1 Automation in Indian Agriculture Reliance Life Sciences J. V. Narasimham ; 17 th Dec. 2004.

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Automation in Indian Automation in Indian AgricultureAgriculture

Reliance Life SciencesReliance Life Sciences

J . V. Narasimham ; 17th Dec. 2004

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Why Automation ?Why Automation ?


• Increase in Precision• Reduction in Manpower

costs• Fool-proofing of

redundant operations• Safety, Reliability &

repeatability• Humanly Impossible tasks

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Where is automation needed ?Where is automation needed ?


• Greenhouses• Poultry & Animal farms• Irrigation controls• Temperature / RH / Light

intensity control.• Fertigation / Nutrition • Grain Drying• Phytomonitoring Devices.• CO2 monitoring

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What can be Automated?What can be Automated?


• Qty & Quality ( EC / pH ) of water & timing & cycling• Qty of nutrients & absorption indirectly by DW mntrng• Maintenance of systems like flushing / draining • Climate linked parameters – with weather station• Roofs / curtains / thermal screens etc• Cooling, Heating, Fogging, FAV, CO2 levels etc.• PP sprays , Sulphur emitters, Ethylene emitters etc.• Alarms to switch to Manual modes & intervention

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Special areas of usage Special areas of usage


• Floriculture crop controls like Photoperiod & Light Intensity.

• R & D Trials• Transgenic Trials• Pollination controls in

insect free Green Houses

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Prerequisites for Automation.Prerequisites for Automation.


• Minimum amount of farm mechanization needed for Automation.

• Automation is a product of precision farming needs• Cost of Manpower• Availability of Manpower• Availability of Infrastructure• Critical Frequent & Repetitive operations

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Feasibility of AutomationFeasibility of Automation


• Remoteness of location • Availability of skilled

manpower• Availability of reliable

hardware • Durability of hardware• Cost – effectiveness of

the Technology

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World ScenarioWorld Scenario


• Mainly concentrated in the countries of Isreal, Netherlands, USA & Australia.

• Floriculture & non-seasonal vegetable production are the major users.

• Transgenic trials & other R&D trials.• Precesion farming under green house & open conditions• Special uses like Biomes in Eden etc.

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Renowned ManufacturersRenowned Manufacturers


• Rovero - Green House related• Eldar Shanny – Irrigation & Fertigation• Gal electronics – Nutrient monitoring• Valco – All including poultry & Animal houses &

Phytomonitors • Ludvig Svensson - Insulation• Bermad – Solenoids & other control valves• Seimens – FAV & animal care

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Indian ScenarioIndian Scenario


• Mainly confined to Green Houses in Floriculture• Fertigation is the major application• EC & pH control of irrigation water• Timer based controls for Fogging & Misting• Sensor based controls for Temperature and Humidity• Recent mushrooming of Trans-Genic & other trials of

seed production & Bio-tech companies• Fan & Pad systems controlled by sensors

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What’s needed to improveWhat’s needed to improve


• Cost effectiveness and reliability of equipment• Local design of structures• Local manufacture of support hardware • Local R & D in machinery, Electronics & Software –

tropicalization and the like• Innovations to bring in appropriate technology

- Top sprinklers to cool films- Top roof thermal screens- Evaporation trays for humidity enhancement- Additives in films- Chilled water circulation for foggers

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Prospects of growth :Prospects of growth :


• Intntnl. Floriculture market growing at 10% - USD 50 b

• Indian market growing at 35-50% for the past decade

• The domestic transgenic & Biotech Green Houses growing at 30% CAGR for 5 yrs

• International firms from Israel, US, Netherlands, Spain etc are setting shop in India

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Challenges :Challenges :


• Area under drips in India about 60,000 Ha.• Area of EOU Polyhouses in India – 200 Ha. ,

Kenya – 2000 Ha. World – 50,000 Ha.

• Bulk of commercial floriculture done by individual progressive farmers

• Poultry & Animal farms operate on wafer thin margins – Investment in hi-tech ?

• Quality – price sensitivity in the domestic market – Agricultural produce.

1 Automation in Indian Agriculture Reliance Life Sciences J. V. Narasimham ; 17 th Dec. 2004.

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Transcript of 1 Automation in Indian Agriculture Reliance Life Sciences J. V. Narasimham ; 17 th Dec. 2004.