THRIVE WITH GREEN

AGRICULTURE: 

THE ROAD TO THE FUTURE                              

WHAT IS AGRICULTURE AND WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO OFFER?

The word “Agriculture” was coined from two Latin words, “Ager’’ (meaning field) and ‘’cultura’’ (meaning cultivation or growing). Although agriculture covers many areas,  farming and husbandry are major aspects of agriculture. Agriculture is the cultivation of the land or soil and the rearing of animals to provide food and other produce.  I’ll say that the most interesting part of agriculture is that it is the most human-dependent field. Agriculture is a field that is needed by all. The positive effects range from the provision of varieties of food to the provision of raw materials needed to live a normal life. Agriculture is the backbone of Agro-based industries as it is a field known to produce most of the raw materials used. 



TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE

Technology is the application of scientific knowledge to produce machinery and equipment. Agri-tech has greatly evolved from the plowing of land to the use of GPS (Global Positioning System). The use of technology in agriculture allows farmers to increase yield while using fewer resources. Precision farming is now widely acknowledged in the agricultural industry. It aids the collection of data and the efficient analysis of that data to get the best potential outcome. Although not new, this subject is quickly becoming the center of agriculture. 


IS AGRI-TECH THE ROAD TO THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE?

With the ever-growing population in the world, the estimated population by 2050 is 10 billion. Several parts of the world are currently battling food insecurity. The primitive method of farming has various negative effects on the ecosystem. Several efforts are going into sustainable agriculture to make sure that these effects don't go beyond the planetary boundaries and that there is enough to serve the generation now and generations to come.   

How do we go forward? The only answer to this is technology. If what is being produced now cannot cater to the 8 billion population in the world, It means we need something more than the regular way of farming. Techniques like vertical farming, soilless farming; Hydroponics (planting in water), and aeroponics (planting in the air) cannot be overlooked.

Agriculture is known to play a huge role in the reduction of unemployment as farmers don't necessarily need to be literate. If the future of agriculture is Agri-Tech, does it mean the tables are about to turn? The future of agriculture is agricultural technology which will require expertise. I recently took a course on how to fly drones. I got many questions like “I thought you were interested in agriculture and food security?” My reply every time was “Technology is the new agriculture.” I recently found a job opening as an agricultural data analyst. It was at that point I fully realized the road to the future of agriculture is TECHNOLOGY. You had better hop on the ride.

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