Agri-tech and precision agriculture technologies to increase maize productivity and farmers' income

Introduction

Agriculture occupies a central place in India, not only economically but also culturally and socially. The income of many farmers remained distressingly low, leading to widespread rural poverty (Birthal et al., 2017) [4] . The development strategy primarily focused on raising output and ensuring food security but didn't explicitly address the need to enhance farmers' income. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for formulating effective strategies to improve farmers' livelihoods (Sendhil et al., 2018) [9] . Maize emerges as a pivotal player in the ambitious goal of doubling farmers' income. The global production of maize was 1,162 million tonnes in 2020, with the United States being the top producer of the crop, followed by China and Brazil (FAOSTAT, 2022) [6] . Maize is both economically and nutritionally important for India, as the livelihoods of over 9 million farmers and their families are dependent on its cultivation and associated industries. The total area under maize production in India is approximately 9.89 million hectares, with Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh having significant areas under cultivation. The economic impact is notable, with maize contributing around Rs. 800 billion annually to India's economy (DMR Vision 2030, 2011). Globally, India contributes approximately 2.4% of maize production. Domestically, the demand for maize stands at 26 million metric tons annually, primarily driven by its role as a staple food, livestock feed, and raw material for industrial products. Maize cultivation in India is spread across various states. The primary maize-producing states include Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan, with the crop grown in both kharif (monsoon) and rabi (winter) seasons. Maize yields are generally higher in irrigated regions, ranging from 20 to 25 quintals/acres, compared to 16-18 quintals/acre in rain-fed areas. Maize is not just a staple food but also a vital industrial crop, used in the production of starch, ethanol, and other derivatives. Ethanol production from maize plays a significant role in India's energy security and helps in meeting renewable energy targets. Over time, maize's contribution to India's agricultural GDP has increased, with its role in value-added industries expanding rapidly. Many maize-processing units have diversified into by-product industries, including ethanol distilleries, starch plants, and animal feed production facilities. Additionally, the government's emphasis on promoting ethanol blending programs has further boosted maize's industrial significance. The integrated development of maize and its associated industries is critical for achieving sustainable agricultural growth and improving farmer incomes. The existing practices in Maize cultivation have not undergone significant reform. Farmers in the USA, Australia, Turkey, Europe, Brazil, Israel, China, Iran, Egypt, and Argentina have been using drip irrigation with fertigation to produce maize in recent years due to its many advantages (Praveen et. al., 2021) [10] . While some progressive farmers have achieved yields exceeding 163 quintals per acre in US, the majority of Maize growers still operate at yields ranging from 15 to 25 quintals per acre. To address these constraints, the adoption of Precision Agriculture (PA) and Agri-Tech innovations has become increasingly relevant (Basavaraj et al., 2024a). Precision agriculture refers to a suite of technologies-such as GPSguided equipment, variable rate technology, drone surveillance, remote sensing, and data-driven decision support systems-that aim to optimize field-level www.extensionjournal.com management for increased productivity and reduced resource consumption (Zhang et al., 2002; Gebbers & Adamchuk, 2010) [11,7] . Enhancing cultivation practices has the potential to significantly multiply yields. Efforts in this direction have been initiated and aim to extend these improvements throughout the farming community. The study was taken up based on the previous studies on Sugarcane (Basavaraj et. al., 2024b) the objective of doubling farmers' income by enhancing Maize productivity with implementation of improved agronomic practices and leveraging agri-technologies for sustainable sugarcane production.

Materials and Methods

Experimental Design

The field trials were conducted between 2023 and 2024 across different seasons (Kharif, Rabi, and Summer) at multiple experimental sites in Karnataka: The maize hybrid DKC9178 (Bayar-Dekalb) was selected for its adaptability across seasons and superior performance under precision agronomic conditions.

Digital Agronomy

The experimental fields were digitally integrated with AgriApp services, providing real-time crop management advisories, pest and disease alerts, and optimized fertigation schedules. An agronomist oversaw field operations based on satellite and sensor-driven diagnostics.

Irrigation and Fertigation

A drip irrigation system was used to deliver precise quantities of water and nutrients directly to the maize root zones, significantly enhancing water use efficiency and plant health. Fertigation involved the application of both chemical and organic fertilizers, including Urea, DAP, MAP, and Criyagen biostimulants.

Drone and Satellite Monitoring

Drones equipped with multispectral sensors were used to generate NDVI, NDRE, MSAVI, GNDVI, and LCI indices. These indices provided actionable insights on crop vigor, chlorophyll levels, and stress detection, enabling timely interventions to correct nutrient deficiencies and pest outbreaks.

Cost of Cultivation

The cost of cultivation included expenses for land preparation, drip system amortization (spread over three years), inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides), drone services, and intercultural operations.

Results

Germination

Cost of Cultivation

Cost of cultivation analysis reveals that input costs formed a major share, particularly due to improved nutrient and pest management strategies. Although the initial investment in drip irrigation and high-quality inputs slightly elevated costs compared to traditional practices, the substantial yield gains made the intervention highly cost-effective (Table 3).

Profitability Analysis

The profitability analysis highlights that all precision agriculture plots achieved a B:C ratio above 3.0, with Campus_S_4 achieving the highest at 3.77. The lowest cost per quintal and the highest net income were realized from the Kharif season Campus_S_4 plot, further validating the economic viability of the interventions. The B:C ratios above 3.0 across all plots and seasons signify excellent economic returns compared to conventional maize farming (Table 4).

Discussion

The findings from this study strongly support the hypothesis that integrating precision agriculture and agri-tech solutions leads to a significant improvement in maize yield and farm profitability. Across the three experimental plots, yields ranged from 51 to 59 quintals per acre, representing a 250% increase over the standard farmer practice, which yielded only 20 quintals per acre. These results underscore the productivity potential of precision agronomy when implemented at the farm level.

Yield Improvement

The higher yields achieved in the Campus plots can be attributed to a combination of digital monitoring, scientific spacing, optimized drip fertigation, and the use of highquality inputs. Plot Campus_S_4, with the highest germination rate (98.2%) and plant count (44,100 per acre), attained the top yield of 59 quintals per acre. This is significantly higher than the national average and even exceeds many conventional irrigated farms in India, where average yields typically range from 15-25 quintals per acre (DMR Vision 2030, 2011). Such improvements are consistent with previous studies highlighting the yieldenhancing impact of drip irrigation and fertigation, which enable better nutrient uptake and uniform moisture distribution (Rao et al., 2021) [8] . Drip irrigation's impact on quality, yield, and growth Abd El-Hafez et al. (2001) [1] found that, in comparison to furrow irrigation in maize, the drip irrigation method improved field and crop water use efficiency by 35 and 9.52 percent, respectively. Similarly, real-time field insights from remote sensing tools and AgriApp-based digital agronomy allowed for timely interventions, resulting in healthier crop stands and better grain filling.

Cost of Cultivation and Profitability

Although the precision plots had higher input costs (₹35,840-₹38,440/acre) compared to the standard farmer practice (₹19,050/acre), their net income was significantly higher, reaching up to ₹1,04,050/acre in Campus_S_4. The Benefit-Cost (B:C) ratio for the best-performing precision plot stood at 3.77, compared to 2.52 for traditional practice, confirming superior economic viability. The cost per quintal of maize was also considerably lower under improved practices (₹636-753) compared to ₹952 for standard methods. This not only reflects better input-use efficiency but also aligns with findings from Gebbers & Adamchuk (2010) [7] , who showed that precision farming reduces production costs per unit by optimizing resource use and reducing waste.

Efficiency of Improved Agricultural Practices

A major highlight of the study is the resource efficiency achieved through drip irrigation and precision input management. Water savings of up to 30-50% were observed in previous studies (Rao et al., 2021) [8] , supporting the notion that drip systems outperform flood irrigation not only in conserving water but also in making irrigation a less labor-intensive and more manageable task during crop growth stages. Further, precision agriculture allowed for site-specific application of fertilizers and pesticides, minimizing environmental impact and lowering chemical usage while maximizing output (Zhang et al., 2002) [11] . The use of drones for foliar application ensured uniform coverage and timely disease/pest management, which significantly contributed to yield protection and quality enhancement. These practices are especially relevant in the context of Indian agriculture, where overuse of fertilizers and poor irrigation practices have led to declining soil health and water table levels. Hence, the climate-smart approach followed in this study promotes long-term sustainability, in addition to short-term economic benefits.

Conclusion

References

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