Digital Agriculture
•How Technology Impacts the Golden Future of Bangladeshi Farmers:
Agriculture is the key driver of the economy of Bangladesh. The livelihoods, food security, and economic progress of Bangladeshi people depend highly on agriculture. However, more often, the farmers suffer from some climate change-related issues, pest and disease outbreak, lack of modern agricultural information, and weaknesses in the market system. Here, the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can bring in a new dimension in the agriculture. The digital agriculture not only increases production but also plays a significant role by improving the living standard of the farmers.
Digital agriculture refers to the use of data analytics and information technology in the farm stage of agriculture. This way, farmers can obtain timely and useful information regarding the use of better seeds, usage of proper fertilizers, use of pesticides, weather data, diseases in the crop, and prices in the marketplace. Agriculture can be more efficient, precise, and profitable if smartphones, sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite imaging, etc., are used, along with software and mobile apps.
The Use of Technology in Agriculture
The technological use in agriculture has many dimensions in terms of its advantages. A few of these are elaborated below:
•Improved crop management
The farmers can monitor the growth of the crop, check the status of the soil, and determine how many nutrients are required. Sensors, together with drones, can measure vital items such as soil temperature, moistness, and nutrient lack. Farmers can conclude whether, where, and in what amount of the pesticide or the fertilizer should be used, based on such evaluation. This not just reduces the production cost but also restricts the detrimental impact upon nature.
•Disease and Pest Identification, Management
Pests or diseases in the crop are a matter of concern for farmers. Diseases or pests, if not identified timely, can lead to a huge loss in the crop. With mobile apps and image identification software, a farmer can take a photo of the crop and identify diseases or pest attacks. The app can also provide solution and suggestion in terms of pest control spray or pest management methods. It helps the farmer take action in time, thus averting crop loss.
•Timely Guidance and Information
The farmers lack timely information regarding new implements and procedures in modern farming. Agri-tech mobile apps and digital platforms can be a readily available source of information for farmers. The digital platform delivers in-depth information supported by video tutorials in seed selection, farm working procedures, guidelines for the use of fertilizers, disease management, pest management, and post-harvest management. The farmers can even engage in direct interaction with seasoned agronomists in a bid to get issues addressed.
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•Weather Forecasting and Risk Management
Weather forecasting is an important part of farming. Untimely storms, floods, or droughts can result in tremendous crop loss. Farmers are given regular weather forecasts by digital agriculture platforms. It assists farmers in planning ahead in order to save their crops as well as manage possible risks.
•Market Connectivity and Fair Prices
Most of the farmers are not getting fair prices for their produce because of the control by middlemen. The digital platform can connect the farmers with buyers in a direct manner. The farmers are able to sell the produce and receive fair prices through online platforms and mobile applications.
The BARD Initiative: Changing Bangladesh
Technology can bring a huge revolution in Bangladesh’s agriculture, eliminating long-standing problems and opening up vast economic possibilities for the nation. Through the application of diverse technological innovations, agriculture can be elevated to a new level of efficiency, productivity, and sustainability, serving the benefit of crores of individuals who are dependent on it for livelihood.
Precision agriculture is one of the most critical areas where technology can have a huge impact. Utilization of IoT devices and sensors for real-time monitoring of soil conditions allows farmers to optimally control irrigation and fertilizer supply, reducing wastage and cost. Accurate delivery of inputs using drones and GPS-enabled systems also improves efficiency and environmental sustainability. New practices like bed planting also optimize the utilization of resources, offering water and tillage savings along with potential yield enhancement.
Besides resources, technology also allows for better crop and animal management. Image recognition-enabled mobile applications can easily recognize diseases, as well as parasites, in a timely manner. Using their sensors, livestock can be health-monitored, detecting diseases early enough. Feeding and mating schedules can be automated through data analysis, for maximum livestock production.
Information sharing and knowledge are important for agricultural development. Best management practices, protection of crops, disease management, and marketplace information are distributed across the country by online websites and mobile apps. The extension officials are maintained in close relation with farmers by digital interfaces, thus resulting in quicker access to specialist guidance. The digital interfaces also relieve the farmers from the problem of crop loss by furnishing real-time weather reports.
Technology also streamlines supply chains and enhances linkages in the marketplace. The marketplace can connect farmers with buyers, more equitably. Traceability, enabled by digital systems, can ensure better quality, enhancing access by more value-based markets. Efficient logistics, enabled by digital systems, can eliminate post-harvest losses.
Mechanization and automation of farms provide another source of transformative change. Tractors, harvesters, and other equipment can accelerate activities in the fields, optimize efficiency, reduce labor requirements, and boost productivity. Autonomous equipment has future promise for activities such as plantings and pest management, even if in the infancy of development for smallholders.
Technology can also enhance financial inclusion in the agricultural sector. Electronic payment systems allow for more efficient, convenient, and secure payments. Technology also helps in creditworthiness assessment, thus helping farmers gain access to credit, credit services, and financial services.
The wider adoption of technology in Bangladeshi agriculture should bring tremendous economic rewards. The growth in productivity, as well as yields, should lead to a rise in total agricultural production, leading to food security, as well as reduced dependence on imports. Rural poverty should be reduced through higher farm incomes. The agri-tech industry should also create new jobs, diversify rural economies. Waste, as well as inefficiency, should be reduced, enhancing sustainability. Access to higher value markets, as well as exports, should be enhanced. Innovation, as well as entrepreneurship, in the agri-tech industry should be encouraged, while total GDP growth should be boosted.
However, addressing issues such as the digital divide, exorbitant up-front investment costs, infrastructural limitations, shortages in skills, potential displacement of jobs, and data security is crucial in bringing in equitable, prosperous technology progress in Bangladesh’s agriculture. There has to be collective initiative from varied stakeholders in unleashing technology’s full transformational power in this extremely crucial industry.
Digital Agriculture for Bangladeshi Farmers
There are a large number of Bangladeshi farmers who are backward in terms of technology. The most likely reasons for this are:
•Low digital literacy
Most farmers are not adequately knowledgeable in terms of operating smartphones or computers.
•Poor Internet Connectivity:
Internet connectivity with speed has not yet been achieved in most parts of the country’s rural belt. Financial Limitations: The vast majority of farmers are financially unable to afford smartphones or any other gadget. Technology Resistance: The aging farm owners are averse to embracing new technology. Nevertheless, irrespective of these challenges, digital farm potential in Bangladesh is immense.
There are several ways by which adoption of technology can be fostered in the country’s farmers:
•Awareness Creation and Training:
Farmers are made aware of the advantages of digital agriculture. Farmers are given regular training in the usage of smartphones and agriculture apps.
•Accessible Localized Apps:
The apps used by farmers with user-friendly interfaces in local languages should be designed.
•Government Subsidies and Programs:
The government can provide farmers with a subsidy in the purchase of smartphones as well as technical tools. Investment should also be made in increasing the internet connectivity in rural areas.
Agriculture extension officers can also assume an important role by reaching farmers, getting across the idea of digital agriculture, and convincing farmers to adopt technology.
•Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs):
NGOs can facilitate the promotion of digital agriculture by organizing training and technical support programs for farmers.
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The economic impact of digital agriculture
The development of digital agriculture in Bangladesh can contribute towards the country’s economy in numerous ways:
•Improved Productivity
Production, as well as crop quality, will get better due to efficient use of technology. This improves the country’s food security and farm incomes.
•Reduced Costs
The production cost can be reduced by conserving water, pesticides, and fertilizers.
•Less Waste
Reduced waste can be realized through optimal crop management and in a timely fashion.
•Creation of new jobs
There would be jobs in the agri-tech industry and allied services.
•Earn a Foreign Currency
Foreign currencies are earned by generating and selling good crop yields.
•Rural economy growth
Farmers would have more funds if more money were in their hands.
‘Fosholer Chikitsha’ (Crop Treatment): A New Era of Digital Agriculture:
For this, a mobile application, ‘Fosholer Chikitsha’ (Crop Treatment), has also enabled the ambit of digital agriculture among Bangladeshi farmers. According to available details in the Facebook post, the app has been designed keeping in consideration the future vision of cultivation and has been downloaded by more than 13,000 users already. The app is equally doing a good job by presenting the latest solutions for the preservation of crop and disease treatment.
•The advantages of the “Fosholer Chikitsha”
The article lists some of the key advantages of the ‘Fosholer Chikitsha’ app:
•Quick disease and pest control solutions
Farmers can easily recognize disease and pest problems in their produce from their residences and get efficient solutions. This saves farmers time and money, which would go into transport costs or trips to farm offices or farm produce outlets.
•Timely Advice
The system keeps farmers efficient through timely advice. Proper instructions are given for when to use what fertilizer, when they should irrigate, and when or during which season they should harvest.
•Free and Accessible
The fact that it is free to download from the Google Play Store also makes it accessible across the country. The app can be used by anyone who has a smartphone.
•Future new feature
We are told the future new feature of the app can assist in giving proper advice in treating and diagnosing crop diseases through analyzing images. The feature would be more useful for farmers as it is generally difficult to accurately describe the signs of a disease or pest. If the app can identify the problem through analyzing a photo, it would be more convenient for farmers in getting prompt, accurate solutions.
The Developers of the ‘Fosholer Chikitsha’
Deputy Assistant Officer Md. Dula Mia has guided the development of this software, required by the country, while Md. Abdullah Al Maruf, a student of CSE in DIU, Al Hasan Sony, a B. Sc in EEE, Mymensingh Engineering College, are also a part of developing team. Besides, it was conducted under the overall guidance of Professor Dr. Syed Akhter Hossain, Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology, DIU, and co-supervision of Professor Dr. M. A. Rahim, Head, Agriculture Department.
This fact suggests that the ‘Fosholer Chikitsha’ app is a joint effort by agriculturists, technologists, and universities. This guarantees correct integration of agricultural information as well as use of contemporary technology in the app.
Operation, Goals, and Features of the ‘Fosholer Chikitsha’ App
The ‘Fosholer Chikitsha‘ app is essentially a web app intended for use by Bangladeshi farmers in management of crop diseases, crop pests, as well as in addressing other issues.
Operation
The app probably functions in the following manners:
•Disease and pest identification
Farmers can share images of the infected crop fields or describe the diseases’ symptoms. The app, relying on this, identifies the likely disease or pest name and suggests treatment.
•Offering Guidance:
The application may contain comprehensive information on the cultivation practices of different crops, guidelines on the application of fertilizers, pesticide application guidelines, and post-harvest handling.
•Interacting with Agriculture Experts:
The farmers can also interact with agriculture experts through the app for obtaining responses in their respective cases. It can include a module showing the local weather forecast, which would aid the farmers in planning farm operations.
•Agricultural Information Repository
The software can also be used as a repository of agricultural information in which farmers can easily access helpful information concerning varied crops in addition to agriculture.
Goal
The main objectives of the ‘Fosholer Chikitsha’ app are:
•For diversifying rural agriculture
Providing free consultation regarding diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance of crop diseases in homes. In order to enhance the farmers’ production. For the purpose of encouraging the use of information technology in agriculture. For alleviating the hardships of farmers and improving their living standard.
Specifications
Based on the post and assumed operations, some of the main features of the ‘Fosholer Chikitsha’ app are:
•Simple User Interface
The software has been made in a way so as not to burden farmers of any background with technicalities. Everything in the app would likely be in Bengali, thus it would be easy for the farmers to understand.
•Free downloading and use
The software can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store, and the services in the free version are likely free.
•Immediate Problem Diagnosis and Solution
The farmers can get immediate solutions by explaining or by sharing pictures of the crop problems.
•Timely Agriculture Advice
The app provides the farmers with the correct farm tips at the correct time.
•Future Feature
Image Analysis The future feature would involve the addition of disease diagnosis through the use of image analysis, wherein the disease identification would be made more accurate as well as easier.
•Agricultural Advisory Support
Support of agricultural experts can be made available through the app.
•Agricultural Information Repository
The software most likely contains a repository of vast data concerning varied crop varieties and cultivation.
Conclusion
Such moves as the ‘Fosholer Chikitsha’ app are a gigantic step towards Bangladesh’s development in agriculture. With the use of information technology for farmers’ empowerment and in helping farmers find solutions, digital agriculture can further drive the economic growth of the country. The collaborative role by the government, NGOs, and techpreneurs will be effective in a mission towards the golden future of the farmers in Bangladesh. The ‘Fosholer Chikitsha’ app, in this sense, is a sign towards this golden future, proving that technology can be used for helping the simpler and prosperous life of farmers. It is now the time’s necessity to adopt more of such innovative moves and disseminate it among all the farmers of the country.
Reference
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
BARI Library
Wikipedia
The Financial Express
