Precision agriculture for small scale farming systems

Working closely with farmers to use the right input, at the right time, at the right place, and in the right amount can improve crop yields.

Raj Khosla, PhD, and other agronomists have demonstrated internationally that working closely with farmers can improve crop yields. The principles are the same no matter the location: use the right input, at the right time, at the right place, and in the right amount. How those principles are applied varies from field to field, country to country and farmer to farmer, but almost always impacts outcomes.

Khosla will present “Precision Agriculture for Small Scale Farming Systems” on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013 at 9:30 AM. The presentation is part of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America Annual Meetings, Nov. 3-7 in Tampa, Florida. The theme of this year’s conference is “Water, Food, Energy, & Innovation for a Sustainable World”. Members of the media receive complimentary registration to the joint meetings.

According to Khosla, “precision agriculture is a grossly misunderstood field, due to its development over time in large scale farming systems. The principles and concepts of precision agriculture are not only for large farms using large equipment. They can be applied to a farm of 2 acres or 2,000 acres.” He prefers to call it “smart agriculture” or “appropriate agriculture.”

“The examples we have from Africa, Asia, and South America show impacts in improving yields even greater than that in the US,” says Khosla. In Zimbabwe, simple tactics like using current labor forces and harnessing good techniques tripled yields in one study.

Read more . . .