Natural Resources Conservation and Precision Farming

Description

Natural resources, especially water and soil, are essential for the function and structure of agricultural production systems and for the overall social and environmental sustainability. Natural resources are utilized by human beings either directly or indirectly for survival. The examples of natural resources are air, soil, water, sunshine, coal, plants, animals, and minerals. Additionally, nature acts as the sole provider for our fundamental needs which includes food, clothing and shelter. Conservation of natural resources presents challenges to the policy makers, in part because now it is not a problem of any particular nation but a global one. Precision Farming is helping many farmers worldwide to maximize the effectiveness of the crop inputs including seed quality, fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation water. Today, because of increasing input costs and decreasing commodity prices, the farmers are looking for new ways to increase efficiency and reduce costs. In this regard, Precision Farming is an alternative to improve profitability and productivity. Any part of our natural environment- such as land, water, air, minerals, forest, rangeland, wildlife, fish or even human population-that man can utilize to promote his welfare may be regarded as a natural resource.