Understanding Farmers

Job profile of a farmer

A Farmer is the CEO, COO, CFO, Sales manager, Investment manager of a propritary fariming firm. It will directly effect his income if he is not good in even one of the fields

Before the cropping season:

What to sow, when to sow, credit availability, plan for inputs, land preparation, soil nutrient status

Farmers has to have the access to the data that howmuch has it rained, moisture level in soil.
When to sow based on forcasting
Svaings, loans –> moneylenders
Seed varity and quality, selection from number of options, authenticity of seeds
Land preparation, machinery and labours, funds for that
Gap filling for requirements of soil for a crop, suppliments, fertilizers, NPK (should be made easy to understand)

During the cropping season:

choose appropriate agriculture technology
monitor the progress of crop
observe anomalies and take action, monitor weather
labour/machinery management for sowing and intercultural operations
water management
weed/pests/ wild animals management
respond to climate contingencies
in case of damege file claim for insurance

After the cropping season:

Harvesting based on weather conditions, checking if crop is actually ready
labour management
primary processing, storage
market assessment, where and when to sell
grading/sorting/packing/transportation
value addition, negotiation for better prices
realization of prices
repayments(loans, etc.)
surplus investment planning(future planning)

During the lean season:

Remaining 6 to 7 months: Migration, ancillary works, MGNAREGA Repeats it season after season and year after year

Skills required

Financial planning
Resource planning
Keep himself updated about relevant Information
Decide about technology to be adopted
Logistics and processing
Market survey, sales, negotiation
Manage risks

New developments and opportunities

Public investments on the farm: protected cultivation, micro-irrigation systems, diversification, high-value crops
Investments in creating water infrastructure
Storage and post-harvest facilities and access to technologies
Power of collectives: Farmer Producer Organizations, Women Self-Help Groups
Targeted subsidies: JAM, DBT
Risk cover (MSP, Crop insurance, accidental and medical insurance)
Services through platforms:
- e-NAM, direct marketing
- custom hiring centres
- NBFCs
- mobile apps
- start-ups
- availability of remorse sensing images
- data marketplace

TODO

Go to KVK, ICAR

Think

Lets think of an ideal way first (Imagination) Think of the problems to impliment it in reality Try to solve this problem Test the solution Loop through

Solutions without problems

Vertical farming technology(Hydroponics, Aeroponics)

Popular in urban areas
Use artificial lights to replace sunlight
Around 70% less water

Farm mechanization and automation technologies

Use of Drones, Autonomous tractors, other bots
Use of various sensors
Automated seeding, weeding
Focuses on labour sortage and efficency problems

Lifestock farming technology

Monitor health and their activities
Wearable sensors

Greenhouse technology

Precision agriculture

Controls every variables like moisture, pest, stress, soil condition, micro climates
More accurate