AG1.global is all about Agriculture. We are committed to bringing you news about all aspects of farming. We will feature more articles on the future of farming and farm automation. Rapidly changing technology and its impact on our society can be seen everywhere. The smartphone allowed millions of Africans to catapult redundant communications technology in a single generation. Technology is transforming our rural landscapes and AG1.global will keep you in touch with your future.

Drone technology continues evolving and other ‘smart farming’ technology is making farms more efficient. John Deere already pioneered the autonomous tractor in 2008 and that technology is transforming ploughing, planting and harvesting at every other tractor maker. Automation has some drawbacks in Africa, where too many people are already trapped in a poverty and unemployment cycle. Like with smartphones, Africa will decide at its own pace in bridging the technological divide where families will be smartly uplifted out of poverty and where agriculture serves all the constituent parts of its communities. Countries such as India and China are pioneering technologies for smallholder farmers where cost, reliability and supply of parts are crucial dealbreakers.

Africa has a diverse market and one size does not fit all. A good example is the massive demand for strawberries in South Africa, with a sizeable export market. A single strawberry robot harvester has the potential to pick a 25-acre area in 3 days and replace 30 farm workers. Would that be in the interest of the farmer and the community to lay off so many workers? Africa, in most parts, is not suffering labour shortages, so the adaption of any new technology needs to allay any fears of job losses.

The key is to use labour and technology effectively to achieve and earn more from the same plot of land. The diversity of production will help farmers spread the one-crop risk and help train and teach different grow methodologies and procedures. Continual education and training in best agri practices will define the labour markets in the future. Tertiary education, agricultural colleges and institutions will set the bar on technology uptake in the fields. Africa cannot ignore the agri-technology revolution taking place on the planet. The prohibitive entry costs prevent it from gaining popularity, but some technologies are worth paying for; the drone and benefits of droning are just too crucial for African farmers to be ignored.

 

Eye-in-the-sky technology also promotes sustainability and conservation. Patterns of soil erosion are easily detectable, as is the thinning out of indigenous wildlife and trees. Existential threats such as climate change and weather anomalies will be mapped and the data will produce algorithms which will be interpreted by artificial intelligence. There is no escaping automation and technological advances in agriculture. It will depend on the mindset of the rural communities supporting farm labour and the decision-makers in government.  

Disease outbreaks such as foot and mouth should easily be eradicated with a healthy dose of technology. Automation has already breached the affordability levee in Europe and the Americas. Robots are already picking strawberries and tractors are driving themselves with GPS satellite technology. Managerial decisions will always be in the domain of humans, as will the enforcement of rules and procedures safeguarding that automation and new technologies do not harm human life.

The agri-technology revolution will continue unabated. Its success or failure will depend entirely on the human embrace.

AG1.global is all about Agriculture. We aim to create an environment of innovation, satisfaction, and learning.  AG1.global offers youth in agri a digital platform to network, access educational materials, shop online for agri inputs, and explore employment opportunities.  Youth in any industry is the next generation, the next step and the next group of leaders for the future.

Please talk to us to keep these questions alive on the Networking Zone at www.ag1.global or email us at [email protected]. Welcome to a new era in agriculture!