Fresh farm air, perfect harvest and the beautiful soil; all combine to form the daily life of farmers who are the most important leaders impacting the future of the country. Farming is an ancient science that marked the very first step towards civilization. Today, it is known as the backbone of our country since it helps sustain life by providing the food that we eat in addition to hugely contributing to the country’s economy vis-à-vis government revenue, employment and international import/export.

As times progressed and industrialization sneaked in, words like efficiency, productivity, sustainability became the center of various agricultural debates. The agrarian sector witnessed numerous changes with regards to agricultural activities, practicing techniques, environmental impacts, tools used and overall productivity to ensure sustainable farming. With the intention of understanding these changes, let’s get an insight into the two techniques that divide the farming sector: Traditional and Modern farming.

Farming Technique

• Traditional Farming: Also known as small scale farming, this type is practiced with limited use of machines and technology with an emphasis on manual labor. Their way of farming is based on indigenous knowledge and agricultural practices that have been passed from generations. It is characterized by local consumption and crop diversity with the intention of maintaining harmony with nature.

• Modern Farming: Also known as conventional farming, this type involves heavy use of machinery and technology including genetically modified crops, fertilizers and pesticides. Using scientific knowledge and advanced tools, the main aim of this type of farming is large scale production with the hopes of reaching global markets. This kind of precision agriculture has increased yields all while limiting the time and effort it used to take to perform activities on the farm.

Environmental impact

• Traditional Farming: Due to the adoption of mixed cropping and natural resources, this type of farming preserves biodiversity, and promotes soil fertility and sustainable management of water resources. On the contrary, it might also lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and resource depletion to an extent.
• Modern Farming: Intensive agricultural practices and the use of chemicals might lead to soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, pollution (chemical, water and air), greenhouse gas emissions, and destruction of the ecosystem.

Farming Output

• Traditional Farming: Since this approach focuses on local knowledge and simpler tools to produce on a small scale, there is lower yield and productivity.

• Modern Farming: With the help of modern machinery and scientifically advanced tools, there is increased precision and efficiency on the farm for large scale production. This leads to higher productivity and yield with the aim of constant improvement in both efficiency and output.

Sustainability

• Traditional Farming:There is a reliance on organic methods, local knowledge and other practices that are in harmony with the ecosystem, which further promotes sustainability.
• Modern Farming: Since the focus is hugely on intensive practices and large-scale monoculture, sustainability can be a challenge. However, modern farming is also about mindful farming practices that can improve resource use, reduce waste and water runoff, thus making sustainability possible.

Methods

• Traditional Farming: It includes intercropping, water harvesting, crop rotation, integrated crop animal farming, poly culture, shifting cultivation, agroforestry, traditional organic composting, cover cropping and mixed cropping.
• Modern Farming: It includes precision farming, aeroponics, aquaponics, hydroponics, monoculture, tissue culture, integrated pest management (IPM), vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture (CEA).

The population on our planet is increasing and it has become extremely important to adopt modern farming practices as opposed to the traditional ones, in hope to feed the ever-growing population through a more innovative yet sustainable and productive approach. Modern farming is nothing less than science; it aims to be precise, progressive and efficient. This high-end way of doing agriculture increases farm productivity and promotes human development.

Modern Farming Methods:

1. Precision Farming

This method includes the application of science including advanced technology and analytical tools to observe, analyze and monitor the different aspects that influence farm’s productivity such as soil moisture, crop health, weather conditions, physical and chemical properties of plants etc. This approach collects real-time data about the farm, crop, soil type and location, with the intention of making correct and timely interventions and improve the chances of higher yields. Additionally, predictive analytics, imaging input and sensor data, guides the farmers in understanding the amount of pesticides and fertilizes needed in the soil, creating yield maps and navigating any kind of field problems and deficiencies.

This precision agriculture therefore helps in making smart decisions, minimizes the overall cost of farming (by reducing the unnecessary use of chemicals), improves the quality of crop, decreases dependence on unpredictable factors such as weather conditions, reduces environmental damage, helps maintain soil fertility, increases the overall crop productivity and promotes comprehensive soil management.

• Hydroponics

This revolutionary technique literally makes the crop grow in air! As a symbol of the peak of sustainable farming, Hydroponics enables the crop to grow without soil, with their roots suspended in air and a light source placed for the process of photosynthesis to take place. The main component is a water-based solution that allows efficient, better and bigger plant growth. There are two ways that this works; first is an active system that includes pumps that provide the roots with nutrients and second is a passive system that includes flooding or capillary action for the same purpose. There are various plants and vegetables that can be grown through this technique such as kale, beans and tomatoes, which are exposed to the perfect amount of water, air and other nutrients for better growth.

Furthermore, this structure also allows for the absence of pests and other diseases that reside in the soil, promotes cultivation without a huge land, grows plants at a faster rate as compared to traditional methods, promotes less water wastage and gives the crops access to an ideal amount of nutrients and oxygen. This further guarantees year-round cultivation with the advantage of saving space, efficient root development, less environmental damage, better crop quality, less labor inputs, better plant growth and increased yield.

• Aquaponics

This modern farming method combines aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics, whereby the fish and plants are cultivated together with the expectation to achieve high efficiency and precision. The practice of raising fish and cultivating plants in a harmonious environment means that both benefit from each other; the fish waste is converted into nutrients for the plants and in return the plants purify and filter the water in order for the fish to exist in a cleaner environment.

Since the fish and plants are co-dependent on each other, a harmony and balance between the two is of utmost importance. Ideal fish for aquaponics include catfish and trout and ideal plants include herbs and vegetables that can be placed in various setups such as deep water culture, vertical towers etc.

This method is popularly known to provide organic nutrients to the plants and reduce the amount of water usage, the use of synthetic fertilizers, soil erosion and soil borne diseases. Additionally, it can also be practiced indoors; allowing food production to happen throughout the year with the crop quality being top notch.

• Vertical farming

Farming on vertical surface involves growing of crops vertically in stacked layers, as opposed to traditional means that is done horizontally. This modern farming method is carefully practiced in spaces such as greenhouses or skyscrapers, within a controlled environment whereby one can artificially control factors such as the temperature, light, gas, moisture, water and humidity. This gives the plants exactly what they need in order to grow healthily; thus reducing the risk of plants dying and other complications.

This method can not only save a lot of space by reducing the dependence on farms but also limits water usage, transportation costs, pesticide use and soil degradation. Since it is not bound by space or weather conditions, it allows year-round production and availability of fresher and healthier food along with higher yields.

The road to sustainability is a little rough with traditional farming because farming should not deplete the land, rather, it should create a harmony and balance between the people and the environment. This is why many people are turning towards modern farming methods since it is a kind of sustainable and precision agriculture that promises increased production of food grain and enhanced food security all the while ensuring that the environment doesn’t pay the price for it.

Farmers have put all their faith in modern technology and advanced agricultural equipments such as laser land leveler, combine harvester, balers etc. that makes sure that higher productivity is achieved simultaneously with the task of conserving our natural resources.

Fieldking, the forerunner of promoting modern farming methods, manufactures top quality agricultural equipments that help achieve precision and authenticity on field. We understand the importance of precision agriculture in feeding billions of people and that’s why our focus lies solely to create a harmonious ecosystem where wastage is null and productivity is at a historical high.

Striving to give a makeover to your farming journey and helping to change the face of agricultural practices in India, Fieldking soldiers on with a head held high and hands merged with farmers who dare to dream big!