Precision Farming in Horticulture

The impact of climatic variations on crop yields and production has been a significant concern for farmers. To counteract this issue, there has been a focus on artificial means of harnessing natural resources to increase crop productivity. One such technology is protected cultivation, which has been well adopted in Europe and the USA and is now gaining popularity in China and Japan, particularly in the production of horticultural crops. In India, there has been a breakthrough in the use of protected cultivation for crops such as pepper, tomato, cucumber, muskmelon, and baby corn in the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Precision farming is a method of cultivation that uses technology to achieve maximum precision in the production of superior crops with desired yield levels and quality at a competitive cost. This involves the use of genetically modified crop varieties, micropropagation, integrated nutrient, water, and pest management, protected cultivation, organic farming, hi-tech horticulture, and post-harvest technology. The post-harvest sector also requires a high degree of precision. For example, peels and rags are often wasted, even though they may be rich in nutrients and antioxidants. The precision required in management, product diversification, and value addition is highly sought after in this field.