Case Study (Ecology):

High-Tech Farming
Group - 4
6519 - Vatsal Parmar
6520 - Shubham Patil
6521 - Anuradha Rajbhar
6522 - Vaishnavi Rajgopal
6523 - Sanmay Rajguru
6524 - Akshay Rane
Introduction:
The evolution of agricultural technology began some 10,000 years ago. Simple
hand tools providing relief at the beginning gradually evolved into the mechanical
equipment commonly available to farmers today. Taking a closer look at the body
of currently available technology reveals commercially available solutions for
roughly every operation in farming that can be easily mechanised – think of the
tractors, ploughs, seeders, planters, and harvesters in arable farming we are so
used to see on the fields. When it comes to supervision of the operation and
maintaining safety, a human operator (that is, the farmer or one of her employees)
is still in charge. Of course, a wide range of implements have been adopted to be
connected to the tractor and to perform the tasks crucial to crop production.
High-tech farming mainly refers to agricultural operations involving the latest
technologies. It is a capital intensive agriculture since large capital outlay is
required towards purchase of specialized equipment, maintenance of assets,
training of labour, etc. Hi-tech agriculture mainly relates to commercial farming
system aimed at catering to the needs of both, domestic as well as export
markets. It uses farming technology to increase yields, ensures high quality
(usually pesticide-free) and realizes increased market value. Growing temperate
vegetables in a tropical climate and developing disease-resistant plants through
genetic engineering are common examples of hi-tech agriculture.

These are few of the high-tech methods used today by farmers everywhere.
Indoor Vertical Farming:
Indoor vertical farming can increase crop yields, overcome limited land area, and even
reduce farming’s impact on the environment by cutting down distance traveled in the
supply chain. Indoor vertical farming can be defined as the practice of growing produce
stacked one above another in a closed and controlled environment. By using growing
shelves mounted vertically, it significantly reduces the amount of land space needed to
grow plants compared to traditional farming methods. This type of growing is often
associated with city and urban farming because of its ability to thrive in limited space.
Vertical farms are unique in that some setups don’t require soil for plants to grow. Most
are either hydroponic, where vegetables are grown in a nutrient-dense bowl of water, or
aeroponic, where the plant roots are systematically sprayed with water and nutrients. In
lieu of natural sunlight, artificial grow lights are used.
From sustainable urban growth to
maximizing crop yield with reduced labor
costs, the advantages of indoor vertical
farming are apparent. Vertical farming can
control variables such as light, humidity, and
water to precisely measure year-round,
increasing food production with reliable
harvests. The reduced water and energy
usage optimizes energy conservation --
vertical farms use up to 70% less water
than traditional farms. Labor is also greatly
reduced by using robots to handle
harvesting, planting, and logistics, solving
the challenge farms face from the current
labor shortage in the agriculture industry.
Artificial Intelligence:
The rise of digital agriculture and its related technologies has opened a wealth of
new data opportunities. Remote sensors, satellites, and UAVs can gather
information 24 hours per day over an entire field. These can monitor plant health,
soil condition, temperature, humidity, etc. The amount of data these sensors can
generate is overwhelming, and the significance of the numbers is hidden in the
avalanche of that data.
The idea is to allow farmers to gain a better understanding of the situation on the
ground through advanced technology (such as remote sensing) that can tell them
more about their situation than they can see with the naked eye. And not just more
accurately but also more quickly than seeing it walking or driving through the
fields.
Remote sensors enable algorithms to
interpret a field's environment as
statistical data that can be understood
and useful to farmers for decision-
making. Algorithms process the data,
adapting and learning based on the data
received. The more inputs and statistical
information collected, the better the
algorithm will be at predicting a range of
outcomes. And the aim is that farmers
can use this artificial intelligence to
achieve their goal of a better harvest
through making better decisions in the
field.
Usage of Sensors:

1. Crop sensors help apply

fertilisers in a very effective
manner, maximising uptake. They
sense how your crop is feeling and
reduce the potential leaching and
runoff into groundwater. Instead of
making a prescription fertiliser
map for a field before you go out
to apply it, crop sensors tell
application equipment how much
to apply in real time.
2. Soil Moisture Sensor uses
capacitance to measure dielectric
permittivity of the surrounding medium.
The sensor creates a voltage proportional
to the dielectric permittivity, and therefore
the water content of the soil.
The sensor averages the water content
over the entire length of the sensor. There
is a 2 cm zone of influence with respect to
the flat surface of the sensor, but it has
little or no sensitivity at the extreme
edges.
3. Ultrasound Sensors are not only
for checking on baby animals in the
womb. It also can be used to discover
what quality of meat might be found in
an animal before it goes to the market.

The testing of DNA helps producers to

identify animals with good pedigrees
and other desirable qualities. This
information can also be used to help
the farmer to improve the quality of his
herds.
Advantages of High-Tech Farming:

1. Modern machines can control the efforts of farmers.

2. Increase in yield up to 5 to 8 times – high productivity per unit area.
3. They reduce the time.
4. They increase the price and demand of the products.
5. Better marketing and exposure to the price.
6. Facilities in online trading and E-Commerce.
7. Reduce impact on the ecosystem.
8. Suitable for the campus environment.
Disadvantages of High-Tech Farming:

1. The excessive use of chemicals by the help of machines reduces the fertility
of the land.
2. Due to lack of practical knowledge the farmers can’t handle the machines
properly.
3. The cost of maintenance of these high-tech machines is very high.
4. Overuse of machines may lead to environmental damage.
5. Most of the farmers are illiterates so they are unable to use the modern
machines.
Conclusion:

High-tech farming requires a high level of investment and relies very little on the
environment of modern technology. These technologies focus on improving the
productivity of crops and producing quality products.
In the last 10 years, agriculture technology has seen a huge growth in investment, with
$6.7 billion invested in the last 5 years and $1.9 billion in the last year alone.
To increase knowledge and awareness among farmers to enhance the production and
productivity of various crops, the Government of India has initiated various programmes
such as Front Line Demonstrations and Extension through network of Krishi Vigyan
Kendras (KVKs), National Mission of Agricultural Extension & Technology (NMAET),
National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Soil Health Management Scheme, Mission for
Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern
India (BGREI) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
Strategies for promotion of Hi-tech agriculture in India :
1. Study of successful models for replication (i.e. Precision farming programme in Tamil Nadu).
2. Identifying activity/crop specific locations and potential mapping.
3. Development with Group approach such as Farmers' Societies, Producer Companies,
JLGs /SHGs, etc.
4. Assessment of infrastructure needs including post-harvest handling and transport logistics
5. Supporting infrastructure for post-harvest handling, warehousing, marketing, etc. through
PPP mode or private sector investments.
6. ICT enabled services such as market information, technology inputs and credit access.
7. User Industry tie-up for contract farming ensuring clean, equitable and farmer centric
agreements with well-defined clauses dealing with quality standard, withdrawal conditions,
credit linking with financing institutions, enabling provision for arbitration mechanism,
inclusion of appropriate risk mitigation measures, etc.
The End