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Space inputs for precision agriculture: scope for proto-type experiments in the diverse Indian agro-ecosystems


Precision Agriculture: Is really needed in India's Context?
Agriculture in India, as we see today, is at the crossroads.
  1. On the one hand there are depletions of ecological foundations of the agro-ecosystems, as reflected in terms of increasing land degradation, depletion of water resources and rising trends of floods, drought and crop pests and diseases. On the other hand, there is imperative socio-economic need to have enhanced productivity per units of land, water and time.


  2. At present, 3 ha of rain fed areas produce cereal grain equivalent to that produced in 1 ha. of irrigated. Out of 142 million ha. Net sown areas, 92 million ha. are under rain-fed agriculture in the county.


  3. From equity point of view, even the record agricultural production of more than 200 Mt is unable to address food security issue. A close to 60 Mt food grains in the storehouses of Food Corporation of India (FCI) is beyond the affordability and access to the poor and marginalized in many pockets of the country.


  4. Globally, there are challenges arising from the Globalization especially the impact of WTO regime on small and marginalized farmers.


  5. Some other unforeseen challenges could be anticipated global warming scenario and its possible impact on diverse agro-ecosystems in terms of alterations in traditional crop belts, micro-level perturbations in hydrologic cycle and more uncertain crop-weather interactions etc.
At this stage, agriculture needs new paradigms to deal with the present situation. The strategy lies in integration of the dynamic information and scientific knowledge into the management of agro-ecosystems, and thereby optimizing the radiation, water and nutrient usages. Agriculture has to transition from high inputs material inputs to the optimum level, through the appropriate use of information, knowledge and strategies for efficient resource usages. In such case, productivity of agricultural may not be the function of the quantum of agricultural input use alone, but will include information, knowledge and efficiency while managing the agricultural practices (Fig.4.1).


Fig.4.1: Precision Agriculture: Phase transitions

With the fragmentations of land holdings and predominance of small and marginal farmers, our agricultural systems are basically dis-aggregated farm families. Fundamentally, Precision Agriculture aims at a dis-aggregated micro-level farm management strategy with intense information inputs addressing the variations of soils, crops, water, chemicals, market access etc. Taking into the present state of Agriculture in the country, Precision Agriculture is absolutely essential in order to address poverty alleviation and food security to a very large cross-section of the population. For example, at present, the average Orissa farmer produces slightly more than one ton of rice per hectare, and keeps little below one tone for his family. But if he can produce four tons, then he has three tons to sell, and more cash in hand. The smaller the farm, the greater the need for a marketable surplus.

Defining Precision Agriculture in Indian Context Taking into account the typical characteristics of Indian Agriculture, the definition of Precision Agriculture, therefore, must encompass the strategy and framework to achieve higher productivity, reduced cost of cultivation by optimization of inputs, and diversified & resilient agricultural systems. All these goals are to be achieved within the typical constraints of India's agro-ecosystems. While the depletion of ecological foundations of farming systems needs to be arrested, the access of information, credit, agricultural inputs and market to the small and marginal farmers are equally crucial. The Precision Agriculture model for must be derive encompassing all these issues, within a broad framework of addressing the negatives of globalization and achieving sustainable agriculture in the long run.

The definition of Precision Agriculture has to be micro-level contextual and should capture the local variabilities, vulnerabilities and dynamisms of agro-ecosystems. For example, Agriculture in Punjab, Haryana & Western UP is characterized by higher productivity (about 4 t/ha), higher use of inputs (irrigation ~ 96%; fertilizer consumption 0.158 t/ha), higher cropping intensities and predominance of medium and large farmers. Sustainability of such agro-ecosystems has been a cause of concern in the recent times. The model for Precision Agriculture for such ecosystems may focus on sustainability through the optimization of agricultural inputs and thereby reduction of cost of cultivation, and cropping system analysis.

Agriculture in Southern part of the country-especially Andhra and Tamilnadu is moderate yield (around 2 t/ha), inputs (irrigation ~ 55%; fertilizer consumption 0.12 t/ha) and cropping system based, with predominance of small and marginal farmers. Precision Agriculture for such system should aim at enhancing the productivity based on in situ soil & water conservation. The Eastern India especially Orissa, though high potential agricultural system is unfortunately characterized by low inputs (irrigation ~ 25%, fertilizer use 0.025 t/ha), low yield (~1.2t/ha) and low cropping intensity, with predominance of marginal and small farmers. A model for Precision Agriculture for Orissa could focus more on poverty alleviation and food security through enhanced productivity and low cost of cultivation. The models for Precision Agriculture in Indian context could therefore be the micro-level and contextual - addressing the empirical issues in the diverse agro-ecosystems of the country. The access and outreach of best practices in Precision Agriculture - as demonstrated by contextual models, to the large cross-sections of the farming community would then help in cultivating the new paradigms in age-old agriculture enterprise in the country.

Precision Agriculture models are not complete, unless the parameters related to empowerment of the farmers; especially small and marginal farmers are integrated. In this context, ISRO has also initiated Gramsat project in Orissa. In the line of JDCP, the Gramsat project aims at empowering the people especially the poor and marginalized, by awareness building and access to information and services. Towards this, a network of one-way video and two-way audio Village Information Kiosks is being developed in the selected blocks of Orissa. The same networks are also planned to facilitate e-governance in the region. Precision Agriculture model should present a synergy that could lead to a holistic mission, focused on agricultural development with the backdrop of present issues and challenges.
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