Idea

Abstract:

Agriculture is the most important sector of Indian Economy. Indian agriculture sector accounts for 18 per cent of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) and provides employment to 50% of the countries workforce.[1]Pests are a big threat to farmers.This leads to the damage in agricultural production and hence the economic condition of farmers deteorates. A large number of farmers commit suicide becuse of crop damage and alleged debt burden.

According to a study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, annual crop losses due to pests and diseases amount to Rs.50,000 crore ($500 billion), which is significant in a country where at least 200 million Indians go to bed hungry every night.[2][3][4]

“An apple a day needn’t always keep the doctor away.”A study by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India says, food items contain banned pesticides in quantities a thousand times more than the permissible limits.[5]

Problem Statement:

The farmers are not intimated of the pests on their crop in advance.The second big problem is farmers are unaware of the right chemicals and their quantity to use.Therefore, they spray chemicals in large amounts, without proper information of the pesticides and well before the pest arrives.

Present Solution:

In the market there are services which notify to the farmers of the probable pests but are not highly dependable.The atmospheric condition data is taken from a few weather stations which decide the probable pests for all the farms. This isn’t a very accurate channel because atmospheric conditions like temperature, rainfall,huimdity etc vary after certain locality or distance. Moreover, farmers with greenhouse and polyhouse grow crops in controlled environment and weather station data for them will be useless.The following is the picture of the messages being sent to the farmers:

Project Idea/Proposed Solution:

I plan to make a device which will predict the probable pest on the crop for the farmer.The prediction will go as a text message on the farmer’s mobile informing him to spray the right pesticides/insectisides for the specific pest.The farmer will take measure to spray chemicals in advance.The dosage amount of chemicals will also decrease. This will save farmer’s money and satisy the customer to purchase food with chemicals in permissiable limits. A win-win situation for both.

Initailly, my plan is to target a single crop which is being extensively grown by farmers in polyhouse. I feel the polyhouse farmers are in more need of such device because they cannot rely on weather station data.

Motivation:

I am a conscious soul when it comes to eating anything. And when I discovered the banned chemicals being loaded on fruits,vegetables was really shocked. I moved to organic food only to realise it is not easily avalable and very costly. Another very important factor is it really saddens me to see the number of farmers committing suicide. These two emotions have motivated me to take up this challenge.I am on my toes to bring it in the market and make an impact in the agriculture sector.

Refrences:

1.Business and EConomic Journal
2.Crop Life International
3.Down To Earth
4.Down To Earth
5.Times of India
6.Various Projects
7.wheat stripe rust disease in Xifeng of Qingyang region in Gansu
8. Types of soil sensors

Literature Survey:

Terminologies and Definitions:

1.Differnce between pests and insects: 2.