Impact of Modern Technology on Farming

We are currently breathing in a world of technology which is somehow impacting every aspect of our life. Technology is playing an essential role in almost every sector, including education, nursing, startup, etc. and similar is in the case of agriculture as well. Modern technology has revolutionized the farming sector and playing an essential role in feeding more than 7 billion people in the world.

Advantages of Modern Technology

First and foremost, technology has brought machines on the farms. The farmers use modern machines like tractors, planters, harvesters and other harvesting technology which makes the overall process simple and less time taking. With the help of modern technology, farmers are capable of growing more crops in lesser time and with fewer farm workers, ultimately reducing the cost of production.

The modern transportation has proved to be a boon for the farming sector. Technology has significantly reduced the time of long-distance transportation. This ultimately speeds up the supply of all agricultural products to the markets for the consumers daily consumption. The modern transport technology has also made it very easy for the farmers to transport fertilizers, pesticides and other necessary farm products to their farms.

The modern cooling and storage facilities have been of great help for the crops that are perishable in less time duration. The advent of electricity has dramatically improved working conditions on farms; it also had a significant impact on the preservation of food production.

Advancements in the field of biotechnology have given a tool to the human race to genetically modify the crops which grow very quickly, resistant to several diseases, pest, and insects and prevent the farmers from spending huge sums of the pesticides & insecticides. The crops are even genetically modified to survive on less water, which is extremely useful for conditions of drought-prone areas.

Disadvantages of Modern technology

The main disadvantages seen in modern agricultural technology is the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. They deplete soil fertility and are harmful to the environment.

The advent of modern technologies has fulfilled the food requirements in many areas of the world. However, these practices are leading to significant environmental damage. These include contamination of groundwater, depletion of soil fertility and loss of biodiversity by converting forest areas into agricultural land. Modern technologies are highly mechanized, runs on fossil fuels, and responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases.

Modern agricultural practices are also responsible for genetic erosion because of the usage of genetically modified crops.

Conclusion

On the one side technology has been proved to be a magic wand which has helped the human race in reducing the curses like hunger and poverty. But on the other hand, it gave a weapon in the hands of humanity to exploit the environment to its maximum potential, leading to global challenges like global warming. The need for the hour is sustainable development and usage of technology for the betterment of the human race, without destroying the environment.