Precision farming in agriculture. Concept of precision farming. Farming with precision.

1. PRECISION FARMING
CONCEPTS, ISSUES & COMPONENTS

2. WHAT IS PRECISION FARMING?
• Precision Farming or Precision Agriculture is a concept of
using the new technologies and collected field information,
doing the right thing, in the right place, at the right time.
Collected information may be used to more precisely
evaluate optimum sowing density, estimate fertilizers and
other input needs, and to more accurately predict crop
yields.
• It helps in avoiding unwanted practices to a crop, regardless
of local soil/climate conditions, i.e., it reduces labour, water,
inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides etc. and assures quality
produce.
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3. PRECISION FARMING
(Definition)
• It is a new method of farming that tailors inputs of fertilizers,
pesticides etc. to match the variation in the growing
conditions with in a field. The practice is known as Site
Specific Management.
• In other words it is “Digital Agriculture” involving very
large scale farm level mapping, comprehensive database
creation on required resources generated through space
based inputs and field observations and making a detailed
plan of work for maximizing the yield and reducing the cost
on inputs using Decision Support System
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Traditional Farming v/s Precision FarmingTraditional Farming v/s Precision Farming
Underlying concept of PF
“doing the right thing, at the right time, in the
right place, in the right way”
What ? When? Where? How to do?

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Tools for Precision Farming
Computers
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Geographic information System (GIS)
Sensors
Application control

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Precision Farming Includes
Land preparation
Inputs (seed, planting material, fertilizer etc.)
Irrigation
Plant protection
Harvesting
Post harvesting
Storage
Transportation (cool chain systems)

7. Components of Precision Farming
1. Crop Characteristics : Stage of crop, crop health, nutrient
requirements etc
2. Detailed soil layer with physical and chemical properties,
depth, texture, nutrient status, salinity and toxicity, soil
temperature, productivity potential etc.
3. Micro-climate data (seasonal and daily) about crop canopy
temperature, wind direction and speed, humidity etc.
4. Surface and sub-surface drainage conditions
5. Irrigation facilities, water availability, and other planning
inputs of interest
• 6. Farm machinery and Equipment equipped with sensors
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8. BENEFITS
• Precision farming not only is potentially
more economical, but it also reduces the
amounts of chemicals released into the
environment.
• Other benefits:
• Improves crop yield & profit
• Provides better information for making
management decision
• Provides more details & useful farm records
• Reduces fertilizer costs
• Reduces pesticide costs
• Reduces pollution
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9. Precision farming Models ensure……
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10. PRECISION FARMING AND ITS OBJECTIVES
• Precision farming aims at improving
crop performance and environmental
quality. Thus, the concepts of PF
include:
– Variation occur in crop or soil properties
within a field.
– These variations are noted and often
mapped.
– Management actions are taken as a
consequence of the spatial variability
within the field
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Variable Rate Application Technology (VRT).

11. NEED FOR PRECISION FARMING
1. Fatigue of Green Revolution
• Poor crop yields
•
2. Natural resources degradation
• Healthy Land and quality water, both
are becoming a limitation to agricultural
productivity
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12. BASIC STEPS IN PRECISION FARMING
1. Assessing variation
2. Managing variation and
3. Evaluation
There are three important issues
regarding precision agriculture
evaluation:
• Economics
• Environment and
• Technology transfer
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13. COMPONENTS OF PRECISION FARMING
• PF has three components:
– Capture of data at an appropriate
scale and frequency
– Interpretation and analysis of the
data and
– Implementation of management
response at an appropriate scale and
time
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14. CRITICAL ISSUES BEFORE ADOPTION OF
PRECISION FARMING
• There are three critical questions those must
be addressed to help determine the potential
for PF to be successfully and profitably
implemented:
– How much do measured soil and crop
characteristic vary?
– How much does the variation affects crop
yield and/or crop quality?
– Can the farmer get enough information and
the right technologies to profitably manage
the variability?
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15. ELEMENTS IN PRECISION FARMING
•PF relies on the interaction of three
broad and fundamental elements to
be successful in its implemented:
•
1. Information
2.Technology
3.Management
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Precision Farming Cycle

17. PRESENT SCENARIO
• Though PF is very much talked about in developed countries,
it is still at a very nascent stage in developing countries,
including India. Space Application Center, ISRO, in
collaboration with Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla
has initiated a study on exploring the role remote sensing for
PF.
• Other Institute in India initiated work on PF are:
– Central Potato Research Station – Jalandhar (Punjab)
Role of remote sensing in mapping the variability w.r.t space
& time
– MS Swaminathan Research Foundation – Chennai in
collaboration with NABARD has adopted a village in
Dindigul district of Tamilnadu for variable rate inputs
application
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18. Tata Kisan Sansars
•Precision farming, an innovative project pioneered by the TKSs,
is helping small farmers harness sophisticated modern
technology, such as satellite mapping and geographical
information systems (GIS), to maximize the yield from their land.
GISs are computerized systems that record, store, analyze and
produce maps and geographic products based on information
obtained from different sources. These help farmers adapt
quickly to changing conditions. The result: healthier crops,
higher yields and enhanced incomes for farmers. Using GIS to
maximize profits
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19. How Extension Scientist help farmers at
Tata Kisan Sansar
• The agronomist at the Sansar uses the analysis of
topography, soils, climate, hydrology, cropping
systems and crop suitability to advise farmers on
which crops to grow, how to manage his crops, when
to sell what (market trends), and which fertilizer to
use where, etc.
• The goal is to maximize the yield from each
farmer's landholding by using inputs as per Site
Specific Requirements of the growing Crops.
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20. System of Rice Intensification
•
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•
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21. System of Rice Intensification
• –
• 5 ../ 0 (25x25 ..) 50 ..
•
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22. TOOLS FOR PRECISION FARMING
1. Remote Sensing
2. Crop Acreage and Production Estimates
3. Forecasting Agricultural Output using
Space, Agrometeorolgy, and Land Based
Observations (FASAL)
4. National Agricultural Drought Assessment
and Management Systems (NADAMS)
5. Geographical Information System
6. Geographical Positioning System : will
provide automated facilities for farm
operations like tillage, planting, fertilizer
applications, pesticide sprays, irrigation,
harvesting etc. DEM may work
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23. MIS-CONCEPTIONS
• Precision agriculture is a cropping rather
than an agricultural concept
• Precision agriculture in cropping equals
yield mapping
• Precision agriculture equals sustainable
agriculture
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24. OBSTACLES
1. Culture and perceptions of the users
2. Small farm size
3. Lack of success stories
4. Heterogeneity of cropping systems and
market imperfections
5. Land ownerships, infrastructure and
institutional constraints
6. Lack of local technical expertise
7. Knowledge and technical gaps
8. Data availability, quality and costs
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25. GETTING STARTED
• PF is not appropriate for every field.
To determine specific field will
benefits from PF, use the following
steps:
– Review current data
– Obtain additional data
– Gather yield data
– Examine results
– Data interpretation
– Management strategy
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26. Soil Doctor® Method
• The Soil Doctor® Method is far more
efficient than the standard, flat rate
practice, as recommended by fertilizer
dealers, extension, and research
scientists who cannot effectively apply
actual "precision", foot-to-foot,
application decisions
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27. CONCLUSION
• In the present time of increasing input costs,
decreasing commodity prices and environmental
concerns, farmers’ and Govt. authorities are looking
for new ways to increase efficiency, cut costs and
subscribe to sustainable agriculture. While PF
technology looks promising as a future farming tool.
• The scope is there for commercial crops grown in
large farms. The adoption of PF in large areas would
require some Govt./public sector interventions in the
initial stage before the full benefit of PF could be
realized. This is so because:
– Investment on equipments is high
– Identification of crop and minimum farm size for
PF to be economically viable.
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28. SCOPE OF PRECISION FARMING
•In cultivation of
•High Value / Commercial /Fruits
/Flowers / Vegetables
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29. Can We Transform Agriculture… ?
•From Productive to Profitable Agriculture
•From Sustainable to Competitive Agriculture
•From Production Driven to Market Driven
•From Localized to Globalized Agriculture
•Yes, Through Precision Farming
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30. 09/30/18 Slide 30
Precision Farming
for
Healthy
Produce, People and Environment

31. 09/30/18
K K Katoch : Director Extension
Education, CSKHPKV, PALAMPUR-
(H.P)
Slide 31