Research and development in agriculture-

Many developments have occurred in the agricultural business over the last 50 years as a result of new and better technology developed via research and development (R&D) operations. These technological advancements have forever altered the face of agriculture and made the farming industry considerably more efficient than it has ever been. These enhancements have arrived just in time to satisfy rising demand. The farming and agricultural sector is experiencing huge problems due to rising global population, ballooning supply prices, labor shortages, and the needs of the green revolution.

The following are some of the ways that technology is having a big influence on agriculture today.

• vertical farming
• smart farming
• precision agriculture
• blockchain technology

vertical farming- Vertical farming has several significant advantages, starting with the fact that vertical stacking of growing shelves takes up significantly less area during crop and food production. Vertical farming requires up to 70% less water. It can manage practically all elements of growth, including light, water, and humidity, allowing natural resources to be utilised to their full potential.

smart farming-This strategy, also known as automated farming, automates many of the activities required in the growing/packaging/transporting cycle, making the overall agricultural process considerably more efficient and labour-intensive. It employs seeding drones, automated watering and harvesting, self-driving tractors, and other robotic substitutes for traditional farmworkers.

precision agriculture-Almost every commercial farm in this nation has undergone a transformation, abandoning old agricultural practises in favour of contemporary, digitally-managed precision operations. Every aspect involved in crop production is now precisely handled, including moisture levels, insect and vermin management, soil composition, growth rates, and even climatic controls. This degree of accuracy has enabled farmers to better manage their expenses while also increasing efficiency and output to astounding levels.

Blockchain technology -Blockchain is a sort of database that keeps information in groups (called blocks) that are connected together. New blocks are produced as new information is added into the database, producing a chronological sequence of events. Blockchain's unique decentralised nature makes it extremely helpful in the agriculture business. This enables for the verification of items and methods, as well as the formation of marketplaces for transparent premium products. A lot of agricultural difficulties can be handled in one fell swoop because to Blockchain's ability to manage ownership records and provide resistance against manipulation. Food fraud is no longer a problem. Food safety recalls can now be handled much more efficiently, inefficiencies in the food supply chain can be recognised, and food traceability has become much more accessible.

Agroforestry

• The planting, cultivation, and preservation of woody vegetation, or trees, coupled with the growing of food crops and/or raising animals is known as agroforestry.
• It's a strategy of managing property that combines planting native tree species with more environmentally friendly agricultural production techniques to bring long-term financial benefits to farmers and ecological advantages to the neighborhood residents.

Benefits of Agroforestry

• Agroforestry can improve livelihoods via improving health and nutrition, boosting economic growth, and enhancing ecosystem sustainability and environmental resilience.
• For the sustainable production of specialty nut and fruit crops, high-value medicines, dairy and beef cattle, sheep, goats, and biomass for biofuel, agroforestry holds out a lot of potential.
• Agroforestry systems also produce attempted methods for long-term reducing emissions, soil improvement, biodiversity preservation, and enhancements to air and water quality, which are advantageous to landowners as well as society.
• The interactions between trees, shrubs, crops, and cattle result in the advantages of agroforestry. In order to decrease attack on crops and animals as well as competition among and between species, agroforestry aims to maximize beneficial interactions like mutualism and commensalism. For instance, crops that tolerate shade, like turmeric or pineapple, benefit from the moist shaded microclimate under some crop trees.
• One approach to profit from wild foods in a more controlled manner that respects the ecology is through forest farming. Under the shelter of a forest canopy, this technique involves growing specific crops including fruits, nuts, mushrooms, ginseng and other medicinal herbs, woody flowers, maple syrup, and more. Forest farmers will carefully modify the current canopy to offer the best degrees of shade while preserving biodiversity and ecosystem advantages in order to create the best growth conditions.
• Agroforestry techniques frequently focus creating a balance between maintaining natural forests and developing an effective agriculture system. Sustainable agroforestry provides a powerful one-two combination of supplying food to people and preventing further environmental degradation at a time when traditional industrial agriculture is a major cause of deforestation worldwide.
• Agroforestry has the capacity to restore soil and groundwater resources, stop droughts, and provide farmers with long-term financial benefits.

Sustainable agroforestry done by REECC-

A grove of 100 fruit trees may feed a family of four with healthy meals and a sustainable income when they are interplant with seasonal vegetables, therefore preventing migration into urban areas. Since 2000, REECC has restored hectares of land in 9 divisions of Rajasthan by planting a variety of fruit trees, including mango, guava, amla, and many more. We are also planning to build nurseries in areas of Rajasthan to reduce transportation costs and improve seedling acclimatization.  As the trees grow, they will prevent Rajasthan's pollution and climate change while reducing hunger and poverty. Insects, bees, small animals, and birds will all benefit from the food and shelter that the trees will offer. By increasing water absorption and reducing runoff during rain events, better watershed health will also benefit biodiversity. By preserving soils, filtering runoff, and more, this will aid in maintaining the cleanliness of local waterways.