IoT Paving Way for Next-Level Farming
Growing proliferation of cutting-edge technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) continues to induce a promising transformation in the future of global farming industry. Steadfast adoption of smart agriculture practices around the globe indicates a welcoming attitude of farmers towards high-tech farming standards. According a recently published report by Future Market Insights (FMI), there has been an increase in investment in smart agriculture solutions in recent years. Key findings from the report indicate that leading sensor manufacturers are investing in various, small as well as mid-sized, agricultural solution providers.
Why we need IoT in Agriculture?
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations, the world’s population is estimated to reach 9.1 billion, a majority of which will be concentrated across developing countries, thereby urging the global food production to witness a 70% boost by 2050.
High-tech farming and smart agriculture
Farmers have already started using various technologies and techniques to improve yield efficiency. By using sensors, which help in obtaining the soil’s acidity & temperature, deriving detailed resource maps, and identifying the area’s topography, farmers can stay a step ahead – which is considered quite a feat in the unpredictable fields of farming industry. Also, instant access to real-time climate forecasts will further benefit farmers in getting crucial details while mapping inward-bound meteorological conditions.
There’s no denying that adoption of IoT in agriculture is on a rise, and is set to transform food production & farming by fuelling qualitative production, helping in resource conservation, and increasing crop productivity – all under a controlled expenditure.
Various solutions are also being developed for controlling the use of water for crop irrigation. There are devices being developed that are smart enough to analyse the water requirement for agriculture and reduce undue wastage.
IoT combined with Big Data to be more efficient
IoT and Big Data combined together can do wonders for the agriculture sector. Big data can play a very crucial role as the data collected by sensors can ensure that all operations are carried out well. Meanwhile, IoT can monitor the health of livestock, the farmers can also track movement of animals, and increase yield by establishing their grazing patterns.
This technological coalition can also help farmers to undertake decisive measures about cultivation and harvesting by providing real-time data about air quality, water level and soil fertility. For example, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has developed an Android-based app, which helps farmers in revving up the insurance claim process through real-time tracking of crop damage.
The smart agriculture market in North America, Latin America and APEJ region will show a significant growth in the coming years, according to a new study by FMI. Tech companies are also partnering to offer premium technology for smart agriculture solutions through sensors, drones, and agricultural data processing technologies, among others.
