Tag: AI

How governments can play a role in uplifting the agriculture ecosystem

The global population is rising at an alarming rate, and producing sufficient food is becoming more challenging each day. Recent advancements in agriculture technology offer a glimmer of hope. Now, the question remains, as Agri-tech evolves, what role will governments play in the future of agriculture?

The global population is rising at an alarming rate, and producing sufficient food is becoming more challenging each day.
Recent advancements in agriculture technology offer a glimmer of hope. Now, the question remains, as Agri-tech evolves, what role will governments play in the future of agriculture?
 
Historically, governments have intervened considerably, mainly to increase efficiency of agricultural production, protect farmers’ incomes and ensure a sufficient and affordable food supply for their populations.
 
Strategies such as tariffs, import duties and quotas, export subsidies, direct payments to farmers and output restrictions are all used as mechanisms to influence the domestic market and control prices. The strategies that a government needs to employ vary based on the needs and objectives of the country.
 
The Food and Agriculture Organization has determined that in under-developed countries, the agricultural sector accounts for the largest share of GDP (ranging from 30-60%), employs a large portion of the labour force (40 – up to 90% in some cases), contributes to a major chunk of foreign exchange (25 – 95% in ¾ of the countries) and supplies the bulk of food for sustenance and income to more than half of the population.
 
Therefore, in order to promote economic growth, reduce poverty and enhance food security the governments of these nations must focus on improving the human and productive capacity of the agriculture sector.

Despite Globalization offering development and growth opportunities and trade liberalisation in recent years, these nations have not benefited and there has been a decline in their exports from 5% to roughly 1%.

Governments need to commit to a comprehensive and long-term plan for the overall development of agriculture. This requires designing, implementing and closely monitoring.

  1. Measures surrounding stable macroeconomic and trade policies to encourage investment in agriculture
  2. Investment in campaigns for rural areas to strengthen human capital through health and education
  3. Establishment of an institutional environment that ensures access to markets, information, set standards and a legal and regulatory framework. This includes adopting a more open culture and providing support to private sector entrants by granting access to government resources such as labs and data, and satellite imagery.
  4. Enabling research and extension programmes to foster development and innovations in agriculture technologies. Targeting efforts towards sustainable agricultural potential e.g. new varieties of seeds (climate and pest resistant), production methods and water management.
  5. Incentivizing private sector initiatives to recapitalize agriculture through robust and productive technologies. Implement policies to aid businesses by providing duty free import of equipment and uniform drone policy
  6. Upgrading transport, communication and market infrastructure to support farmers access and facilitate the agriculture value chain
  7. Develop financing strategies and provisions for access to seasonal and longer-term capital and inputs. Encourage the flow of foreign direct investment to improve productivity and competitiveness
  8. Safeguarding natural resource and environment capacity

Going forward, government bodies must not underestimate the market power of small-scale farmers. While larger farms and production initiatives no doubt have a significant influence on the agricultural sector, it is the smaller players in the market that will pave the way toward long-term sustainability, as the market adopts new and innovative technologies.

How Data is helping transform the Agriculture sector

Technology has pioneered many digital transformations across the world, including e-commerce, healthcare, transportation and more recently agriculture. Rapid developments in data science

Technology has pioneered many digital transformations across the world, including e-commerce, healthcare, transportation and more recently agriculture. Rapid developments in data science and its solutions are propelling the industry forward.
Historically the agricultural sector has relied mostly on traditional farming methods which are more labour and resource intensive. Current innovations through data analytics, the adoption of smart technologies and cloud computing is shifting farming and its management to a more efficient, enhanced yield and productivity-based system ultimately driving higher profitability while consuming fewer resources.

Below are some of the ways that data analytics is causing a shift in the Agricultural sector.

Development of stronger seeds.
Unfavourable climate conditions can lead to poor harvests and a decrease in soil fertility. Using data gathered from previous cycles, scientists have been able to derive seeds that can survive any climate, temperature and soil conditions.

Response to changes in weather patterns:
Presently major parts of the world are under the global threat of climate change,  and the impact on agriculture is one of the most significant. With access to Satellite imagery and accurate forecasts, farmers can be better prepared for unusual or severe weather and navigate shifts in environmental conditions. The predictive capabilities of data give farmers  the ability to maximize on opportunities and conserve their resources.

Identifying and preventing disease:
One of the major risks in farming and agriculture is pest infestations and crop diseases. Under traditional methods,  by the time farmers become aware of such problems it is too late and they risk crop failure. Agriculture technology uses remote sensors  and heat sensing devices to detect early warning signs of plant diseases and through farm management systems can alert farmers to threats based on current and past harvests.
Yield Maximization and increased Productivity:
With analysis of decades of crop data available, farmers can choose the best crop  planting mixes, combinations of soil and fertilizer and leverage  other farming factors that enable maximum crop production in the shortest time possible.