Farming, which was once an activity carried out solely for subsistence, is now a profitable venture. The opportunity inherent in farming not only creates an immense source of wealth for farmers but, also opens up numerous avenues for skilled and unskilled personnel looking for Labouring Jobs.
But as with all business, the world of farming faces challenges that dwindle crop yield expectation, which can deter people from exploring and exploiting the abundance in agriculture.
Consequently, agro scientists, in conjunction with several experts within the agricultural sector, have created and are still creating more methods and strategies to reduce crop disease, increase crop yields, and minimize wastage.
Read on to find out seven practices that can cause a significant increase in farming productivity.
Proper Water Management
Simply spraying crops with water may seem conventional. However, much thought isn’t given to how much water is wasted during the process that could be conserved and used to water more crops.
Using the knowledge of precision farming, farmers can know how much water each plant needs and apply it in the right proportions. For example, a piece of watering equipment called a drip line can supply water in drops that will only touch a plant’s root.
The practice of this helps to save more water hence, reducing the cost of running water.
- Improved Seed Varieties
There’s no denying that the output of a hybrid is always better than local seed varieties. For many years, agro scientists continue to combine different seed traits to create varieties resistant to disease and heat.
Generally, plants grown from improved seed varieties tend to grow faster, attract fewer pests, and require less attention than local seeds.
- Good Storage Facilities
The wastage in crop produce begins from the harvesting stage when farmers use local equipment to harvest their crops. For example, snipping vegetables and fruits off stalks with unsterilized blades will induce an infection.
Furthermore, due to a lack of proper storage systems, the promises of a bountiful harvest can quickly turn sour in a matter of weeks.
Farm establishments with little or no storage facilities can still store their produce by joining cooperative farming societies.
- Co-operative Farming Societies
An organized, registered group of farm establishments has powerful advantages that ordinary farm setups may lack.
First, such a coalition is recognized by the government and can demand better facilities and favorable farming policies. Also, group members can access loans, discounts on implements, machines, etc, that would otherwise be difficult and expensive to acquire from loan sharks and financial institutions.
Second, farmers in a cooperative body can educate one another and share ideas on efficient farming practices.
Third, because of the mutually beneficial nature of such groups, farmers benefit from a network that makes it easy to source seeds during planting and market produce when it’s harvest time.
- Appropriate Preventive Measures
More often than not, factors that cause crop productivity to plummet are foreseeable and preventable. For instance, farmers can lower the chances of a disease outbreak by using improved varieties. Also, farmers can employ the prophylactic strategy of spraying pesticides at intervals during the plants’ life cycle.
Another preventive step that can reduce crop loss and boost agricultural output is the use of selective herbicides.
Using selective herbicides will help kill off weeds that compete with plants for nutrients and attract pests that are dangerous to crops like grasshoppers and aphids.
Other preventive practices may include soil disinfection before planting, embankments and tunnel construction for channeling water in flood-prone areas, and the installation of irrigation facilities for watering during drought episodes.
- Nitrogen Application
Three essential components that must be present in the soil for optimum plant growth are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). Of all three, plants need nitrogen the most and in higher proportions.
Plants use nitrogen to create chlorophyll molecules that help in photosynthesis. Also, the formation of a semi-liquid fluid called protoplasm that powers plant cells come from nitrogen.
Leguminous crops can help fix nitrogen in the soil through a natural process call nitrification. Conversely, farmers bump up soil nitrogen levels through the application if
fertilizers.
Summarily, knowing whether a farm’s soil needs nitrogen and which method to use in applying it is crucial in the overall outcome of plant produce during harvest.
- Farm Monitoring Software
Farm monitoring or management software came to be during the inception of the agri-tech era. The software collects and analyzes data from sensors mounted on the farm. The sensors can monitor changes in plant growth, weed density and also detect pest presence.
Moe sophisticated sensors can forecast the weather and alert farmers on impending dangers. Some can even combine such data to predict crops’ availability and market analysis.
Conclusion
Agriculture has evolved with the improvement in technology. More than ever, experts are finding new ways to increase crop quality and quantity to increase food availability and reduce world hunger.
Several smart agriculture practices, when implemented, can ensure maximum crop productivity, increase job availability, and catapult agricultural revenues.
Initially, some of these practices may require expensive installation costs, the resulting crop productivity percentage more than what makes up for the upfront expenses.
