Introduction to the Importance of Technology in Agriculture
Technology in agriculture has played significant roles in agriculture over the years, helping in the construction and fabrication of modern machines and implements used in the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals.
Scientists and technologists have spent the past 50 years researching and developing modern techniques to aid better crop production.
Although conventional farm machines and implements have reasonable progress, they are hindered by some technical limitations.
However, modern technology in agriculture has helped to develop and deploy efficient and effective farm machines, implements, and tools that will increase the production of better-quality crops and animals.
Technology has also assisted in designing various tools and apparatus used in the laboratory for various plant and animal analyses, tools for servicing and repairing farm machines, farm implements and machine parts, plant breeding, and multiplication equipment that will make farming faster and easier.
The use of technology in agriculture promises considerable benefits, however, the problem of traditional tools in agriculture has also aroused widespread public concerns about the future of agriculture.
The uses of traditional farm tools have bread fear over the level of food production in the future, but the advancement in technology has made food production easier and faster. Even in developing nations, there is wide use of modern technology in their small farm holding.
Although there has been a public outcry over the danger posed by these modern technologies in agriculture such as environmental danger, ethical beliefs about the use of technology in crop and animal production, and over-dependence on the electric power supply and energy, the roles of technology far outweigh the significant danger posed.
Technologists have manufactured various equipment and implements that are environmental, energy, user, and gender friendly.
Food production across the globe could probably meet the zero hunger encapsulated in the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) or sustainable development goals (SDGs) Without breakthroughs in agricultural technology.
Technology in agriculture is a major tool in the fight against hunger and poverty, across the globe. It may deliver solutions where traditional or crude farm implements have failed to produce sustainable food, and it could greatly assist in the cultivation and nurturing of crops in areas where crop production is nearly impossible to boost food sufficiency.
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Importance of Technology in Agriculture
Technology has played a significant role in modern agriculture in the 21st century. Resulting in promising outcomes in the production of various farm machines, implements, apparatus, and equipment to aid food production.
From land survey equipment to processing and marketing, technology has exceeded expectations.
The applications of technology to agriculture have made small farmholders reduce their reliance on ancient and traditional farm tools. Dependent on low-cost farm inputs that are harmful to the environment and human health.
Besides, it is essential to mention some of the importance of technology in agriculture are discussed below.
Construction of Irrigation and Drainage Facilities
Technology has brought about significant improvements in irrigation facilities, helping supplement water shortage, and boost crop growth and development.
Various irrigation methods such as surface irrigation, sprinkler irrigation (using various rotating sprinkler heads or spray nozzles or single gun sprinklers), and drip irrigation have been effectively designed to increase food production in agriculture.
To cater to crops’ water needs, dams have been constructed across many countries. technologists have also designed mini-irrigation facilities to convey water from a pumping station, or other water sources such as a reservoir or a river, into the irrigation system for watering crops (Food and Agricultural Organisation).
This technology is available at modern and subsistence farm levels to help farmers convey water from the main water source or pumping station up to the field ditches for watering crops.
In the developed country, commercial farmers use helicopters to irrigate cultivated farmland. In the Sahara and sub-Saharan regions, technology has made it possible to cultivate crops by constructing various irrigation facilities.
Additionally; technology has led to the development of drainage facilities such as open drain deep drains or underground pipes to remove excess groundwater from the soil, making it easier for farmers to cultivate their land and increase food production possible.
Modern irrigation facilities are effectively controlled to minimize water loss and ensure that the required amount of water supplied for crop growth and productivity has been developed. All this highlights the importance of technology in agriculture.
Design of Science and Laboratory Apparatus for Soil and Crop Analysis
Various instruments such as magnetic stirrers, hot plates, bunsen burners, precision balances, test kits, test tubes, eye Google, pH meters, water baths, lab coats, incubators, microscopes, and more, are designed by technology and are used in the laboratory to conduct soil and food analysis.
This instrument and apparatus have enabled scientists to conduct various experiments to determine the nutrient level of the soil and food, test soil pH, and identify the presence of certain diseases in farm animals.
Technology has been instrumental in constructing these useful instruments to boost productivity in agriculture.
The invention of Modern Farm Machines
Technology has contributed significantly advancement of farm machinery such as tractors, and coupled implements like ploughs, harrows, ridgers, planters, harvesters, incubators, driers, and more. these farm machines have made farming easier and faster.
Additionally, Modern agricultural robots have been designed to take over some farming operations that could be unhealthy to humans, thereby replacing labour.
Advancements in technology have not only made farming pleasurable and enjoyable. Furthermore, the design of modern farm machines that are environmentally friendly has addressed the environmentalists’ about traditional farm machine emissions of harmful gasses emitted into the atmosphere, which could cause pollution and global warming.
Technology has designed gender-based, low-budget, and portable farm machines to increase aid food production.
These farm machines were designed to address the issues arising from the uses of conventional farm machines that are not gender friendly, expensive, and so on.
The use of hand-operated tractors and some other farm machines that are currently available to small farmholders in sub-Saharan Africa have demonstrated the importance of technology in agriculture.
The uses of these advanced technologies have made the production of large quantities of food possible.
Construction of Efficient Storage Facilities and Processing Facilities
The importance of technology in agriculture is evident in the presence of advanced processing machines.
Processing facilities such as hammer mills, batch mixers, and food additive mixers, continuous have made food processing possible.
The presence of these processing farms has reduced food wastage and increased food sufficiency.
In developing countries, low-budget farm processing machines allow small-scale farmers to process crops, and animals in a form that can easily be packaged and attract consumers.
More so, storage facilities that can fit into different production systems have been designed to prevent food damage.
Technology has helped to design mobile storage facilities, portable storage containers and bins, portable silos, cooling vans, and refrigerators of various capacities to prevent food damage.
These technologically designed storage facilities have enabled farmers to store crops till the next planting season, prevent pests and disease infestation, and store farm produce till the off-season when the price of agricultural commodities is high which helps farmers increase profit.
Improved Farm Management System
Advancement technology has helped to improve farm management. Planning, control, directing, and organization are possible with the presence of data-collecting devices.
The presence of technological data collecting devices such as satellite imaging and drones has become incredible instruments for collecting data on the agricultural industry to make accurate decisions concerning what to produce, how, and when to produce.
The use of drones in decision-making has improved accurate information needed for informed decisions on the farm has erased the need for guesswork and assisted farmers in becoming more efficient, and effective in decision-making.
This powerful technology consists of sensors and cameras used for collecting aerial imagery on the performance of crops on the field, it can also be used to examine the state of crops and animals on a farm.
Drone can be used to effectively monitor and detect the presence of disease, pests, unauthorized movement, and nutrient deficiency on the farm by foliar method.
they can help to provide useful information on livestock management, crop spraying, and irrigation mapping.
Drones are now becoming instruments for effective farm management owing to their quick intervention and preventive measures.
The Invention of Renewable Energy or Climate-friendly Facilities
The invention of renewable energy or climate-friendly facilities are important technology in agriculture. With the help of technology, an array of renewable energy facilities has been designed to promote sustainable agriculture.
These technologies can have the ability to replenish themselves after use and have reduced the use of most agricultural machinery that runs on fossil fuels.
Such machinery emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and contributes to climate change.
This Technology-based energy solution, therefore can breathe life into the already damaged environment.
in Nigeria and other West African countries where electricity is a major problem small and major farmers have resorted to renewable energy in their farming activities which has helped them to make profits.
Solar energy is one of the most climate-friendly facilities that are most used in agriculture, and it is used to operate farm machinery, provide electricity, and play music on the farmstead. Other climate-friendly facilities are solar thermal energy and wind turbines which are used to pump water for irrigation of crops.
The use of renewable energy in farming activities has made the environment more sustainable and helps to trap energy for future uses on the farm.
Production of Meteorology and Climatology Facilities
Technology in agriculture has helped to produce various Meteorologists and Climatology Facilities.
These facilities have helped weather experts forecast, and record the atmospheric weather conditions of the atmosphere, and report to farmers to make accurate decisions on crop production.
Weather instruments such as hygrometers, anemometers, barometers, rain gauges, thermometers, and lightning detectors, as well as meteorological instruments, are used to collect accurate data. Technology instruments such as sensors, drones, and satellite imagery, are designed to help climatologists and meteorologists collect accurate data on the weather.
These instruments will enable the weather to collect data about the weather conditions of the atmosphere and provide useful information to farmers to enable them to cultivate their crops.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) has helped meteorology to provide accurate location, time, and information about weather conditions.
Construction of Land Survey and Precision Farming Instruments
The importance of technology in agriculture is becoming increasingly significant as the industry is shifting from subsistence to modern farming and smart agriculture.
Technology has provided more precision farming equipment used in land surveys and other farming activities.
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has allowed land surveyors to obtain accurate measurements. Additionally, Other farm survey equipment like a compass, theodore, ranging pole, and Gunter’s chain can be effective with the aid of GPS precision.
Furthermore, technology has helped in the design of precision farm machines such as tractors, drones, sensors, incubators, and farm gates or fences.
Precision sensor devices have been integrated into farm machines and structures in the farmsteads to help set and detect a particular range needed to perform a particular operation.
For example, many precision incubators are capable of detecting high and low temperatures or, give a signal or trip-off when certain dangers are detected by the instrument itself. As of today, doors, gates, sprayers, and farm machines work with precision to minimize the wastage of resources.
Construction of Better Weed Control Facilities
About three decades ago weeding in Africa and most developing countries of the world are done with the use of simple farm tools such as cutlasses, hoes, shovels, and marchets, making farms very unattractive and drudgery.
However, technology has made a significant improvement in the manufacturing and fabricating of machines that will enable farmers to weed their farms effectively.
Various types of knapsacks such as back mounted, portable hand knapsacks, and mechanically operated knapsacks are available to make Weed effective.
Development of Mobile Application Software
The advancement in technology brought about the development of mobile facilities and software that allow farmers to have access to market information.
These mobile app and software is a breakthrough in the agricultural sector.
In rural areas of developing countries where agriculture is practiced amidst poor road networks. The use of mobile facilities, and apps has enabled farms to determine the price of their agricultural products.
This has helped farmers avoid exploitation by the middlemen and retailers who take advantage of the remote dwellers and exploit them.
Farmers in rural areas can now call their friends or relatives in the urban market to know the price of certain commodities and decide whether to sell their products in that area.
In West Africa, particularly Nigeria, the use of mobile facilities and apps has helped to stabilize the price of certain agricultural commodities across the country.
The introduction of e-commerce in agriculture has enabled farmer to sell their commodities directly by utilizing social media platforms.
Farm Equipment Maintenance Technology
To combat food insecurity and aid food production, the maintenance of farm machines and equipment is not optional.
The cost of purchasing farm machines is very high, it has become even more essential that they are effectively maintained to ensure their longevity.
Fortunately, with the advancement in technology, we now have inbuilt advanced car GPS that is capable of providing information on the fuel level, engine speed, fault detector, and maintenance update of farm machines and equipment,(Wreglesworth, 2021).
This technology can be beneficial to farm managers as it allows them to effectively use farm machines and equipment, to avoid unexpected damage or breakdowns, reduce frequent visits to workshops for repair, and maintenance, and ultimately save money.
Construction of Better Roads and Farm Buildings
Technology has played a significant role in building accessible roads to connect rural areas and urban settlements.
This road has made it easier for farmers to transport agricultural produce from farms to markets.
In addition to connecting farmers to the market, technology has helped build roads that link rural villages and bridges that link river lines, making it easier to move timber and other forest products.
Moreover, technology has made it possible to construct farm buildings and structures for the repair, production, and servicing of farm machines.
Today, the agricultural industries benefit from many automated farm structures, which are made possible by agricultural technology.
Summary
The importance of technology in agriculture in the 21st century has helped farmers boost food production and reduce over-dependence on local farm tools which have not yielded good results.
Some of the importance of technology in agriculture are:
- It has helped to design better irrigation and drainage facilities to help improve crop production
- Technology in agriculture has helped to design many science and laboratory apparatus/ equipment for soil and crop analysis.
- It has helped to design modern farm Machines and implements that will reduce drudgery in farming and increase the cultivation of a large expanse of agricultural land.
- Technology in agriculture has helped in the construction of efficient storage facilities and processing facilities.
- It has designed data-collecting facilities that will help to improve the farm management system.
- Agricultural technology has helped to invent renewable energy /climate-friendly facilities that will help to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- Technology in agriculture has produced meteorology and climatology facilities that will help forecast the day-to-day conditions of the weather and make information available to farmers to avert uncertainty in farming.
- Agricultural technology has helped to design land surveys and precision farming instruments for better boundary demarcation and survey activities.
- Technology in agriculture has helped to design weed control facilities that will improve effective weed management on the farm.
- Technology in agriculture has helped in the development of mobile application software for the dissemination of market information.
- It has helped to produce inbuilt farm equipment maintenance technology software that will provide information on the fuel level, engine speed, fault detector, and maintenance update of farm machines and equipment.
- Agricultural Technology has helped in the construction of better roads, bridges, and farm buildings that will help link the rural area to the urban as well as the construction of farm machines and equipment sheds.
In Conclusion
The effective use of technology in agriculture is crucial to achieving sustainable food production in quality and quantities. With the advancement, in technology, farming has become more pleasurable.
This article explores some of the important technologies in agriculture, including the construction of irrigation and drainage facilities, the construction of better roads, bridges, and farm buildings, the construction of wedding facilities, farm equipment maintenance technology, and the development of mobile application software to help disseminate market information.
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