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(Free report- January) Role of ICT in agriculture |
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by Binita Suwal | 02-02-2022 18:23
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Agriculture is a gigantic sector contributing to the world economy. Its share to gross domestic product (GDP) is almost 33 percent in case of Nepal . The increased demand for food grains will be met only with sincere efforts in agricultural research and extension. In the context of Nepal, agriculture is lagging in many aspects and is distinguished by poor connectivity and disintegration of market, unreliable and delayed information to the farmers, small landholdings, non-adoption, or less adoption of improved technology. So, it is now of utmost importance to keep our farmers updated about modern technologies and relevant information to pace up them in the current technological era. An ICT is any device, tool, or application that allows the exchange or collection of knowledge through interaction or transmission. ICT (Information & Communication Technology /Technologies) can also be called an umbrella which includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems, etc. also because the various services and applications related to them, like videoconferencing and distance learning . Information and communication technology in agriculture (ICT in agriculture), also known as e-agriculture, is developing and applying innovative ways to use ICTs in the agriculture community. The primary focus of ICT or e Agriculture is solving the problems of farmers. In fact, ICT in agriculture offers a good range of solutions to some agricultural challenges. Large data and knowledge are often effectively generated, stored, analyzed, and disseminated to upgrade agriculture by the inclusion of data and Communication Technology. It may increase production many folds by providing prompt, reliable, and locality-based information services to the farmers . Hence, ICT in agriculture has become a budding field of research and application associated with e-agriculture. Information and communication are and always will be necessary for agriculture. But what exactly are ICTs? And can they be useful and cost-effective for poor farmers with restricted access to capital, electricity, and infrastructure? First, an ICT is any device, tool, or application that permits the exchange or collection of data through interaction or transmission. ICT includes anything ranging from radio to satellite imagery to mobile phones or electronic money transfers . Second, these ICTs and others have gained movement even in deprived regions. The increases in their affordability, accessibility, and adaptability have resulted in their use even within rural homes dependent on agriculture. New, small devices (such as multifunctional mobile phones and nanotechnology for food safety), infrastructure (such as mobile telecommunications networks and cloud computing facilities), and especially applications (for example, that transfer money or track an item moving through a global supply chain) have proliferated. Most of the questions which are asked by farmers (including questions on how to increase yields, access markets, and adapt to weather conditions) can now be answered faster, with greater ease, and with increased accuracy. Some of the questions can also be answered with a dialogue—where farmers, experts, and government can select the best solutions based on a diverse set of expertise and experience. 1. Mobile phone Application in Agriculture Information and communication technologies might have a big role to play in expanding agricultural extension's reach. Farmers in India are experimenting with the use of a voice message forum to give interactive and timely agricultural knowledge and information from experts through the use of a mobile phone. Rural populations in India are now using mobile phones to gather information about weather disasters and pesticides . Mobile phone usage plays a vital role in the enhancement of farmers' business toward agriculture in third world countries . Farmers and small enterprises in rural places might have quick access to the market and receive information on pricing and commodity availability. Farmers might save money and time by using mobile phones instead of traveling. It also allows companies to reach out to new markets or clients who would otherwise be inaccessible without the use of mobile phones. In the context of the Philippines, mobile phones have benefited dealers by allowing them to obtain better market information while bargaining with farmers over the price of their goods. Farmers have become more comfortable with cell phones. Farmers might also receive pricing information from friends and family, as well as a quote from another dealer, to sell their goods at a decent price. Similarly, the use of mobile phones may influence farmers' decisions to sell at the farm gate rather than at the market. Farmers may be hesitant to make the costly travel to marketplaces to sell their products if they do not have access to local market information . Dairy producers in Uganda who adopted mobile phones had access to connect with buyers and suppliers for up-to-date price information and interacted with them via SMS for selling their milk at a decent price (Food and Agriculture Research Management) . Cattle farmers might use their cell phones to communicate with veterinary authorities and obtain information on infectious illnesses. This might influence cattle's attitudes and encourage new ways of thinking during calving, lowering the number of stillborn calves. In the long run, this improves the cattle producers' income and wellbeing. Many farmers nowadays call the meteorological agency to obtain weather information before applying herbicides to their crops . Mobile phones have drastically lowered the cost of communication and information for rural residents. This technology has opened up new avenues for rural farmers to gain knowledge and information about agricultural difficulties, problems, and applications for agricultural growth. 2. Use of Computers and internet in Agriculture Farmers who worked away from the farm full-time are more likely to use a farm computer. This supports the theory that farmers are frequently exposed to this technology through off-farm jobs and then embrace it. It also shows that extension education initiatives aimed at exposing farmers to a range of computer applications might give a comparable boost to computer adoption by raising knowledge of the technology's advantages. Farmers need a resources optimization mechanism to determine how many gateways, internet devices, amount of transmitted data, size of cloud storage are needed to have a breakthrough in profit margins. This is particularly challenging due to different farm sizes and different types of sensors needed to monitor farm variables for specific crops or livestock. This will require the development of a complex algorithm and mathematical models to be able to determine optimal resource allocation while minimizing cost and maximizing agriculture produce and profits. The focus of IoT platform development for agriculture will shift away from individual crops or animals and toward a universal platform (also known as a generic platform) that can support any type of crop or livestock. This will enable a system that can be quickly adapted to serve a range of applications, such as crop and animal management and monitoring, as well as product sales to local retailers and customers. Such a system will be devoid of any geographical or regional constraints, and it will be able to support a wide range of IoT in agriculture. Farmers can get updated and in time information, easier to exchange information and ideas, it becomes easier to collaborate, updated market listings, weather information, plant protection information and goods, news, and bulletins are all included in this rated list of important information. Although IT is relatively easy to adopt and cost-effective its adoption is not straightforward and initially can even be counterproductive. Agriculture cloud and IT services provide farmers with specialized knowledge in crop production, pricing, fertilizers, and disease treatment methods. Scientists working in agriculture will present their findings, as well as proposals for current farming practices and fertilizer use, as well as information on the region's history. Cloud computing has five benefits: lower startup costs, unlimited resource allocation, maintenance and updates conducted in the backend, no collaboration with other cloud systems, and the ability to establish worldwide services. It also provides crop disease and cure methods. The user may pick the co-ordinate position and define personal details such as name, place, and so on. Cloud computing delivers objective methods such as quantity, dependability, and security. 3. Installation of Agrometeorological Stations Agro meteorology is concerned with the interaction between the meteorological and hydrological factors with agriculture (horticulture, animal husbandry, and forestry). It also deals with artificial modification to the environment and climate change. Multiple stakeholders in the agriculture ecosystem use weather information. Installation of agrometeorological stations helps to determine the future weather conditions in that farming locality. Climatic conditions and seasonal forecasts help farmers in planning for the upcoming season to maximize productivity based on expected weather patterns. The most important decisions made by smallholders are based on the seasonal forecast when they decide which mix of crops and seed varieties they will be planting, purchase seed and inputs, and prepare their land accordingly. Shorter real-time meteorological information of fewer than ten days and daily forecasts further help determine the timing of various activities such as sowing, weeding, spraying, and harvesting. Weather information can be especially impactful if combined with specific advice or tips on the actions that need to be taken by the farmers to address weather patterns. 4. Use of GIS and RS in Agriculture GIS or Geographic Information System is a computer-based software application system designed to capture, manage, interpret and visualize the data information in different ways and demonstrate a clear understanding of a specialized geographic location with the help of figures, charts, graphs, reports, etc. It provides an innovative way of observing the earth's surface. It is the perfect application for tracking or finding the surroundings, population density, animals or plant density, elevation of the land, weather trends, vegetative patterns, irrigation sources, soil type, soil moisture, etc. It provides advantages to nearly all sectors. Farmers were unable to quantify, view and manage the variation existing within the field due to the lack of appropriate tools. These facilities are now provided by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for precise management decisions. The final agroecological maps can be prepared by combining administrative map, climatic map, soil map, topographic map, land use map, and productivity map. This all information is provided by GIS and is very useful in planning the agricultural activities in a particular area according to the surrounding environment factors affecting productivity. Remote Sensing is a widely applied technology using electromagnetic energy emitted from agricultural fields for determining the properties of target objects which are in contact physically or far away from the observer. It is extended from aerial photography . Remote sensing offers monitoring, mapping, observing, studying wide areas of earth surface as vegetation, environment, ocean surface, etc. The source of information of GIS is RS and both have the same level of usefulness in the agricultural sector. GIS is the best software to identify the exact location of water resources, select the proper location for placing livestock or crops in the field and map the weather trend and severity of insects and pests of the particular area. The right amount of tillage can be determined by knowing the compactness of the soil, and the right amount of irrigation can be offered by knowing the soil condition. This information is provided by GIS and RS together. Hence, both these technologies are used to estimate crop yield production. 5. Use of Mass Media in Agriculture Mass media, one of the powerful sources of information, helps in the dissemination of information related to health, education, social, political, and agricultural development, etc. It categorizes into electronic and print media . It plays a vital role in the agricultural awareness of farmers which ultimately results in increased productions. Agriculture growth considerably depends on the communication of information and knowledge which is transferred among farmers. Dissemination of agricultural information is another vital role of mass media . The mass media contributes to the spreading of information and enables remote areas, farmers, to decide on farming activities. The role of mass media/communication is an important factor of modern agriculture to make change and progress in this field. Electronic media plays a crucial role while transmitting agricultural information/innovation to the farmers. Doubtlessly, the diffusion of mass media is increasing with time. Moreover, the accessibility of farmers to reliable and relevant information is becoming more and more important . Reference Acharya, M., & Thapa, R. (2015). Remote sensing and its application in agricultural pest management. Journal of Agriculture and Environment, 16(June), 43–61. https://doi.org/10.3126/aej.v16i0.19839 Adrian, A. M., Dillard, C., & Mask, P. (2011). GIS in Agriculture. In Idea Group (Vol. 3, Issue 2). https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-59140-399-9.ch007 Aker, J. C., Ghosh, I., & Burrell, J. (2016). The promise (and pitfalls) of ICT for agriculture initiatives. Agricultural Economics, 47, 35–48. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12301 Akinbile, L. A., & others. (2007). Determinants of productivity level among rice farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. African Crop Science Conference Proceedings, 8, 1339–1344. |
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3 Comments
Hello binita sister
Nowadays, the usage of ICT in all fields is rapidly expanding. Farmers in major city areas can easily obtain various agricultural crop cultivation techniques. There is a need to expand internet access in rural areas in order to communicate to farmers. I think effective implementation of technology in marketing of agricultural commodities is necessary.
Keep writing, keep sharing
we are eager to learn more from you.
Kind regards
Dolma
Posted 14-02-2022 17:12
Hello Binita, this is your mentor Joon.
Some people might say that 'it used to be perfectly fine without the help of technology'. It might be partially true, but there are way brighter future if ICT is applied to agriculture. It is a hot topic among Korean students, even high school students try to make a solution with the plot on the roof of their school. By gathering data, cultivating becomes much effective, and easy which leads to improved production. Also, there are campaigns and programs which gives out subsidies to farms which implemented ICT. Many people are giving a try, so if you have any chance of getting one, why don't you give it a try?
Well read your article, and let's keep up!
Best,
Joon
Posted 07-02-2022 14:18
Hello Binita, this is your mentor Hannah.
Yes, I also expect a bright future of ICT applied in agriculture. A senior of mine succeeded in agriculture of medical hemp with use of ICT. With the information of the crop and soil, temperature, humidity...etc. complex growing of hemp succeeded. This is just an example of ICT in agriculture, I think farmers and engineers will have more production from now on.
Thank you for your great article and please keep up with your wonderful work :)
Sincerly,
Hannah
Posted 07-02-2022 00:28