Rising uncertainties necessitate that India should accelerate toward precision agriculture

The rapid adoption of advanced technologies can drive the change when farmers will utilise scientific data and technology to improve crop yields

- Amith Agarwal

The highlights of the first half of this year would include several adverse weather patterns in India. Temperatures soared as early as March, and India soon experienced its hottest summer in 122 years. However, a dry and hot March meant an adverse impact on the summer crops and wheat harvest. Consequently, wheat production dropped by 3.8 million tonnes this year. Again, recent developments suggest293 of 703 districts in the country have experienced less than average monsoon, with 57 districts facing a major shortfall.

Adverse weather events are not exclusive to India. For example, the 2021 summer was one of the hottest in Europe. However, agriculture in the west is highly mechanized and better prepared. As India is a manual, fragmented, and massive agrarian economy, any uncertainty can potentially impact the entire agri-ecosystem. Furthermore, climatic uncertainties are not the only one that is emerging. The Indian agricultural sector must also navigate global factors, public health crises, and economic challenges. All these uncertainties make it essential for us to transition to precision agriculture at a rapid pace.