support a respectable livelihood. Modern technology driven and skill intensive Next Generation agriculture can offer some scope to attract the younger section.

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Next-Generation farming approaches will involve precision agricultural technologies and automation to promote data-driven, sustainable, and efficient farming practices. This approach leverages various technologies, including sensors, drones, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT)to monitor and manage crops and livestock with greater precision and efficiency.

Sensors, drones, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT create integrated systems that collect data, process data to interpret with artificial intelligence and automate actions, while IoT connects the sensors, drones, and users for real-time communication and control.

Sensors collect real-time data on moisture, nutrients, and environmental factors, providing farmers with crucial insights for improved decision-making.  Key applications of Artificial Intelligence in agriculture include precision farming for precise resource use, forecasting of weather and yield prediction, early detection of diseases and pest infestation, automation in  irrigation and fertigation, robotic application for operations like planting and harvesting etc.

AI analyses data from sensor, drone and satellite imagery helping farmers to take decision on irrigation, fertilizer application and pest control for better resource management.AI models process weather and climate data to offer accurate weather forecast and help determine the best times for planting and harvesting crops. AI-powered robot and self- driving tractor can perform tasks like planting, precision spraying, and harvesting, reducing labour cost and improving efficiency.

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In modern livestock management, various techniques use IoT devices, sensors, and data analytics to monitor animal behaviour, health and growth, providing real-time information to farmers. Livestock monitoring system allow farmers to understand about any behavioural changes which may be indicative of illness.

This early warning system can help farmers to prevent the spread of disease and improve animal welfare by enabling farmers to take correct decisions about feed, medication and other factors that can impact animal health and productivity. IoT-based agricultural system has the potential to transform agriculture industry by enabling farmers to improve resource use efficiency, improve yields and reduce cost of production and to achieve sustainability goals.

Supply chain management in agricultural production system refers to the management of the flow of farm produces from the raw materials stage to the final delivery of the product to end-users. Modern technologies like IoT, artificial intelligence etc. has enabled real-time tracking, monitoring, and optimization of supply chain operations.

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Next-Gen Agriculture offers many benefits and presents several challenges also that need to be addressed. The potential benefits and drawbacks of these new technologies are being examined, including increased efficiency and reduced labour costs, versus potential environmental and social impacts.

Developing countries like India are more vulnerable to the impact of climate change because of agrarian based economy, excessive pressure on natural resources and poor coping mechanism. So, climate smart technology will play a major role in mitigating adverse effect. Weather prediction by using artificial intelligence provides accurate information in day-to-day farming and such precise information might aid in the prevention of crop losses.

Various climate smart technology related to weather condition, water management, nutrient management, carbon pumping etc. are being generated which will be critical in near future. The growth and spread of information and communication technology (ICT) in recent years provide a viable alternative to overcome physical barriers. In future, application of ICT will help in providing the most suitable and required package of practices on different aspects of sustainable agricultural management as well as marketing of the produce.

Innovative soil less farming techniques such as hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics are gaining significance in the field of agriculture which will be important in new generation farming techniques. Hydroponics grows crop in nutrient-rich solution, has ancient origins dating back to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

However, it wasn’t considered relevant until the scientists began to experiment with hydroponic techniques for commercial purposes. Aeroponic is another soil less technique which uses mist or fog to provide nutrients to plant roots directly. Aquaponics has emerged as a sustainable soil less farming technique that integrates hydroponics with aquaculture which utilizes the symbiotic relationship where fish waste provides nutrients for the plants and the plants filter the water for the fish.

Vertical farming may be a viable option, especially in urban areas for maximizing land use and higher production per unit area. These farming techniques offer numerous advantages including increased crop yield, efficient nutrient management, reduced water use and less environmental impact which will emerge as the next generation agriculture in near future.

Dr. Chinmoy Kumar Sarma, Chief Scientist, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, Mobile- 9957130225

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