Big data in smart farming: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Smart farming includes application of advanced technology in agriculture to increase the sustained production. It involves various technologies like high resolution satellite data, Global Positioning System, Geographic Information System, field sensors, Artificial Intelligence and, automated machineries, etc. Further, the emerging technologies of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Internet of Things, and cloud computing are expected to leverage this development and introduce an Internet of Things of robotic and computer science in farming. Big data is considered as a potential technology for assessment and management of farm-level decisions to increase farm productivity by detecting and overcoming cumbersome practices. Big data has wide range of applications in smart farming, which includes real time weather monitoring, soil moisture monitoring, automated irrigation systems, inputs monitoring, crop monitoring, pest monitoring, market intelligence, etc. to increase the farm yields. Since both big data and smart farming are relatively new concepts and emerging fields, knowledge and awareness on their applications and implications immensely helps the researchers, farmers and other stakeholders to effectively leverage the potential of these emerging technologies to optimize the farm resources and improve overall farm productivity.