The GDP for FY 20-21 would shrink to minus 7.7% with the manufacturing sector witnessing a major contraction of 9.4%, whereas the agriculture sector is predicted to witness a progress of three.4% in FY 20-21
Meals safety is a pertinent social problem in India having catapulted post-Covid-19 outbreak
Regardless of going through myriad challenges hindering its progress, agritech has the potential to revolutionize the agriculture panorama in India by way of modern tech-based options
The yr 2021 is the yr of ‘change’ because the world prepares itself to battle the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. In line with a report launched by World Financial institution in June final yr, the worldwide economic system plunged right into a recession, final skilled throughout World Conflict 2! Earlier this month, Nationwide Statistical Workplace, Ministry Of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Authorities Of India launched a press observe on ‘First Advance Estimates Of Nationwide Earnings 2020-21’.
In line with this report, the GDP for FY 20-21 would shrink to minus 7.7 % with the manufacturing sector witnessing a major contraction of 9.4%, whereas the agriculture sector is predicted to witness a progress of three.4% in FY 20-21. In line with an EY India Report launched in August 2020, the agriculture sector contributes to 16% of the nation’s GDP and offers employment to 43% of the whole workforce. Using nearly half of the nation’s inhabitants and having a major share within the GDP together with sustaining a gradual constructive progress in the course of the pandemic, it may be concluded that the agriculture sector has an integral position to play in revitalizing our rural economic system.
Despite the fact that the sector has proven secure micro-economic indicators on the bottom throughout a pandemic-struck economic system final yr, its full potential is neither realized nor explored, sadly. Because the final couple of years, the sector has been witnessing the identical set of issues which might be hindering its progress prospects. A few of these issues are, poor yield per hectare (complete agricultural manufacturing per unit of land), the hole between farmers and market, low funding in rural infrastructure and a lesser understanding of ecological issues (dangerous pesticides, depleting water desk, soil erosion).
The necessity of the hour is to sync agricultural manufacturing with the market calls for in addition to environmental adjustments that are unattainable with out the intervention of science and expertise! Scientific options based mostly on thorough on-ground analysis backed with tech-infused productsservices would assist remedy the crucial points plaguing the sector, concurrently contributing to its exponential progress.
Agritech is the appliance of expertise within the discipline of agriculture to extend manufacturing and maximize earnings. It solely has the potential to assist India embark on its journey of the subsequent ‘Inexperienced Revolution’ by increasing its agricultural manufacturing by way of sustainable methodologies. The Indian agritech market remains to be in its nascent stage with a menial 1% penetration although it’s estimated that it might develop to 24.1 Bn in 5 years! (EY India Report). The applied sciences listed beneath elaborate on a number of of those crucial methodologies able to ushering in India’s Inexperienced Revolution 2.0.
Put up-Harvest Applied sciences
Meals safety is a pertinent social problem in India having catapulted post-Covid-19 outbreak. It leads to the wastage of meals grains as a result of poor rural infrastructural services like dilapidated warehouses and a dearth in cold-storage models. ‘Scientific warehousing’ would assist keep digital information of the meals inventory saved and assist keep digital buyer relationships. Options embedded in synthetic intelligence would facilitate real-time monitoring of all of the processes being carried out within the warehouse (shares saved in addition to shares in transit).
These paperless tech practices would assist present an error-free standing report of the warehouse. Sustaining a digital customer support community can be important in offering a superb hassle-free service to prospects. These practices would assist mitigate post-harvest losses in addition to disrupt and resolve storage and distribution points in India.
Convergence Of Agri Biotechnology With Nanoscale Science & Expertise
The sustainable options to ecological issues (poor soil, seed high quality) marring the Indian agriculture trade would be the results of multidisciplinary efforts on the intersection of meals expertise, agriculture, biotechnology and nanotechnology. For instance, Biofertilizers, nano-biofertilizers and nano-pesticides are a few of the merchandise based mostly on nano-technology, important in offering micronutrients.
They play a pivotal position in sustaining soil well being, focused nutrient requirement of the crops (growth of roots, elevated uptake of water and nitrogen) and stopping the decontamination of soil from the extreme utilization of dangerous pesticides and fertilizers. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), utilizing genetic engineering is one other method of contributing to meals and vitamin advantages of crops whereas boosting their manufacturing, nonetheless, India is in a state of coverage paralysis within the matter.
Agro-IT Utilizing AI/ML Blockchain In The Agri Worth Chain
Our agricultural trade is a extremely unorganized sector. And sadly, this flaw is taken benefit of by some middle-men, pushing the marginal farmers into the vicious cycle of poverty! Leveraging blockchain expertise would assist streamline this sector in addition to promote transparency and traceability, invaluable in creating environment friendly provide chains. It can additionally empower farmers to modify from conventional strategies of shopping for and promoting, introducing them to new markets which might assist scale back the hole between farmers and concrete markets. Synthetic Intelligence helps in complete information assortment and evaluation together with concise and correct predictions associated to farming-related actions and value fluctuations.
These applied sciences assist farmers in growing their crop manufacturing, sustaining soil well being and adopting worthwhile sowing practices. Utilizing 3D laser scanning, hyper-spectral imaging crop metrics might be constructed throughout hundreds of acres. IoT sensors and UAV pictures can be used extensively to assemble real-time information on soil moisture, crop well being and crop stressors, amongst different parameters. These applied sciences are making a plethora of alternatives for farmers to develop and improve their farming methods for extra worthwhile outcomes.
Depletion Of Floor Water And Contamination
The presence and absence of freshwater have made and marred human civilizations over the centuries as it’s the very foundation for agriculture. The subsequent World Wars in the event that they ever occur won’t be over crude oil however freshwater. Indian farms are closely dependent upon groundwater, a finite depletable useful resource.
A number of components contribute to it like extreme utilization of chemical fertilizers, unsuitable crop in sure geographies i.e. water-guzzling crops in water-stressed areas in addition to extreme irrigation i.e. irrigation achieved in the identical method because it was practised many years again. It’s noticed that no technological development has taken place round water utilization. Natural farming which might mitigate water wastage to a big extent will not be seen as worthwhile as a result of its premium pricing construction and low yield.
Regardless of going through myriad challenges hindering its progress, agritech has the potential to revolutionize the agriculture panorama in India by way of modern tech-based options. Although the sector faces sure challenges hindering its progress, agri-tech has the potential to revolutionize the agriculture panorama in India by way of modern tech-based options. It’s completely basic in fulfilling the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ missions because it helps enhance crop manufacturing, which might place India as an agro-export chief throughout the globe together with selling it as a worldwide industrial hub (offering important uncooked supplies at minimal prices).
The spine of our nation and its economic system; our farmers would profit vastly from this revolution, reworking them into industrious entrepreneurs serving city world markets. To stimulate the expansion of agritech as estimated, all of the stakeholders (authorities, farmers, traders and startups) concerned within the system must collaborate effectively, syncing their effort in excellent concord as a way to increase the agricultural economic system and assist India revive from the post-pandemic financial droop.
