The notion that technology has helped business expand is pretty clear-cut.  Orders are processed faster through broadband technology.  Communication effortlessly zig-zags between thousands upon thousands of wires. And more importantly, manufacturing goods, both material and agricultural, has improved dramatically.

That’s the weird thing about technology.  Think about how civilization sprouted and expanded with old-hat farming methods.  Farmers would pull their carts via oxen or yaks, single-handedly going up and down each acre line.  Pesticides weren’t there to help protect the majority of the crops.  The amount of time exhausted with the old routines certainly slowed production down. 

Now consider how much more populated the world would be had the advanced tools been in place, say 300 years ago?  It’s pretty amazing to think it might have doubled by now…at least.

And that’s where technology really helps agricultural business.  From acre monitors displaying approximately how many seeds line up one side to grain bin systems properly heating and regulating grain in each silo –  the perks are almost certainly there.

This applies to machinery advancements as well.  Harvesters have become bigger, faster and smarter.  They’re able to gather twice as many corn bushels as older models or workers picking them off one by one.  Irrigation systems are literally sprouting up from the ground on a timely basis, letting farmers set daily, monthly or seasonal watering schedules for their crops.

All of this translates to twice as much reaping, twice as much distributing and when the dust settles, twice the profit margin.

To be honest, technology with regards to farming will not take away the human effect outright.  Smaller farms may not find it necessary to blend the latest tech with how they harvest.  They have the necessary laborers and other factors pushing the needle forward.

On the other side of the coin, commercial farmers working multiple crops on hundreds of acres may find it beneficial to invest their efforts towards the latest tech.  With certain farms in hostile, ever-changing climates, having a computer relay past weather patterns for a given month can give farmers a head start on changing seeding amounts.

And then there are those that don’t see much rain at all.  When that’s the case, the aforementioned irrigation system goes to work and stabilizes the crops as best it can.  Or the grain heater kicks on in the silos because the outside temps are considerably colder than usual.     

The main thing behind all of this is simple: agricultural business can thrive with future software and hardware helping the cause.  Because in the end, every business model should be designed behind finding the most productive, stable environment for long-term success.

Source: http://www.business2community.com/tech-gadgets/how-technology-has-changed-agricultural-business-   093875

 

By: Rodel C. Dumalag | Teacher III | Bataan National High School | Balanga, Bataan