How agricultural technologies can help increase farmer income, farm yield

In the Indian agricultural system, farmers continue to face several challenges like - lack of proper access to market information, updated technologies and their use, proper weather reports, the demand-supply outlook of the agricultural market, soil information, etc. So, when the Narendra Modi Government set the target of doubling farmer income by 2022, it automatically looked set to tackle the above-mentioned problems. Out of these, the right market information and access to the latest technologies can make a world of difference in a farmer's life. 

According to the farming experts, some times what a weather report can do, none of the farming technologies will be able to do while on other occasions, the demand-supply outlook of the market is more important than increasing the yield of a crop. Hence, there is a need for an approach where a farmer is well equipped with advanced technologies and at the same time, is well informed about the agriculture market of India.

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"Today, Indian farmers need a combination of advanced technologies and proper market information where they would be able to know what kind of crops will be high demand when their crops will be ready for shipping in the market. Increasing the yield is important but selling that yield in the market is also important. Some times, a farmer comes across losses because he or she had no idea about the demand-supply ratio of the agricultural market." Chaudhary Pushpendra Singh, President, Kisan Shakti Sangh said.

He added that there is a need for each and every farmer to know their soil health and proper weather report. This also helps a farmer save input cost involved from sowing to reaping. For example, suppose a farmer is planning to irrigate its field and for that he is planning to buy diesel and take other instruments on rent. And after irrigation, rain comes on an immediate day. In such a situation, if the farmer had information about the weather, he would have saved money. Similarly, if a farmer has information about the status of crops available in the government godowns and how much extra is needed in the coming times, then he would be able to asses which crops will be in demand and which is already in abundance.

Asked about the major technologies that would help a farmer increase once yield Pushpendra listed out Laser Land leveler, land leveler, rotavator, etc. However, he said that a farmer should also have soil health card of one's land as it would help them use the correct ratio of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash) and save money from excessive use of fertiliser. Pushpendra also advised farmers to have a mobile app installed on their phones where weather updates are available.

Zee Media, in association with Gulf Oil, has created a unique platform - ZEE Media UP Krishi Manch to bring together all stakeholders in the agriculture value chain to discuss and chart the way forward for this all-important sector of the economy. We are starting the initiative with Uttar Pradesh, a primarily agrarian state, with the launch of UP Krishi Manch in Lucknow.