Development and implementation of IoT in Agriculture

Azhar Ali

India. With a population estimated to 18% of the total world population, the southeastern Asian
giant has to nd a mighty food resource to supply the demand of the already large population,
growing exponentially at 2.2% annually. 1960 saw India transform into a food secure country, the
subsequent three decades witnessed India as a global food exporter. The drastic vagary was
attainable primarily because of the introduction to the Green Revolution technology. Albeit
improving numbers on the charts, Hazell(1982) deduced that Green Revolution technology is only
capable of minimizing the usual cons of subsistence agriculture posed by unprecedented weather,
tenacious pests and deadly epidemics or pandemics. In layman’s terms, the disadvantages were
kept hindered at bay but no invention was fabricated for the greater good.

Precision agriculture, a revolutionary incorporation of farming and Internet of Things (IoT). Do not
let the oversimpli cation of words play a dunce upon you as a high degree of sophistication is
required to work the magic behind precision agriculture. It all began in Germany when Louis van
den Borne linked a Muller UNI-Control S board to a registration system. The mechanism not only
successfully collected agriculture data but also performed measurements and performed quality
control analysis. The full implementation of the system was prowess when it was purchased by
Comwaes and collaborated with a spray registration system gauged by the fuel consumption and
the amount of duty executed along with carrying out personal registration. All in all a simple
system.

The revolution then took ight and soared aerially through satellite mappings. The development
and implementation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), including satellite,
Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), among others in
agriculture have enhanced the achievement of precision agriculture from above. These
technologies enable the producer to implement IoT technologies in their work for optimal decision
making, for instance seasonal weather forecast and regional crop distention. Companies like
Agribotix have already commercialized software that analyses drone-captured images to spot
unhealthy vegetation. The software uses the infrared spectrum to detect a depreciating wave-
frequency transgression emitted by the vegetation, then proceeds to alert the farmers via mobile
or electronic devices.

Higher in the atmosphere, Earth Operating Satellites(EOS) operated by government and private
bodies hover over, monitoring soil conditions, health of vegetation and possible crop harming
factors. Planet Labs’ idea is to by combining the synergies between the sensors of two di erent
satellites, the Landsat and the CubeSat constellation. The CubeSat constellation consist of 170
shoe-sized satellites rotating the Earth sharing data. The Landsat otherwise, is one big chunky,
expensive piece of instrument. Rasmus Houborg, one of the earliest scientist to experiment on
Planet Labs’ satellites, claims that the ideal way to maximize the usage of the two satellites is to
construct crop dynamics using the data from the CubeSat and to perform spectral band readings
to view vegetation growth using the Landsat. This is due to the uctuations in the readings of the
CubeSat, containing relatively inexpensive sensors. The data is then shared to farmers who have
subscribed to Planet Labs’ services, enabling them to view crop growth from an aerial point of
view and perform plant analysis on their own.

From the highest of the skies, we now dwell into the lowest of the earth. Precision agriculture has
been integrated with advanced pedology skills. The Muller UNI-Control S board was able to

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perform minor soil analysis with its preinstalled sensors. Years passed, and the modernization of
IoT introduced us to Bosch’s Bonirob. This robotic soil sampler uses sensors and mechanical
superiority to collect soil samples, liquidize it and analyze its pH and Phosphorus levels in real
time. Not only does this gives farmers the time to work on other daily activities but it also
eliminates systemic errors caused by humans. Plus, it does it all in a quicker, more e cient time
frame.

IoT also enables farmers to connect with each other on a digital platform. The Farmers Business
Network (FBN), was a startup in 2014 that aims to do exactly that. The FBN platform helps level
the playing eld for farmers with unbiased information, pro t enhancing farm analysis, network
buying power and new crop marketing opportunities. With real time information from satellites and
access to the latest research in agriculture, farmers are able to plan and alter their state of
agriculture to maximize yield percentage. Through the Farmers Business Network, farmers with
mobile access can also communicate with other farmers to discuss a certain notion, for instance
maybe a upcoming disease that’s threatening. Another introduction of IoT that excels vegetation
growth in the eld of agriculture.

Autonomous farming, the peak of IoT in agriculture. With sensors, data mining, machine to
machine symbiosis and a whole plethora of IoT involved, Harper Adams University has worked on
myriads of autonomous farming projects. The ‘Hands Free Hectare’(HFH) is a project that
foresees a hectare of barley being planted, harvested and picked with complete digital
automation. Sensors monitoring the row-by-row distance, Iseki Tractors that are self-controlled
drill and spray necessary requirements for the barley crops. The HFH project commenced 4 years
ago and has been a great success, proving that autonomous farming is set for an epoch.

Anthropology and agriculture, a symposium that has to be discussed together for the betterment
of both parties. We have come a long way from 1996, and humanity still has a lot more to learn in
the evergreen of agriculture. Evidently it has been proven that the development and
implementation of IoT in agriculture has augmented the quality of human lifestyle. Further
research, add in some sensors and screw a chip in it, you’ll be amaze on how the proli c IoT
shapes agriculture to greater, unimaginable heights.

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