The agricultural sector of India is the spine when it comes to its financial system and employment as a result of, in response to the report of the World Financial institution assortment of improvement indicators in 2023, it employs greater than 43.5% of the workforce and brings as much as 18% of the nationwide GDP (FAO).
Marginally sized farmers who have interaction in small plots of land, smaller than 5 acres, are unable to afford precision farming instruments like IoT-based soil sensors and computerized climate stations. These gadgets can price tons of of {dollars} a yr, which is a excessive value for farmers already making meager earnings. Because of this, though the know-how is accessible, the worth proposition sometimes doesn’t make sense for these smaller operations.
Nonetheless, the emergence of a promising resolution is satellite tv for pc distant sensing. This cost-effective, scalable, and versatile know-how is revolutionising agriculture by enabling farmers to make sound choices, keep away from monetary misery attributable to crop failure.
What’s satellite tv for pc distant sensing and the way does it profit small farmers?
Satellite tv for pc distant sensing includes taking footage of the Earth’s floor utilizing satellites outfitted with specialised sensors. This know-how offers you detailed details about a number of agricultural parameters, together with soil moisture, vegetation well being, and the climate. Whereas this know-how is handy for giant landowners, it’s also helpful for small scale farmers in managing plots as small as 0.25 acres (about 10,000 sq. toes).
Although satellite tv for pc monitoring companies are typically extra pricey for giant agriculture corporations, the worth of satellite tv for pc monitoring companies for smallholders is often underneath 5 p.c of whole cultivation prices, no less than. As well as, satellite tv for pc information can also be significantly scalable and accessible. Intensive areas are lined and ship well timed insights without having on-ground sensors. This info might be obtained by farmers by means of cell purposes or SMS alerts with out having to pay for costly {hardware} or gadgets.
Why is satellite tv for pc distant sensing essential for Indian agriculture?
This know-how has turn into important due to a number of pressing challenges within the business. Climate patterns with unpredictable shifts have turn into one of many foremost issues as a result of they trigger important losses for crops. In 2023, the State of Karnataka suffered crop damages price Rs 35,000 crore, which affected 4.8 million hectares due to dry situations that reached extreme ranges. One other problem is useful resource optimization.
Distant sensing know-how proves very important for farm profitability as a result of it permits for optimised water and fertiliser use, in response to numerous research, can cut back fertiliser prices by as much as 30%. Satellite tv for pc information enhances market participation by offering well timed insights, which advantages farmers of their aggressive market involvement. By way of enhanced choice making, farmers acquire each higher crop high quality and elevated yields, along with improved market preparedness.
The place and when can this know-how be utilized?
Satellite tv for pc distant sensing significantly advantages areas with various agro-climatic situations like India. Its use is suitable and related all through the crop cycle:
- Pre-Sowing: Soil moisture analysis, land situation evaluation, and soil nutrient testing collectively assist decide the perfect planting days earlier than sowing begins.
- Progress Interval: The stage of Progress Interval includes steady crop evaluation for well being standing and pest detection, along with nutrient requirement analysis for focused enhancements.
- Pre-Harvest: Earlier than harvest, the method contains yield projection, figuring out the correct harvest date by means of crop maturity analysis checks, managing pests and illnesses, and making certain optimum irrigation water administration.
How can farmers entry and implement this know-how?
Adopting satellite tv for pc distant sensing includes a number of steps:
- Coaching and Schooling: Agricultural professionals require coaching that educates them in regards to the interpretation of space-based info together with software strategies for his or her operational farming actions. The coaching of farmers in satellite tv for pc information interpretation should come from authorities companies and non-profit organisations.
- Collaborative Platforms: The creation of cooperatives alongside farmer producer organizations (FPOs) permits joint satellite tv for pc service entry amongst farmers, which concurrently decreases prices whereas sharing worthwhile info.
- Coverage Assist: Authorities our bodies providing monetary help by means of coverage initiatives for digital agriculture cut back the monetary prices confronted by smallholders after they undertake these applied sciences.
Last ideas
Small and marginal farmers in India are empowered by satellite tv for pc distant sensing, which helps minimise crop losses and construct monetary stability. By delivering reasonably priced agricultural insights—equivalent to soil nutrient ranges, fertilizer suggestions, and irrigation water administration—this know-how helps higher decision-making and environment friendly useful resource use.
These insights not solely enhance productiveness but additionally promote climate-resilient farming. With correct coaching and powerful coverage help, satellite tv for pc distant sensing can play a significant position in attaining debt-free and sustainable agriculture throughout India.
(Sat Kumar Tomer is the co-founder and CEO of Satyukt Analytics.)
Edited by Jyoti Narayan
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