Agriculture remains the backbone of the Indian economy, but smart and sustainable farming is not exactly our forte. Decades ago, one might have come across a family or two in every village who could accurately predict the weather, irrigation requirements or the crop yield, but that ancient knowledge had slowly died out. However, tech-driven and environmentally sound precision agriculture has taken its place globally, promising maximum productivity, minimum variables risk (read unfavourable weather conditions and fast-falling soil fertility) and minimal environmental impact.
As the name suggests, this new practice requires a scientific approach, meticulous planning and management based on humongous agri data and computerised machinery to give simple farming a futuristic flavour. Add satellite imagery, drones and other IoT (Internet of Things) devices to the mix, and one would witness near-automated agriculture across wired villages. But how affordable will it be for India’s small…