A New Revolution in Agriculture: How Drones, Radar, and Sensors Are Shaping the Future of Farming

When a drone flies over crops at a Tesco farm in Lincolnshire, Britain, it is not just taking pictures; it is writing the story of a new revolution in agriculture. According to reports from Business Standard and Bloomberg, technology once used on the battlefield is now being employed on British farms to increase crop yields. This technology is called 'Precision Agriculture.' It is a management strategy that collects and analyzes data on plants and animals to help make farming decisions.

In modern farming, driving a tractor is no longer enough; managing data has become equally essential. According to Wikipedia data, the primary objective of precision agriculture is the efficient use of resources, increased productivity, and making farming economically profitable. Through this technology, a farmer can determine exactly how much fertilizer, water, or pesticide is needed in specific parts of the field. This not only reduces costs but also minimizes environmental damage.

The biggest reason behind this revolution is population growth. During the period from 1900 to 1930, when the mechanization of agriculture took place, one farmer could feed approximately 26 people. Due to the Green Revolution and genetic modifications in the 1960s, this number rose to 156. It is now estimated that the world population will reach 9.6 billion by 2050. To feed this massive population, food production will need to double. With the help of precision farming, it is expected that one farmer will be able to feed 265 people on the same amount of land.

It is interesting to understand how this technology works. A Geographic Information System (GIS) acts as the 'brain' of the operation. Every corner of the field is tracked via Global Positioning System (GPS). Sensors are installed on tractors and other machinery that send data in real-time. This data includes factors such as soil moisture, nitrogen levels, pH values, and chlorophyll content.

The use of drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), in agriculture is increasing rapidly. These drones are equipped with multispectral cameras. These cameras can capture not only red, green, and blue light but also infrared rays. This allows farmers to create a 'Normalized Difference Vegetation Index' (NDVI) map. Through these maps, it can be determined which plants are healthy and which are facing disease or water stress.

Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) is used not only from the sky but also to understand what is happening beneath the ground. This radar sends radio waves into the soil and, through their reflection, creates a map of the soil layers, rocks, or moisture conditions. By moving a radar-equipped cart across the field, farmers can understand the subsurface structure, which is crucial for the development of crop roots.

All this information is used in Variable Rate Technology (VRT). Typically, farmers apply fertilizer uniformly across the entire field, but with VRT, the machine automatically determines exactly how much fertilizer to apply in specific areas. If an area already has sufficient nitrogen, the machine will reduce the fertilizer application there. This method is called 'prescriptive planting,' which is an application of 'big data' in agriculture. Companies like Monsanto and DuPont are using this technology extensively in America.

There are two main approaches to the implementation of precision agriculture: predictive and control. The predictive approach uses soil history and static indicators, whereas the control approach involves continuous data updates via wireless sensor networks and the Internet of Things (IoT). This measures everything from leaf temperature to trunk diameter. All this data is processed by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system, which helps the farmer make optimal decisions.

The development of this technology has occurred at different speeds across the world. It began in the 1980s in America, when researchers at the University of Minnesota started varying lime inputs in fields. Today, America, Canada, and Australia are leaders in this field. In Europe, Britain and France are also moving forward in this direction. Countries like Argentina and Brazil have also promoted this technology through government institutions.

For a country like India, this technology could prove to be very important. However, for precision agriculture to be adopted, it must seem useful and simple to farmers. Figures showing economic benefits are not enough; winning the trust of the farmers is also necessary. As the costs of sensors and drones decrease, small farmers will also be able to take advantage of this technology. In the future, farming will not just be a task of sweating, but will become a high-tech process driven by the synergy of science and data.