Precision Agriculture

Nowadays, agriculture needs a lot of attention to be treated precisely because of global warming, climate change, reduction in the water resources, health hazards due to the insecticides, pesticides, and the use of the excess amount of fertilizers to meet the needs of a growing population. There is a great challenge for us to increase production to feed the World by using fewer inputs, eliminating health hazards, making the environment safe by lowering the use of insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers. It is possible when we know about the potential of specific land and its composition of all nutrients necessary for the batter yield and soil water requirements. Is it possible that a farmer come to field, ride on his tractor, push a button and he comes to know all about the patches of his land deficient in specific nutrients and push another button to fill the bucket behind the tracker, and at the end he pushes another button which starts the engine and goes to all nutrients and water deficient areas and provides all those inputs which that different patches of soil need automatically and farmer just enjoy the riding on tracker? It looks like a dream but now it is a reality which is known by the term “Precision Agriculture”

Precision agriculture can be defined as a management system, based information, and technology, which is site-specific and uses one or more of the following data: soil, crops, moisture, nutrients, pests, or yield for optimum profitability, sustainability, and environmental protection. Precision agriculture is a site-specific cultivation system. It bases on the idea that all the agricultural land first classified on the bases of nutrients, moisture, productivity, and other soil properties. After classification, land suitable for different crops should be allotted. It helps to increase our production by using the proper amount of all inputs and there will be no wastage of inputs as we know the exact requirement of all the inputs needed by the soil and crop. To measure the exact amount of all the inputs, we use some equipment connected to the GPS system.

Precision agriculture uses some modern equipment like auto-steer, Global Positioning System (GPS), remote sensing, variable rate applications, yield monitoring system, etc. These all equipment coordinates with each other and makes agricultural practices very easy and more input responsive. GPS is the heart of precision agriculture. It is used to measure the exact location of any object on the surface of the earth by broadcasting a signal through satellites. GPS receiver on the object like a tractor in the field receives the signal from the satellites and by making some calculations measure the exact location of the tractor. By using GPS receivers, a farmer can map their field boundaries, irrigation system, and problem area of cropland like weeds or disease. A farmer can also take samples of soil year after year to check the current position of nutrients composition of the soil.           

                                                     Using GIS technology to identify nutrient deficient areas                                                                                                                                                                                       (http://www.cavalieragrow.ca/ifarm)                                                                                                  

There is some mapping software which maps the land according to the different concentrations of nutrients in the soil layer. Global Information System is one of them. It is used to collect the data from the field like the concentration of different nutrients in the soil layer. It divides the soil into different patches according to the concentration of different nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium etc. Auto-steer is a GPS guidance system which receives and processes the signals. When the farmer switch on the auto-steer system fitted in the tractor, it collects the information of the field through GPS system and automatically applies the all nutrients to the field according to by a sensor in the drone. So, by using sensors, we can check the status of vegetation and can apply the exact amount of fertilizer to that area. Sensors are also used to monitor the yield of the grains, forage and cotton crops.                                       

Variable rate application is amazing equipment used in precision agriculture. It is controlled by the GPS system. It has nozzles of varying size for the application of insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers at once. It is given all the information about the field condition for the application of insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers. It applies them according to the need of soil as data is already feed in this equipment about the need of different nutrients, pesticides, and insecticides of the soil. For example, there are a, b, and c nozzles in this equipment for insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizer application respectively. When the tractor moves in the field, if at some point on the soil, there is need of fertilizer nozzle c will open and apply fertilizer. If insecticide is required, nozzle b will open and all other close. In this way, the field is given exact application of all the required components.

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of Precision agriculture.

Advantages:

• GPS system used in precision agriculture increases the yield, efficiency, productivity and safety of the crop.
• It decreases the bad environmental impacts, input used like fertilizers pesticides, insecticides etc., cost of production, and threats of the theft.
• There is precisely seeding in the fields by the seed drill controlled by the GPS system.
• Spray nozzles having sensors shut down when there is no vegetation under the nozzles and it reduces the wastage of fertilizers.
• Auto steer  and sensors with GPS system ensure the automatic application of agricultural practices so farmers can work at night in the fields also.
• Maps of the soil give all information about the inputs to be supply in the soil.
• As all the equipment are controlled by the GPS system, so, there is no overlapping of the tillage practices by the tractor and as a result there is no compaction of soil and fertility of soil remains maintained.                                       

Disadvantages:

• Precision farming totally dependent upon the modern equipment and small farmers cannot afford them.
• The equipment used in this farming requires the new technology like GPS system, computer operations, and calculation. But our most of the farmers are illiterate. It will take longer time to make them understand that how does precision farming work.
• The maintenance of equipment is costly.
• For the complete implementation of this system, it requires many years to collect the data of the field to work accurately.

Conclusion:

Although it is very advance and precise way of farming, but the launching of this system in Pakistan is not so easy because Pakistan is developing country and the farmers of Pakistan have small pieces of land. They cannot afford such costly system of farming without the help of government. If we want to see Pakistan as an advance in our farming to make the agriculture better and indirectly to our economy, government should divert attention towards the new technologies in the agriculture sector.

Poor Muslim World

                                              Source: Google images

It was about to dawn, the sun was getting dim gradually when Sam came to me and sat beside me. He was looking upset and perplexed with a gloomy face. I asked him, “What is wrong with you my dear friend? Is there any problem? Tell me, what can I do for you?”

He turned his face to me and said, “You can do nothing, even we all can do nothing because we are divided”. I again asked him to tell me the matter but he remained calm for a while and said, “Did you read the newspaper of today? Do you know what is happening in our beautiful Muslim world? We are being broken up by sectarianism; our lands are being bombed; our sisters are being raped and killed brutally; our children are losing their parents on a daily basis. What is this? Why these things are only happening to us? Do we not have nuclear weapons? Are we not resourceful countries regarding population, natural resources, hot water, and cultivated land? Having these all things to counter the enemies but sill we are helpless. Do you know why?  Because we have become a divided family. That’s why we are fighting with each other.  Dear, we have been ruined, we have been ruined!”.

When he finished his turn, I felt myself as if I were in the  battlefields of Syria where people are screaming with fear, alongside the borders of Yemen where the bombs are being dropped by the brother country Saudi Arabia, on the boundaries of Bangladesh and watching the people of Rohingya crossing the borders of neighbor countries with red patches on their body, some are drowning in the Bay of Bengal but I felt helpless to save them.

Then suddenly, my attention diverts to the facts that my friend told me about the Muslims world and I start searching the exact figures of the Muslim world resources and finds that yes! We have the largest natural resources in the world. Yes! Alone three Muslim countries i.e., Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq have about $34.4 trillion, $27.3 trillion, and $15.9 trillion worth of natural resources respectively.

Besides these, we have hot water and nuclear weapon too, then why the Muslim world is being humiliated at the international level? Is there any solution to this problem to revive our glorious era again? What can I do as an individual to participate in this Holy Task? These are some questions to all my youth to consider and give your precious suggestions in the comment box.

Philosophy of Moderation

Do you know why the Muslims are directed to adopt a moderate path throughout their lives in their all actions and dealings? Even, in the Holy Quran Allah mentioned us (Muslims) as a balanced or middle community.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا

Thus, We have made you a justly balanced community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you.

Surat Al-Baqarah 2:143

And we are ordered to follow the middle way between right and left, that is, it is disliked for us to touch the extremes of both the righteousness and sinfulness

Hudhaifa, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

يَا مَعْشَرَ الْقُرَّاءِ اسْتَقِيمُوا فَقَدْ سُبِقْتُمْ سَبْقًا بَعِيدًا فَإِنْ أَخَذْتُمْ يَمِينًا وَشِمَالاً لَقَدْ ضَلَلْتُمْ ضَلاَلاً بَعِيدًا

O people remain straight upon the path and you will have taken a great lead, but if you swerve right or left then you will be led far astray.

Source: Sahih Bukhari 6853, Grade: Sahih

You can note that if we, while in our dealings of daily life chose the right or left way by leaving the middle and straightway which is for us to be successful in this world and hereafter, and then we are at the wrong path.

Now let’s come to the question of why the Muslims are directed to live their lives in a moderate way. Well, as we, being Muslims, know that each word and verse of our Holy Quran has its own philosophical meanings in its death. If we want to know the philosophy of moderation, we will have to do an analysis of human creation process which also shows moderation in its own.

Knowing of creation is necessary for the sense that it’s our daily life experience that each and everything in this world works according to its nature. That’s why Allah says in Holy Quran that Quran is according to human nature and he can fully act upon its all Injunctions without any difficulty.

Let’s come to know about the human creation and the relation of it to the moderation

Levels of Powers:

1)     First level:

As all, we know that two opposite things exit in this universe, that is, God and Satan. God is all in all in His actions and all powers and right things belong to Him only. On the other hand, if you see Satan, God has given him the freedom and all powers till the Day of Judgment. There is nothing between them, just right and wrong and nothing else.

2)     Second level:

Now come to the sub-level, which is the second levels which also have two things opposite to each other i.e., Angles and Animals.

Angles have neither any desire nor they have any freedom to do what they want for themselves. They are in the control of God and they can do nothing without any direction, given by God to them.

But it’s not the case with animals. Neither would they be asked about their lives that they spent it nor they have any restrictions to do what they want to do. They can do whatever they want. It means that they have only desires but not any obligation to do any duty like angles.

3)     Last level or middle level

If you have read the above two levels carefully, you can reach at the point where I want to lead you. We have discussed about all major Powers (God, Angles, Satan, and Animals) but they do not include the central power of this world to whom God made the center of attention of this world and who is the title of Holly Quran, which is human being. Where do you like to place the Man among all these powers? If you consider the composition of human being, you can easily say that he can be placed in the middle of all these powers because, in this world, God appointed him as his Naib (Vice).

He (Man) has all elements of previous all powers. He is the ruler of this world; he is not answerable to anybody except God; he is full with desires like animals and duties like angles. If he chases the good doings, he would be upgraded from the level of humanity to the level where God made the angles to prostate Adam. But if he adopts the shirking behavior from his duties, then he becomes less than that of animals. That’s why, God directs him to be moderate in his doings. He has no choice to go right or left but to the straight and mid-way that is the way of success for him.

Please comment after reading it.
Thanks

Positive Voice

Source:https://www.google.com.pk

Do you really want to improve yourself? I think you would love to do so. Are you agree with me?? If you are not yet, it's Ok. After reading the following paragraphs you will agree with me. Let’s start.

During my early days at University, I noted two things which our youth lacked.

i)                   A Will to listen to positive voice positively.

ii)                Self-confidence.

The above-mentioned two qualities are inter-related to each other. You can assume that it is a give and take system. Listen to the positive voice, it will give you confidence in return. And that is what we want from our education, as we know that, the ultimate goal of our studies is to make ourselves confident and better in our skills. But, how to achieve these ends is not going to be a straightway for most of us. We will have to improve our skills gradually by giving a positive response to the feedback we receive from the people in the form of a positive voice.

Although we hear all the time about the educational institutes that they impart us these both qualities. Of course, they do, but institutions alone can do nothing.

The “will” either you want to improve yourself or not is more important here. Then you will be able to fix these two spots on your personality? Following tip could help you in this situation:

Develop a positive attitude towards Positive Voice

Let me first explain what is the meaning of “positive voice” through my personal experience.

When I gave my first educational presentation in my first class in University, I felt hesitation to avoid positive voices, that is, criticism, but as soon as I did it, I experienced two types of people.

i)                   Those who commended my presentation

ii)                Those who criticized me and gestured me to do best in the future.

At first, I disliked those who criticized me but suddenly, my mind reminded me of a quote from Norman Vincent Peale, who once said,

 “The trouble with most of us is that we’d rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”

Then I thought, this positive voice i.e., criticism is more important than praise as it will help me to improve myself and finally, the day came when I delivered a lecture to the whole class confidently which made me feel proud, boosted my confidence and helped me to believe in myself that is the key of success.

Well, it was the case with me. I, like,  all human beings did not like criticism but when I made a cost-benefit analysis of enduring criticism to get improvements in my personality and skills, I said to myself, ‘Buddy, don’t bother to be criticized because it’s for your help, just accept it”

I hope, you will also adopt a positive attitude towards criticism because it’s “FOR YOU”

Stay Blessed😊