India is an agricultural country and today is the major exporter of many agro-products! In India, as per the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), a trust established by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, 58% of livelihood source is agriculture. Thus, in a nation with such a high proportion of farmers, it becomes necessary that the history of the 1960s repeats itself. And, by the history of the 1960s, I mean the revolutionary step in the field of agriculture- ‘Green Revolution.’ Yes, you guys read it right, it’s high time to connect agriculture with the era of technology & digitalization to introduce- ‘Green revolution 2.0.’
In today’s world, where technology governs, and all utilities are at our doorstep, farming and technology must unite, and our farmers must get rightly paid for their hard work. I’m proud that LPU, committed to delivering excellence in all fields, has likewise proved its mettle in the farming sector. In recent coverage by ‘Forbes India’ on the ‘Innovations built to help farmers,’ the novel invention of proud Vertos, the ‘Flying Farmer,’ got featured. It’s not the first time that Vertos have come up with their unique innovations; now and again, LPU continues to achieve fame for its novelties that contribute to society.
Flying Farmer: A drone for pesticide treatment developed by 45 students and 5 faculties at the Lovely Professional University is a unique approach that will enable the farmer to detect weeds and pesticide treatment required. The Flying Farmer is a wireless and sensor-like drone machine used for yield and biomass mapping and surveying. The soil’s nutrient content can also be measured, reducing crop loss and aiding productivity. These pre-programmed drones may further target particular areas on the field and spray pesticides, resulting in 85% pesticide preservation. Currently, in the testing phase, the drones have an air time of 25 minutes. And are programmed with machine vision algorithms and infrared sensors, which can also detect the precise location of weeds and send information promptly to the farmer.
Appreciating the innovation of the proud Vertos, Mr. Pratham Mittal, Head of New Initiatives, LPU, says, “The human eye is vulnerable to errors that can result in decreased productivity. But the farmer will never be betrayed by these algorithmically engineered drones. These drones are useful in two ways: one, preventing pesticide wastage, and two, preventing overuse.” The Flying Farmer, still in its development stages, will be ready to aid farmers in the field within the next 6 months.“We will not file for a patent so that it’s inexpensive and easily accessible for all,” he says.
Presently, from instruments to help recognize soil conditions and their dampness level to coolers and artificial ponds, new start-ups and associations have improved to assist farmers with real-time and accurate data or approach assets to protect and expand their reap. Subsequently, taking the country towards the period of Green upheaval 2.0.
