Increasing population means increasing demand for food products. In order to augment food production manyfold, agricultural processes need an overhaul and the first step in that direction is advancement and upgrade of agricultural machinery. According to a report by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the human population on earth will surpass 9 billion by 2025 at a rate of 34 percent. The cost of feeding that population will be close to USD 83 billion per annum. Hence, the way agricultural practices are followed and the kind of agricultural machinery required also need to change for improved output.
While the food demand is increasing, the area of arable land continues to shrink. Hence, it has become more important than ever to produce more with the same land. This is essentially about efficient use of cultivable land resources by using new-age agricultural machinery.
Soil degradation is one of the major challenges faced in farming. It has been found in most cases that removal of weeds turns out to be a harmful exercise for the next crop plantation as it damages the land surface cover and takes away the nutrients.
Hence, new agricultural machineries being made must be able to prevent or minimize the loss of the nutritional qualities of soil. They can also prevent the spread of diseases and pests that can eventually hamper the quality of crops. In the post-harvest process as well, a cautious approach needs to be followed to prevent the deterioration of the fertility of land. Hence, manufacturers of agricultural machinery are focusing on equipping the machinery with better electronic precision which can allow weeds to be removed and grains to be collected. Better precision machinery can ensure that there is no damage done to plantations and the nutrients of the soil are intact.
“The farm sector will grow by at least 3%”. This farm growth will contribute at least “0.5% or a little more” to India’s overall gross domestic product (GDP) growth, helping to stave off a recession,” said Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand recently.
Irrigation is another area of concern wherein water usage needs to be optimized. Moving forward, the agriculture industry is going to impact even the processes that do not directly manage the water usage and hence while designing an agricultural machinery, the manufacturers will have to take onus of reducing water usage while protecting the fertility of cultivated land.
Magazine
.jpg "Innovative Designs, Lasting Impressions")
