Technology can empower farmers to beat COVID blues
COVID pandemic has created an unprecedented level of disruption across the world. The sheer nature of the event has pressed the reset button on many traditional practices. From manufacturing to the services sector, this black swan event has brought in a paradigm shift in their operating models. In this context, the agriculture sector is no exception. Globally, agricultural activity has been severely impacted due to lack of labour availability, restriction on mobility, and closure of key agricultural produce markets amid strict social distancing measures. As a result, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that as many as 132 million people are likely to go hungry this year owing to the global economic recession. This will be over and above the 690 million people who are facing acute food shortage now. Unless the nations take immediate collective steps, a food emergency in some nations can’t be ruled out. In this perspective, technology can play a criti...