SMART TECHNOLOGY IN FARMING DEVELOPMENT

The world is entering a period of economic uncertainty and the impact on global economic growth is ambiguous. In contrast, these uncertainties are balancing on emerging markets' growth prospects particularly in India. Agriculture has always been associated with the production of basic food crops. Agriculture and farming were synonymous so long as farming was not commercialised. But as the process of economic development accelerated, many other occupations allied to farming came to be recognised as part of agriculture. Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for about 60% of India's population (Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households, conducted by the National Sample Survey Office). The farming industry will become arguably more important than ever before in the next few decades. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the world will need to produce 70% more food in 2050 than it did in 2006 to feed the growing population of the earth (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, 2012).To meet the growing demand, farmers and agricultural companies are embracing technology for analytics and greater production capabilities. In rural India, agriculture being one of the largest sources of livelihood is exposed to periodic droughts and floods, and farmers lack market access, marketing networks, and information systems. This paper conceptualizes smart farming effectiveness and the main lessons that emanate from this paper are that Internet of Things (IoT), combined with big data, provides farmers with a wealth of information that they can use to maximize productivity in the vulnerable environment and maintain the quality of food in the supply chain.