To be able to reap what is planted correctly (Why Smart Agriculture?)
My family’s origins are based in Eastern Anatolia. Like many families in the region, he made his living from both agriculture and livestock, and he stayed in the village in summer and in the city in winter. I both hear most of this and learn it when we visit during the summer holidays.
My uncle is still trying to make a living with agriculture and livestock. Well, I’ve always thought about how he knows the right plant or what needs to be planted. He talks about crops, and I understand it goes on and on for years, just as it was planted and where it was planted. But why? What’s better or more efficient? Can the same product be fertile every year? Can’t it vary by year and ambient conditions?
What We Experience in Terms of Agriculture
Looking at the above facts, yes, agriculture is carried out in many parts of Turkey with the same logic. How and where crops have been planted for hundreds of years, they are planted, grown and harvested in the same way. No one will ask if there is anything that can grow better in the soil, or what year we should plant, only EKER, and when it decreases, it is called fortune and fate.
When the Agricultural Engineers were actually here for this job, I didn’t hear or see an ordinary farmer asking the Agricultural Engineers questions, “Come, engineer, what should I plant in our land?”. In my opinion, this figure is applied in a very small or limited area.
In summary, work is done by heart.
How can we understand the right attachment in the right place?
I would like to point out that what has been planted here all this time has not been planted incorrectly, but how we can find more truth by using information, understand it and act accordingly increase the return.
Logically, no one monitors the watering in the soil, watering should be carried out at the most accurate time is not monitored, the minerals found in the soil are actually more suitable for which crop and when to plant it, provided by years of habits. Fertilization sometimes increases, because the soil alone is not enough, it is supportive.
So how do we know if the soil is more suitable for grapes than wheat? What decision would the farmer make if our potato plantation actually know that it is more suitable for beets this year and sunflowers next year? It can continue as it knows it or decide to plant another product, taking into account the recommendations it receives (multiple products may be recommended).
For all this, current technologies can lead us, we may have a chance to find a better one with a small investment of information and the support of an Agricultural Engineer. Of course, the result can still give the same information as the products planted so far, at least confirming that the right product is used, and we can continue to plant with peace of mind, agriculture in normal environments (I do not take into account flood.b s, weather opposition, etc.). A little information can be given about fertilization.
On the other hand, with a new information and suggestion we will receive, the opportunity can be provided to direct a product that can give more products, the cost is more affordable and the income is higher.
How to Plant What with Smart Agriculture?
As a technology consultant and Electrical Engineer, I have no chance of informing anyone about planting technologies, but I will have tip-tip recommendations on how to provide information support on what to plant and how to plant it.
First of all, information about the soil should be obtained. We need to understand what’s inside the soil. Soil analysis sensors will provide us with information about the general properties of the soil. What minerals are there, how the state of the demity, how it changes (a little longer-lasting data is required for this), can there be.b an external factor that causes the state change, etc. data is shared with Agricultural Engineers, Engineers analyze and provide us with information.
Based on the tips given by our engineers, what to plant, how to plant, how to water and possible fertilization, additional protection and practices that need to be done can be presented to our farmers as a guide or report, and even support can be provided through cooperatives.
Just agriculture?
Smart Agriculture; We can actually say what is said for field and agriculture for livestock. Would it be more appropriate to engage in animal husbandry where we want or in the best developed places?
How to ensure this? Basically, there will be a difference in quality between both meat and animal products, which is most suitable for livestock and is fed in the natural environment (with plants grown in grass and highlands other than feed). In the best environment, the meat of animals is fertile, milk is more abundant and delicious, data that they can be more peaceful and happy can be communicated to us by Agricultural Engineers. Of course, in the used images, the large corral is connected to a feeding machine on the one hand and milking machines on the other hand, while obtaining products in more natural conditions cannot be discussed in my opinion in terms of quality.
Technology is also at the service of agriculture and livestock
The technology developments we read in different articles and reports every day also provide value in agriculture and animal husbandry, information can be provided on how to produce the best product in the highest way, and more products can be purchased at less cost.
The investments that need to be made to provide them will be much, very much below the value to be achieved. Initial investment costs can be supported by the relevant Chamber Associations or the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and funds can be established. We even have the chance to buy foreign products through on-site domestic technology providers, so it is also a matter of supporting domestic technology.
While technology-supported agriculture and livestock are carried out together, providing domestic technology support can create a complete boiler environment. Considering the provision of new business opportunities to Agricultural Engineers, a full 3-boiler environment can be designed. Don’t you think we can do this?
Gokhan Yanmaz
October 2020