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Road Map for Precision Agriculture in India: Needs, Priorities and Policy Framework Patil, V.C.

, and Algaadi, K.A. Precision Agriculture Research Chair, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Precision Agriculture (PA) is an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based agricultural management system to identify, analyze and manage spatial and temporal variability in soils and crops within and between fields for profitability, sustainability and protection of the environment. The concept of PA can be explained in simple terms as application of inputs to crops based on the requirement in the right amounts, by right methods, at the right place and right time. PA helps to attain sustainability through efficient use of inputs based on temporal and spatial variability in soils and crops. Both sensor based and satellite image based PA technologies have been developed and are being promoted in the developed world. The economic analyses of the adoption of PA in North America, Europe, China, Japan and South Korea have indicated marginal profitability over already existing Best Management Practices (BMPs). The wide gaps that exist between the potential and actual yield levels of most crops in India provide excellent opportunities to develop and promote PA. Components of PA: The emerging ICT and geospatial technologies such as Remote Sensing (RS), proximal sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Sensor technologies, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), Wireless

Communication Networks are the crucial components of PA. Basically,

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PA relies on the interaction of three broad and fundamental components such as data base, technology and management. 1. Data base: Under field conditions both soils and crops vary spatially and temporally. The information on soil properties, crop

characteristics, weeds, pests and crop yields is essential to develop necessary database for realizing the potential of PA. Of these, crop yield data obtained through yield monitors is the most important component that helps farmers to understand within-field variability in the performance of crops. Characterization of soil properties within a field through remote and proximal sensing techniques helps to build up data base on soils. The third most important one is weather data base, which greatly helps in management of biotic and a-biotic stress in crop plants. 2.Technology: The recent advances in ICTs and geospatial

technologies have provided newer tools for monitoring crop yields and sensing soil and crop variables to make PA a success. Global Positioning System (GPS) and RS techniques can be utilized to measure and detect and manage variability. Organization of these data into usable form such as different layers of field maps can be achieved through Geographic Information System (GIS). The basic idea of PA is not only to measure the field variability, but also to apply inputs at varying rates according to the requirements. Variable Rate Application (VRA) machinery could be used to handle field application of inputs such as seed, fertilizers, water, and pesticides. 3. Management: The ability to combine the databases generated and the ICT and geospatial technologies into a comprehensive and operational system is the third key area in PA. A farmer must adopt a new level of management on the farm. Implicit in this is an increased level of the knowledge of PA technologies.
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Steps in PA: PA includes a cyclic process of (a) characterization: measuring the extent, scales and dynamics of variation, (b) interpretation: assessing the significance, identifying major causes of uncertainty and formulating management strategies, (c) management: applying the right amount of inputs at the appropriate scale and in a timely manner and (d) monitoring the outcome. This may be accomplished in discrete steps (mapping approaches), as dynamic process executed in real-time (sensing and modeling approaches) or as combination of both. Methods of PA: There are two methods for implementing PA. Each method has unique benefits and can be used in a complementary or combined fashion. 1. Map based: It includes grid sampling a field every 2 to 2.5 acres, performing laboratory analyses of the soil samples, generating a site-specific map of the properties and finally using this map for variable rate application. The maps can also be prepared using satellite imagery. The site-specific maps may be used for grid wise site-specific input management. This methodology is most relevant for Indian agriculture at present. 2. Sensor based: It utilizes real time sensors to measure the desired properties on-the-go, usually soil properties or crop characteristics and immediately uses this data to control the variable rate applicator. Relevance of PA to Indian agriculture: Whether PA is feasible for small-scale farms is a leading issue for agricultural scientists and politicians in many countries including India. PA is characterized by variable management and a key point is understanding variability in the field. There are at least two types of variability. One is within-field variability, the other is between-field or regional variability. Within-field variability focuses on a single field. Between-field variability considers each field as a unit on a map. We need to consider what kind of
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variability is involved when we consider PA for small farms. On a single small farm, the farmer can understand fairly well what is going on in each field. This makes possible variable-rate applications to meet site-specific requirements, using the farmers knowledge and skills. Even in such situations, PA can provide a scientific basis for management. When it comes to an area of a few dozen hectares, containing many small fields, PA has to coordinate diverse types of land use and many farmers with different motivations. Regional PA must manage a hierarchy of variability both within-field, and betweenfields. High-tech approaches, such as yield monitors with GPS, are available for regional PA that can cover many small farms. Moreover, measures to conserve or improve the environment should be undertaken on a similar scale. PA, though in many cases a proven technology is still mostly restricted to developed (American and European) countries. The need for spatial information is actually greater in India and a large body of spatial information already exists, and much of it freely available. However, the challenge lies in overcoming issues of scale and uncertainty, and finding meaningful ways of delivering this information to farmers. Lower cost of labour may in fact enable India to obtain spatial knowledge at a lower cost than in developed countries. One of the main reasons of limitations for implementation of PA in India is the mind set of technocrats and bureaucrats who believe that PA technologies work only for large scale farms. When we consider contiguous field with same crop (mostly under similar management practices), the field (rather simulated field) sizes are large. These contiguous fields can be considered as a single field for the purpose of implementation of PA.

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Priorities of PA: 1. High value crops such as fruit, vegetable and commercial crops 2. Precision management of nutrients, water and pesticides in irrigated agriculture and 3. Forecasting incidence of pests and their management in crops such as paddy, cotton, vegetable and fruit crops, where huge quantities of pesticides are used. PA in its real sense is still to emerge in India, and hence there are numerous opportunities for its development and adoption. There is a hope that Indian farmers, with guidance from the public, private, and cooperative sectors, and not for profit organizations, will adopt it for raising yields and economic returns on fields with significant variability, and for minimizing environmental degradation. Effective coordination among these sectors and farmers is therefore, essential for implementing PA strategies to achieve fruitful results. Major challenges: The challenges that are to be faced before realizing the real benefits from PA are: (i) bringing about major attitudinal changes in the mindset of people ignorant of PA (ii) developing, customizing, evaluating and demonstrating simple, reliable and robust PA techniques for individual fields in diverse agroclimatic zones (iv) mobilizing financial resources for R & D in PA. Policy framework: To meet the above challenges and to achieve the desired end results, a road map is proposed that includes the following (i) Developing and implementing meaningful awareness programmes on PA aimed at policy makers, technocrats and farmers (ii) Intensive customized training of National Agricultural Research System (NARS) scientists on PA techniques (iii) Transforming the All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs), National Research centres (NRCs) and Centres of Excellence of ICAR into PA research centres. (iv) Changing research venue of Indian NARS from research
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stations to farmers fields (v) Changing research agenda from conducting field and laboratory experiments to case studies (vi) Development and evaluation of PA practices for providing proof of economic and environmental benefits (vii) Making the interpretation process more automatic, generic and mechanistic (viii) Forging working alliance with reputed national and international institutions (ix) Inclusion of PA in the course curricula of under-graduate and postgraduate programmes of SAUs, and (x) Mobilizing financial resources to sustain the efforts. PA technology looks promising as a future farming tool; however, its effective use in Indian agriculture is yet to be realized.

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