Agronomy: Around the world of AI
Asia
Asia in Numbers: Key Facts About the Continent
More than 50% of the world's population (4,778,004,486 people as of 2023) resides on this continent. Asia represents 1/5 of the world's agricultural land.
For our first stop, we're heading to India, specifically to the state of Karnataka, to explore KisanRaja, a start-up specializing in the use of IoT (Internet of Things) and Machine Learning (ML) in agriculture, particularly in irrigation system management (AI for optimizing irrigation, India AI, 2018). This system, based on IoT and analytical and conversational algorithms, allows for precise management of water supply for irrigation while protecting pumping equipment.
The system consists of wireless valve controllers and a cellular module (for remote communication and system management). It uses data analysis and ML for water resource management. The system also includes a voice control module that supports various local dialects.
Figure 5 – The KisanRaja set up once installed.
Source: Meet the Man Whose ‘KisanRaja’ Smart Irrigation Device Helps Over 34,200 Farmers! Angarika Gogoi.
Let's now turn our attention to Thailand, specifically to Ban Mai. There, farmers are beginning to replace their Bubalus bubalis (water buffaloes) with drones. Since the 2020s, the Thai government has implemented a modernization program in the agricultural sector.
Figure 6 – Farmers Manit Boonkhiew and Sayan Thongthep set up an agriculture drone in a rice farm in Ban Yai, Thailand. February 28, 2022. Thomson Reuters Foundation/Rina Chandran.
Source: Asian farmers turn to drones, apps for labour, climate challenges. Rina Chandran, Thomson Reuters Foundation, March 8, 2022.
This modernization began in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to a labor shortage due to restrictions on worker movement. In response, a consortium of companies developed drones capable of sowing fields, spreading fertilizer, and spraying herbicides.t (Asian farmers turn to drones, apps for labour, climate challenges. Rina Chandran, Thomson Reuters Foundation, March 8, 2022).
Figure 7 – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based Spraying system being used in (a) Paddy field (b) Tea crop and (c) Banana trees.
Source: Hafeez A. & al. Implementation of drone technology for farm monitoring & pesticide spraying: A review, Information Processing in Agriculture, Volume 10, Issue 2, June 2023, Pages 192-203.
Beyond considerations of profitability (whether purchasing or renting drones, with or without pilots), the use of drones also allows for safer handling of chemical products.
Next destination: Oceania