Explain the technical advancements in agriculture. What are the merits and demerits? | RBI Grade B Phase 1 Preparation - Bank Exams PDF Download

Explain the technical advancements in agriculture. What are the merits and demerits?

A sector that accounts for 20% of our nation's GDP still has its share of difficulties. The most significant issue confronting farmers is climate change, which has drastically altered the country's rainfall patterns. Without the necessary technological know-how, farmers are powerless to preserve their crops. Additionally, there is a pressing need to assist our farmers financially by addressing their fundamental financial difficulties. Though the government has taken the initiative of doubling the farmers' incomes by 2022 seriously, they must take care of the present conditions as well. It is important that farmers have access to information about the available innovations and technologies in their sector, which can tremendously increase their profits. This is where technology can come to rescue!
The Indian agriculture industry is becoming more innovative, inclusive, and resilient owing to technological improvements. With increased digitization, it will be possible to implement sustainable irrigation methods that enhance soil health, precisely forecast weather patterns, cut waste, and close supply-chain gaps. A basic smartphone may be used to perform all of this. These days ultrasound technologies are being used in livestock to check what quality of meat is going in the market. Crop sensors help apply fertilizers in an effective manner, improved mechanization like the use of paddy threshers, drills and solar sprayers can reduce the physically taxing manual labor to a great extent. Many state and central schemes also provide help. However, there are two sides of every coin. Using technology has its own advantages and disadvantages. While it can reduce the efforts, time, and price of and demand of the products, get marketed better through e-commerce and exposure, which decreases the use of water it can also be a costly affair. The overuse or wrong use of machines may lead to environmental damage and not to forget that most of the farmers are illiterate so, helping them with the right education and information can be challenging.