Precision farming: concept and application in Indian context

Precision farming (PF) is one of the modern eco-friendly technologies which offer opportunities to optimize yields and profits and reduce pressure on natural resources, thereby leading to total quality management under heterogeneous and complex Indian farming systems. This technology is based upon blending the best of farmer's local field knowledge with developments in geographic Information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing and the information technology. The success of the Precision Farming system relies on the integration of these technologies into a single system that can be operated at farm level with sustainable effort. It differs from conventional farming, which is based on uniform treatments across a field. The management of variability lies at the heart of precision farming. The technology may be relatively new to India, but the concept of precision management is not. Indian farmers have long known that soil conditions, fertility, moisture, etc. vary widely across a single field and that various parts within fields responded to different types of inputs and cultural practices. PF technology which has very well come up in developed countries may not be adopted as such in Indian farming systems due to its varying socio -economic condition from that of developed countries. Its relevance and adaptability in Indian agriculture is still a question mark? The relevance and constraints of adaptability of PF in Indian condition, present status and opportunities for its adoption/in Indian agriculture is reviewed and the opportunities and possible strategy for its adoption in Indian agriculture is discussed in this paper.