Precision Agriculture: Smart Farming Taken to The Next Level

Abstract

According to the World Bank, 32 percent of food losses in developing countries can be traced back to conventional farming practices. This is largely due to the lack of attention to detail and the overuse of resources. Conventional farming techniques mainly involve the use of crops throughout an area. This method produces unpredictable and excessive waste production. Before the rise of tech in agriculture, it was highly probable that a farmer would produce bountiful harvests. Since there was no way of knowing what caused crop loss, farmers resorted to asking for help. This condition pushed them into debt. Advancements in satellite imagery and big data analytics have helped the agriculture sector overcome uncertainties. A precision agriculture system is an approach to farming that uses various technologies to improve the efficiency and profitability of the operation. This paper aims to introduce the concept of precision agriculture and its various aspects. It also reviews the various challenges that one has to face in order to successfully implement this field of agriculture.