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How Yuktix Helps Farmers do More With Less

An average monthly income per agricultural household during agricultural year 2018-19 is ₹10,218 . Of the total, 39.8 % of income is earned from wages followed by cultivation/net receipt from crop production (37.2 percent), farming of animals (15.5%), and income from non-farm business (6.3%). A study conducted in 2018 determines the cost of cultivation per hectare. For crop management purposes, fertilizers amount for about 15% followed by irrigation charges of 11%. Status of Fertilizers in India: Online data indicates that the consumption of chemical fertilizers has increased by around 16% between 2015-16 & 2020-21 . From about 510 LMT in 2015-16, the consumption increased to 590 LMT as per provisional figures for 2020-21. Excessive fertilizers can cause soil salinity, eutrophication and heavy metal accumulation. They cause environmental and health hazards including water pollution by nitrate leaching. Major parameters for challenges in promoting balanced use of fertilizers inclu

Automatic Detection and Monitoring of Pests

With the advent of heavy rainfall, the world of insects beneath our feet-that had been lying dormant-have the right conditions to emerge. A damp environment provides the perfect breeding conditions for many insects and increases the likelihood of pest infestations. In the agricultural monarchy, detecting pests and crop diseases is strenuous. Traditional pest management methods include regular spray programs based on schedules rather than the presence of pests in the fields, which are difficult, time-consuming, and prone to human error.  With ongoing research, several systems have been designed to improve integrated pest management (IPM), reducing the overall use of pesticides and focusing on more precise applications. Automated trapping devices are equipped with sensors for field data collection and hardware and software components for the transmission of the data to a remote server to store and/or process the information in databases.   How does it work? Real-time data is gathered fro

How can IoT Help in Efficient Use of Agrochemicals?

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After the end of World War I, the United States shifted its industries from the wartime production of chemicals to synthetic agriculturally used pesticide creation. Synthetic pesticides proved cheap and effective in killing insects and gained widespread popularity in a short span of time. Today, over 3.5 billion kilograms of synthetic pesticides are used for the world's agriculture in an over $45 billion industry. The use of pesticides in agricultural fields, however, has disastrous impacts. It degrades and damages the microorganism community living in the soil, particularly when these chemicals are overused. Many agrochemicals are persistent soil contaminants, whose impact may endure for decades and adversely affect soil conservation. Nitrogen fixation, which is required for the growth of plants, is hindered by pesticides in soil. The insecticides DDT, methyl parathion, and pentachlorophenol have been shown to interfere with legume-rhizobium chemical signalling. Reduction of this

How to Grow Residue Free Vegetables Using IoT

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In a world where consumers are becoming more and more aware of what they eat, residue-free vegetables are in high demand. Residues on vegetables and fruits are a result of excessive use of pesticides or fertilisers absorbed by the plant. Residue-free does not strictly mean the absence of pesticide traces but is below the level that has proved harmful when consumed. Excess agrochemicals are not only detrimental to human health, but they also cause long-lasting effects on the environment: Decreased Soil Quality : Soil quality has worsened due to increased application of chemical fertilisers, especially urea, muriate of potash, and single super phosphate (SSP). There are various risks to soil health: soil compaction, acidification, erosion, contamination, salinization, and decline in organic matter, which can affect phosphorus and nitrogen losses to water and air. Kills Soil Microbes : Many pesticides can kill beneficial microorganisms that-break down organic material and aid in plant gro

Decarbonization Agriculture in India: Current State and Way Forward

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India is the third-highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter behind China and the United States. India’s farm sector accounts for 14% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions , preceded by electricity (44%) and the construction sector (18%).  GHG Emissions Caused by the Agriculture Sector in India Indian rice fields and their substantial livestock population are the primary causes of methane release. India has the largest population of bovine animals (cattle and buffalo) at 625 million heads . 54.6 per cent of GHG emissions were due to enteric fermentation and 6.7 per cent from poor manure management. India is the world’s largest rice producer by area, estimated at 44.0 million hectares. This constitutes about 7.5 per cent of GHG emissions.  Current status of Sustainable Agricultural Practices in India Agriculture is an important sector of the Indian economy, contributing about 20% of the national GDP . The changes in climatic events such as temperature, rainfall and atmospheric