siliconindia | | November 20198isruptive technologies and innovations in applica-tion engineering are fast changing farming prac-tices in India. From preparing the land to sowing, to reaping and mentoring of the crop, everything to-day can be done with the aid of sophisticated tech-nology driven systems. Irrigation also has become highly evolved with sophisticated fluid management systems that are well suited for meeting the challenges of bringing fresh water to the farmer's fields, irrespective of the location, and providing him a complete control over his available water resources.These hi-tech pumps systems are ensuring supply of adequate and timely potable water to farms in the recesses of the country, notwithstanding the challenges such as dif-ficult terrains or steep gradients, fluctuating or inadequate water pressure, water sources with high impurities, high iron and chlorine content and unplanned irrigation leading to water shortage and wastage. On the other hand, precision agricultural technology, such as those used in drones, is aiding farmers to better plan and monitor their crops, to ensure greater productivi-ty. The most remarkable factor about these new-generation farm technologies is that they are completely indigenously engineered and manufactured, hence affordable, widely available and easily serviceable. Need of Hi-Tech Water Management SolutionsWastage of unmonitored irrigation water is the highest cost contributor for the farmer through the crop produc-tion cycle. Further, water shortage and water management challenges are so grave in India that it has led to hundreds of farmer suicides over the past few years. The extent of mismanagement of irrigation resources in India can be gauged from the fact that our famers use 2-4 times more water during a particular food crop cycle as compared to China or Brazil. In fact, the agricultural sector uses up 78 percent of fresh water available in the country, the highest among other sectors. While most farmers depend on rain-water for cultivation, India has among the world's largest areas under non-irrigated (rain-fed) agriculture. The truth is, nearly 65 percent of rainwater in India is not even har-vested and runs-off into the sea.FROM SMART WATER PUMPS TO DRONES: TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING THE INDIAN FARMSBy Alok Kirloskar, Executive Director, Kirloskar BrothersHaving completed his Bachelor degree from the Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Alok has been associated with Kirloskar Brother for 12 years now and is responsible for its international marketing operations. Prior to joining Kirloskar, he worked at Sonasoft Corporation as its Business Development Manager.IN MY OPINIONDAlok Kirloskar, Executive Director
< Page 7 | Page 9 >