The Internet of Things (IoT) is ushering in a new era of the agricultural revolution. The global population is expected to reach a whopping 9.7 billion by 2050, and we would need to produce 70% more food, as per the UN Food and Agricultural Organization.
And in the present scenario, much to your dismay, almost 3.1 million children under five die each year worldwide due to poor nutrition. We are running into a critical issue concerning the need to increase farm yield taking into account constantly depleting natural resources and shrinking agricultural areas.
However, not everything is so gloomy! The good part is that the agricultural sector has turned towards smart farming backed by IoT technologies. As a forward-thinking farmer, you can partner with an IoT app development company to reduce waste and enhance yield by increasing efficiency of farming equipment and optimal use of fertilizers.
Let’s dig deeper and discuss how breathtaking applications of IoT are shaping the future of agriculture:
Contents
- 1) Precision Agriculture set to be the new normal
- 2) Strict Remote Vigilance on Pests Possible
- 3) Monitoring & Tracking livestock in their Natural Habitat
- 4) Leveraging the Power of Smart Greenhouses
- 5) Agricultural Drones help make Data-driven Decisions
- 6) Smart Farming is the Future – Get ready to reap the benefits!
1) Precision Agriculture set to be the new normal
As a farmer, you can now grow your crops in a more controlled manner using high-speed Internet, robotics, autonomous vehicles, automated hardware, control systems and more.
You can perform soil moisture probe testing which in turn can help you maximize the profitability on irrigated crop fields while increasing water usage efficiency.
Thus, IoT in agriculture not only equips you with ultra-modern agronomic solutions but also ensures the management of precision irrigation.
2) Strict Remote Vigilance on Pests Possible
IoT helps farmers to monitor pests and act on them by using a wireless technology called Z-Trap. It is an actual trap that can be set remotely and monitored virtually to see the traps. Purdue University has designed this trap and Spensa Technologies (recently acquired by DTN) has developed the same.
The device shows how many bugs have been trapped and also the trends for future use. The trap is aimed at reducing the damages caused to farm by bugs all over the world.
3) Monitoring & Tracking livestock in their Natural Habitat
Livestock farming plays an important role in agriculture and in the lives of farmers. IoT-enabled apps can help you track your animals and monitor their health.
You can not just monitor their movement and location but also their heart rate, temperature, and activity level. This information can help you identify sick animals and take measures to mitigate the spread of disease. You can also share it with vets to facilitate proper diagnosis and treatment of animals.
You can also reduce farm labour costs while protecting your animals from getting lost or stolen.
4) Leveraging the Power of Smart Greenhouses
Greenhouse farming is an effective methodology that focuses on increasing the yield of fruits and vegetables. IoT technologies help design smart greenhouses wherein the computer controls the temperature, irrigation and other critical factors. Thus, you can grow crops throughout the year.
Climate change is a global challenge and it has altered weather patterns in many places. These smart greenhouses equip farmers with the capability to grow their preferred fruits and vegetables in spite of unfavourable weather conditions.
Therefore, smart farming in the greenhouse is yielding great results and giving farmers an edge in their respective markets.
5) Agricultural Drones help make Data-driven Decisions
Drones are enabling imaging, mapping and surveying of agricultural land by gathering valuable data through a series of sensors.
From the data gathered by drone, you can draw several crucial insights including plant health mapping, nitrogen content in crops and weed pressure mapping.
In other words, drone technology is empowering the agricultural domain with strategy and planning based on real-time data collection and processing.
6) Smart Farming is the Future – Get ready to reap the benefits!
There are immense benefits of IoT apps and the-real time data captured by these connected devices. It has the potential to empower farmers to increase food production needed to feed the increasing global population down the line.
In addition to monitoring weather, soil, rain and pests, smart agriculture helps prevent the outbreak of diseases and sudden pest infestations.
These tech advances help farmers quickly decide what’s best for their crops based on the insights gained from the data collected by connected devices giving them a competitive advantage.
Have you embraced smart farming yet? Please feel free to share your views on IoT in agriculture by leaving your comment below.
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