INNOVATIVE DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO BOOST AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
A.K. Roy
Ex. National
Consultant(IA), NAIP, ICAR, New Delhi Corresponding author e-mail:
akroy1946@yahoo.co.in
ABSTRACT
The paper reviews and identify
the innovative disruptive technologies that can be applied to boost
agricultural productivity to face the challenge of food security. As per FAO
agriculture is becoming increasingly multifunctional. Whereas the main focus used
to be on productivity in order to meet the needs of a growing and richer
population, a 60% increase in output by 2030 is required. Now the emphasis is
increasingly on sustainability in the face of limited land, water and
fertilizer resources for food safety that are contributing to the bio-economy.
21st Century Revolution in agriculture is becoming increasingly
multi-disciplinary. Further, climate change is already requiring changes to
crop management, and access to fresh water and good soil are becoming serious
limitations for agriculture. Biotechnology and ICT are playing an ever more
important role alongside traditional chemical and seed breeding approaches.
Moreover, in some areas the different technologies are becoming integrated,
adding a further degree of complexity. All this change creates opportunities
for innovation and makes the Agritech sector one of the most exciting in the
global economy. Seven specific areas are identified as benefitting particularly
from the present trendsviz., Genomics/biotechnology, Bio-pesticides,
Bio-stimulants, Fertilizer application and use with efficiency, Seed Care, and
Big data in agriculture. Importantly eight digital technologies like 3D
Printing, Robots, Drones, Sensors, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality
(AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Blockchain, can profoundly change the way food
production works. Together, these eight technologies are part of the Internet
of Things (IoT)that connects machines in collecting, sharing and analysing
data. The connectivity has dramatic applications in the agribusiness sector,
where there are significant geographical and information access challenges. The
IoT can be used in both crop and livestock production.These eight emerging
digital technologies each have the potential to transform agriculture. There is
an urgent need to embrace the opportunities in India in order to double farm
production and to feed the hungry people.
Key words: Agriculture, innovative, disruptiveTechnologies,
AI,IoT, genomics, robotics
In:BOOK
OF ABSTRACTS of One day National Seminar
Cum Panel Discussion on "Doubling
Farmers' Income: Role of Agricultural Mechanization” 29 January 2018,Department of Agricultural
Engineering, PSB, Visva-Bharati,
Sriniketan, West Bengal,India,p-10
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