Effects of Technology in Agriculture

Technological innovations are at the heart of modern agriculture. Ahmad and Sultan (2021) defined agricultural technology as the application of modern machinery in farming with the aim of improving yields, efficiency, and profitability. Embracing technology in agriculture can have a wide range of positive impacts, including better farm management systems, increased crop yield, improved livestock health, and an increase in farm efficiency. Other benefits include better water management, the development of modern storage and cooling facilities, genetically modified organisms, artificial insemination, Information Communication Technology (ICT), and hydroponics (Silveira, 2021). Therefore, this essay aims to provide a comprehensive discussion of the effects associated with the incorporation of technology in agriculture.

According to Adenle, Pannell, Moors, and Chertow (2020), one way in which technology impacts agriculture is through the development of farm management systems. The introduction of farm management software effectively enhances the way farm managers make and implement decisions. These choices are critical in organizing and operating a farm for maximum production and profit. Modern farm management systems improve the handling of farm data. Abandoning the use of paperwork ensures data is readily available in one click when needed (Blakemore, 2022). Therefore, modern farm management systems are a huge milestone in the field of agriculture.

In addition, the use of new technology results in increased farm yields. Xianmei, Guoxin, Liping, and Guoyong (2023) stated that the development of modern agricultural equipment enables farmers to carry out a wide range of activities vital to gaining improvement in productivity. These practices include land tilling, planting, pest and disease control, and harvesting on large tracts of land. The sporadic increase in the size of land under agriculture, with the help of modern equipment and tools, improves yields by reducing manual labor and time. Modern techniques of controlling pests and diseases reduce on-farm losses, hence better productivity (Wu, 2022). An increase in yields has a positive impact on the profitability of various agribusiness enterprises.

Moreover, livestock farming technology enhances productivity and management of livestock through effective monitoring and management of their health. Li and Wang (2023) reiterated that technology improves the welfare and productivity of animals. For instance, Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking and Electronic Identification (EID) are among modern technological achievements in livestock farming. GPS-based tracking systems enable farmers to manage animals that graze over large tracks of land (Ahmad & Sultan 2021). These systems function by monitoring animal movement patterns to determine their grazing preferences in real-time, hence making cattle herding less hectic. EID measures the conditions, performance, and behavior of each individual animal on the farm. GPS-based tracking is also increasingly becoming a critical solution to vital challenges, including cattle rustling, which often contributes to massive financial losses among farmers in developing countries (Blakemore 2022). These modern identification methods are less harmful to the animals compared to traditional methods such as ear notching.

Besides, the use of technology in modern farming enhances the efficiency of farm activities. Modern technological advancement makes it easy to collect data, analyze the data, and monitor outcomes, hence saving time and resources (Ahmad & Sultan, 2021). Technically efficient farms are able to produce to the maximum using the lowest possible level of input. Efficiency in the farm also involves promoting sustainable farming to preserve soil and minimize water losses while maximizing the quality and quantity of the yields (Xianmei et al., 2023). Technological advancements increase farm efficiency at the same time reduce negative impacts on the environment.

Furthermore, water conservation is also crucial in modern farming.  According to Blakemore (2022), technological innovations in agriculture contribute to better water management. Water management refers to the conservation of water used for crop production, livestock production, and inland fisheries. Proper water management activities include drip irrigation, minimum tillage, use of mulch, rotational cropping, and rotational grazing. Other water management activities include planting crops that are resistant to drought, harvesting rainwater, and use of compost mulch (Ahmad & Sultan 2021). Better water management helps in improving crop and animal yield and increasing global food security.

Notably, the technology used in the construction of modern storage and cooling facilities enhances agriculture. These modern facilities are adequately ventilated and more secure compared to the old traditional granaries (Adenle et al., 2020). Modern storage facilities are moisture, burglar, and vermin-proof, thus reducing post-harvest losses incurred by farmers. Good storage facilities enable farmers to avoid being ensnared into selling their produce at lower farm-gate prices during harvesting (Ahmad & Sultan, 2021). Instead, they store the harvested produce until a period when prices hike, hence enabling them to make more profit. Cooling facilities would allow farmers to keep perishable agricultural produce like vegetables in fresh conditions while in transit to the market (Xianmei et al., 2023). These facilities ensure that the produce reaches the market while fresh, hence maintaining quality and reducing post-harvest losses.

Most importantly, the development of Genetically Modified Organisms, also known as GMOs, helped increase food production. Silveira (2021) agreed that this technology is essential in feeding the ever-growing world population. The significance of GMOs in enabling the world to be self-sufficient in terms of food supply cannot be underscored. This technological advancement is a critical pillar in improving nearly all areas of life. The benefits of GMO farming include high yields, disease resistance, and drought resistance. Other benefits associated with GMOs include being less susceptible to attacks from pests and diseases, faster growth and maturity, and some of them have medicinal value (Adenle et al., 2020). The development of genetically modified organisms is one of the technological achievements that improves the agricultural sector.

Particularly, Artificial Insemination (AI) remains a breakthrough in agricultural technology. According to Blakemore (2022), AI has revolutionized modern agriculture, especially dairy farming. This technology substitutes natural mating as it allows the introduction of superior breeds of the initial animal species, increases the chance of calving, better production efficiency, and enhances productivity. AI enables farmers to improve indigenous breeds that have low productivity to exotic pedigree breeds characterized by high production (Silveira, 2021). This technology also plays a vital role in improving the beef production sector within the agricultural sector. This improvement is often conspicuous when it comes to the quality and quantity of the final products yielded and sold across target markets. Yielding high quality beef and dairy products is a critical step towards attaining food security and sustainability in across the global agricultural industry (Silveira, 2021). An increase in productivity results in a rise in the level of income and better welfare for farmers.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) also improves farming significantly. Farmers can access vital information that intermediaries use to keep from them (Silveira, 2021). For instance, mobile phones enhance the way agribusiness is done. Such information includes marketing statistics, getting the latest information about market prices, and the supply of agricultural commodities (Li &Wang, 2023). Smartphones enable farmers to look for vital information regarding crop and livestock production from the internet, therefore equipping them with good knowledge and awareness of the agricultural industry. These gadgets also help farmers to have seamless communication with their colleagues and their target experts (Silveira, 2021). Efficient communication is essential in identifying critical issues affecting farmers, developing appropriate strategies to address them, and establishing sustainable measures for further improvement.

Lastly, hydroponics is a unique technological achievement in agriculture. Hydroponics refers to a method of cultivating crops without soil (Blakemore, 2022). A nutrient-rich water solution transmits all necessary nutrients and minerals directly to the roots of the plants. This approach enables farmers to control the growing conditions of the plants. Hydroponics ensures water conservation, faster growth rate, and improved crop yields (Wu, 2022). Soilless cultivation maximizes space and requires less labor. Minimizing production costs, such as labor, is essential in ensuring that farmers maximize their overall output, which, in turn, culminates in agricultural sustainability.

In conclusion, this paper aims to discuss the effects of technology on agriculture. Indeed, technology has a wide range of effects in the field of agriculture. Some of these effects include improved farm management systems and increased productivity. Other effects include better management of water, enhanced livestock health, development of genetically modified organisms, artificial insemination, and hydroponics. Therefore, farmers in the contemporary agricultural industry need to embrace technology and integrate it into various aspects of the farm to realize its associated benefits. This approach will contribute to the sector’s success, as discussed in this paper.