One might struggle to associate the agricultural industry with InfoTech projects. However that struggle is partly as a result of stereotypes that are very hard to disassociate from IT. Agriculture is seen as the less glamorous business that cannot possibly be related to InfoTech. On the other hand IT is seen as a primarily office-based endeavor which has no business getting saddled with the agricultural sector.

However this view is rather old fashioned thinking. Agricultural enterprises can range from the small scale subsistence farms to large commercial firms that require huge investment and complex operations. Even for those that are presently small scale, it is advisable to consider up-scaling on the basis that the more technological advanced a farm is, the more likely it is to have large scale customers who pay well.

What then are the practical applications of technology in agriculture ?  The increased mechanization of agriculture means that computers and other technology can be used to either replace human activity in whole or to replace certain aspects of human activity or even to merely complement the other traditional methods of farming. At a time when farmers are encouraged to mechanize, thereby reaping the benefits of improved efficiency and adding value to their products, the role of InfoTech will increase in this sector. The equipment that is being used will become more efficient and will tie-in with the more modern farms.

Modern farms are not just about producing crops or rearing animals. They can have quite complex human resource systems, finance and operations. They would then resemble any other business and would likewise need similar Information Technology programs. Take for example a ranch owner who regularly supplies to major supermarkets; the ability to control stock and delivery times as well as the importance of ensuring consistent quality will mean that modern technology will be invaluable. The issues of finance, human resource management and even communication mean that the farm will have to have some form of business IT model. The level of sophistication will depend on the type of farm and the needs of the farmer.

The only downside is that the majority of farmers in the world come from the developing countries where they have very limited scope to grow. They tend to be subsistence farmers with extremely limited income. There is also the problem of lack of awareness and the fear of new technology. It is even doubtful whether such attempts to create technology within a basic industry are viable. The costs of creating a whole business information technology model may by far outweigh any returns that such a farm can realistically obtain.

En conclusion I would argue that agriculture has to behave like other industries if it is to experience the rapid development that those industries have experienced over the last three decades. The traditional methods of farming still have a role to play but in terms of getting really big returns, the only way is to modernize. This transformation will require InfoTech conceptualization and applications, and farmers ought to prepare themselves for this resource.