[Kurukshetra June 2023 Summary] Technologies for sustainable agriculture development- Explained, pointwise

Introduction

Traditional agricultural practices in India are frequently unsustainable and car negatively affect the environment and human health. Sustainable agricultural practices are required to ensure the long-term viability of agriculture in India. Farmers can develop sustainable farming systems by adopting advanced technologies.  

Trends in Indian Agriculture 

Agriculture accounts for 18.29 percent of Gross Value Added (16.5 percent at current prices according to Ministry of Agriculture) in 2019-20 but still employs 45.6 percent of the workforce. This indicates that a significant portion of the Indian population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods.  

But the percentage of the population employed in agriculture has gradually declined over the years as the country has diversified its economy and developed other sectors, such as services and manufacturing. 

According to the World Bank, as of 2020, 42.1 percent of the Indian population was employed in agriculture. In 2000, 60.5 percent of the population was employed in agriculture. This shows a significant shift away from agriculture in recent years. 

While the agriculture sector’s contribution to India’s per capita GDP has declined over time, it remains an essential sector of the economy, particularly regarding employment and livelihoods. 

What is sustainable agriculture? 

Sustainable agriculture is an approach to farming that considers the well-being of the soil, environment, and local communities in the long run.  

Its primary goal is to address the increasing food demand without compromising natural resources for future generations. 

Sustainable agriculture ensures the production of food, fiber, and other agricultural products while safeguarding the environment, public health, human communities, and animal welfare. 

It emphasizes the conservation and regeneration of essential natural resources like soil, water, and air to benefit future generations. 

Why is sustainable agriculture important for India? 

India has made significant progress in increasing agricultural output, but there is still considerable work ahead to fully adopt and implement sustainable agricultural practices. 

One of the most significant challenges confronting Indian farmers is declining soil fertility due to the excessive use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and intensive farming practices. 

Adopting sustainable agriculture practices in India is critical for the long-term sustainability of the agriculture sector.  

What are the government initiatives for the agriculture sector? 

The Government of India has introduced various initiatives, such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, the Soil Health Card Scheme and the National Agriculture Market (e NAM) platform, for the development of the agriculture sector.  

These initiatives are aimed at enhancing farmer productivity, mitigating risks, improving agricultural practices and increasing income levels in the country.  

Among these initiatives, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is significant as It offers farmers a comprehensive risk management solution with a uniform and affordable premium rate nationwide. The scheme receives around 5.5 crore farmer applications every year. 

What are some technologies for sustainable farming? 

Precision Farming: It involves sensors, GPS mapping, and data analytics to monitor and optimise crop performance. By using precision farming techniques, farmers can reduce the use of fertilisers and pesticides, improve water management, and increase yields.  

Agroforestry: Agroforestry is a land-use integrated management system that combines trees and shrubs with crops and livestock to create a more sustainable and productive farming system. This approach can provide various benefits, including soil conservation, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sequestration. 

Vertical Farming: It cultivates crops in stacked layers, usually under controlled conditions. Vertical farming can potentially increase local food production while reducing water consumption and optimising resource utilization. This makes it an appealing option for Indian urban agriculture. This method can reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides while increasing crop yields and lowering transportation costs. 

Hydroponics: It involves growing plants in nutrient-rich water without soil. Hydroponics allows for efficient water and nutrient use, year-round cultivation, and reduced dependence on traditional agricultural practices. This approach can increase yields and can potentially revolutionize food production, especially in urban areas with limited space and resources. 

Renewable Energy-based: Renewable energy technologies like solar and wind power, can be used to power farming operations. This approach can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. 

Robotics and Automation-based: Robotics and automation technologies can help reduce labour costs, improve crop yields, and reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides. 

What are the gaps in adopting sustainable agriculture? 

Lack of Awareness and knowledge: It is one of the main barriers to adopting sustainable agricultural practices. Many farmers must know the benefits of sustainable agriculture practices or how to implement them effectively for widespread use of these technologies. 

Limited Access to Finance: Sustainable agriculture practices often require significant infrastructure and technology investments. However, many small and marginal farmers need more access to finance to make these investments. 

Inadequate Policy and Regulatory Framework: Adopting sustainable agriculture practices is not always supported by India’s policy and the regulatory framework. For example, farmers may need more incentives to adopt sustainable practices, or regulations may prohibit certain sustainable practices. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture receives only 0.8 percent of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MOAFW) budget. 

Limited Research and Development: There is a need for more research and development in sustainable agriculture practices that are appropriate for the Indian context. There is also a need for more investment in disseminating research findings and developing extension services to help farmers adopt these practices. 

Lack of Infrastructure and Technical Support: Adopting sustainable agriculture practices often requires significant infrastructure and technical support, particularly in remote rural areas. 

Low Productivity: The yield per hectare for most of the crops in India is significantly lower than the global average. This is a significant impediment to agricultural growth and development. 

Fragmented Landholdings: The average landholding size in India is small, which makes it difficult for farmers to adopt modern farming techniques and technologies. Fragmented landholdings also make it difficult for farmers to access credit and other support services. 

Lack of Market Access: Many farmers are forced to sell their produce to intermediaries at low prices, as they cannot access direct markets. 

Inadequate Infrastructure: Inadequate infrastructure, such as rural roads, storage facilities, and cold chains, is a significant challenge for the agriculture sector in India.  

Climate Change: Climate change poses significant challenges to the agriculture sector in India, particularly in terms of water availability, pest and disease management, and crop yields. The changing weather patterns, including erratic rainfall and rising temperatures, affect crop productivity and increase farmers’ vulnerability. Women are particularly susceptible. The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) score for sustainability and adaptation decreases as gender inequality increases. 

What has the government done to improve dissemination of technological information to farmers? 

According to a survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organization, only 6% of farmers in India have access to information on modern agricultural practices.  

To address this issue, the government has launched several initiatives, such as the Kisan Call Centre and the mKisan portal. 

The Kisan Call Centre had received over 21 million calls from farmers across India, indicating the importance of such initiatives in improving the dissemination of technological information to farmers. 

Some agri tech startup case studies 

AgriApp Technologies Pvt. Ltd works on precision and predictive agriculture while building a strong Agri-Ecosystem to benefit farmers, the economy and ecology. AgriApp works to fill the gap between farmers and the right kind of strategic information, thus making the farmers ready for high-efficiency technology-enabled agriculture production and marketing. 

Khetee promotes agroecological farming through the agroforestry model. Khetee has created a unique fellowship programme for farmers and aspiring farmers to help them build agroecological model farms.  Khetee organises training programmes for farmers regularly to help them build their capacity in regenerative farming.  

Aumsat provides precision-driven, satellite-based, Al-enabled hydrological analysis for locating, predicting, and forecasting groundwater resources, saving cost economically and logistically by 75 percent. 

Pudhuvai Green Gas Chemicals Fertilisers Private Limited is an innovative Bioenergy startup that specializes in manufacturing organic waste agri-raw materials. Through their unique process, they produce methane and hydrogen as valuable by-products, which are utilized as environmentally friendly green fuels.  

Sense it Out is a deep-tech startup that focuses on providing technology-driven solutions to address targeted climate change challenges in the agriculture sector. Their product, SICCA (Sensor-based Intelligent Crop Centric Automation), leverages indigenously developed sensor technology to makes irrigation management more competent, reliable, and efficient. 

Conclusion 

A multifaceted approach will be necessary to close gaps in India’s agricultural sector, necessitating investments in R&D, regulatory and policy reforms, and creating infrastructure and extension services to encourage adopting sustainable agricultural practices. Technology must be implemented with other sustainable farming practices to achieve sustainable farming systems.  

Farmers in India have adopted various sustainable agricultural practices to ensure agriculture’s long-term sustainability like crop rotation and organic farming. Furthermore, improved crop varieties, rainwater harvesting, and drip irrigation systems are examples of sustainable agricultural practices in India.  

Despite adopting sustainable farming practices in India, the country faces numerous challenges in ensuring long-term sustainability. For example, indiscriminate pesticide and fertiliser use persists in many parts of the country, resulting in soil degradation and water pollution. Furthermore, climate change poses a significant threat to India’s agricultural sustainability.  

Sustainable agriculture practices have the potential to boost agricultural productivity, reduce production costs, and enhance the quality of crops. It may also promote the production of healthier and safer foods, which is beneficial to public health.