Gilan agriculture at the crossroads of tradition and technology; Is the fourth generation coming?

Rasht- Smallness of lands, increase in production costs and limited resources have made the movement of Gilan agriculture towards new technologies and smart agriculture a serious necessity.

Arjan Ambassador of the Provinces Group - Raha Afshar: Gilan's agriculture is on the threshold of a transformation that can affect the future of production, food security and rural economy of the province. A development that is tied to challenges such as climate change, limited water and soil resources, increasing production costs and the smallness of agricultural lands on the one hand, and on the other hand, it provides new opportunities to use new technologies, increase productivity and create added value in the agricultural sector.

Gilan province is considered one of the important hubs of the country's agricultural production, with extensive agricultural, horticultural, livestock and poultry breeding and aquaculture capacities.

Climatic diversity, the availability of fertile lands, water resources, proper rainfall and local knowledge of farmers have provided the basis for the production of all kinds of strategic products in this province; A capacity that can play a more effective role in ensuring the country's food security and the economic development of rural areas in the case of scientific management and the use of new technologies.

The annual production of more than three and a half million tons of agricultural products in about 70 product groups and having the first place in the country in the production of a number of products shows the importance of the agricultural sector in the economic structure of Gilan.

However, the continuation of this position in the new conditions is not possible only by relying on traditional production methods, and moving towards knowledge-based agriculture, intelligent management of resources and development of the value chain of products is considered an increasing necessity.

In such a situation, the concept of "fourth generation agriculture" is proposed as one of the new approaches to agricultural development; An approach that combines digital technologies, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, drones, satellite images, and data analysis systems, which enables more accurate management of farms, gardens, and livestock, poultry, and aquatic units.

In this model, decisions about irrigation time, the amount of fertilizer consumption, continuous monitoring of water quality, health and nutritional behavior of aquatic animals, control of pests and diseases, forecasting and improvement of quantitative and qualitative production, and even management of supply and marketing are done more than in the past based on detailed information and scientific analysis.

The importance of this development for Gilan is twofold due to the special characteristics of the province's agriculture. Rice cultivation in scattered paddy fields, tea and olive production in sloping lands, citrus and hazelnut horticulture, olive growing in susceptible areas and peanut production, each have different needs in the field of resource management, plant nutrition, pest and disease control, and product quality improvement.

Smart technologies can provide solutions to reduce production costs, optimal use of inputs and increase the quality of agricultural products in accordance with these features. However, the transition to "fourth generation" agriculture is not limited to the purchase of advanced equipment.

The initial cost of technologies, smallness of land, limited access to stable internet in some rural areas, the necessity of training farmers and operators, and the need for proper infrastructure to process and use data, are among the obstacles that must be considered for the successful implementation of this model.

On the other hand, designing local patterns of agricultural development based on the advantages of each city can provide the context for the targeted use of new technologies. Focusing on regional products, strengthening production cooperatives, developing digital agricultural service companies, creating smart model farms, and completing the processing and marketing chain are among the solutions that can strengthen the link between Gilan's traditional agriculture and the digital economy.

In the meantime, Mahmoud Hoshiarfard, a faculty member of the Gilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, examines the agricultural capacities of the province, the requirements for entering the "fourth generation of agriculture" and the need to pay attention to regional advantages, and explains ways to move towards smart production, increasing productivity and sustainable development of Gilan agriculture.

Fourth generation agriculture; Linking technology and sustainable production

Mahmoud Hoshiarfard, a member of the faculty of Gilan Agricultural Research and Natural Resources Center, in a conversation with Mehr reporter, referring to the necessity of transformation in agricultural production methods, stated: Fourth generation agriculture or smart agriculture is the result of linking advanced digital technologies with agricultural activities, and its main goal is to increase productivity, promote production sustainability, and improve profitability in the value chain of agricultural production.

He added: In this model, agriculture goes beyond conventional mechanization and by using accurate data, it provides the possibility of continuous monitoring of farm conditions, risk prediction and scientific decision making about production operations.

A faculty member of the Gilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center stated that the increase in population, climate change, and the limitation of production resources are among the most important challenges of the future of agriculture.

Hoshiarfard continued: In fourth generation agriculture, the information obtained from the farm or garden is the basis for decision-making, and instead of relying on the same and general methods, the farmer can take the necessary measures according to the actual condition of the product and environmental conditions.

Key technologies in smart agriculture

Referring to the technologies used in fourth-generation agriculture, he said: Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and machine learning, drones, satellite images and tracking technologies of the production chain are among the tools that can transform the management of agricultural production.

A faculty member of the Gilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center explained: Sensors installed in the soil and environment can record information such as soil moisture, ambient temperature, and plant growth conditions. Analyzing these data helps the farmer to determine the right time of irrigation and some agricultural operations more accurately and to avoid the unnecessary consumption of water and inputs.

Referring to the use of artificial intelligence in agricultural data analysis, Hoshiar Fard said: by examining recorded information, smart algorithms can play a role in predicting the probability of occurrence of certain pests and diseases, estimating crop yield, and identifying unfavorable conditions for crop growth; Of course, the accuracy of these predictions depends on the quality of the data and the appropriateness of the models used with the local conditions.

He added: UAVs and satellite images also provide the possibility of extensive monitoring of fields and gardens, identification of water and nutritional stress and investigation of vegetation changes. This information can be used to identify points that need more investigation and more targeted implementation of fertilization or pest control operations in agricultural and natural fields.

Referring to the importance of tracking products in the supply chain, this researcher noted: Digital technologies can facilitate the recording and transfer of product information from the production stage to processing and supply. Such a capability helps to improve the transparency of the supply chain, ensure quality, and facilitate access to the target markets, in case of the establishment of valid information registration and control systems.

Reducing production costs with intelligent management of inputs

Emphasizing the necessity of optimal use of resources in agriculture, Hoshiar Fard stated: One of the important advantages of fourth generation agriculture is the possibility of more accurate management of inputs and reduction of production costs by preventing unnecessary consumption of water, fertilizers and pesticides.

He added: In conventional methods, irrigation operations or consumption of inputs may be carried out without paying enough attention to the difference in the conditions of different parts of the farm; But smart technologies allow identifying the different needs of plants in different parts of the earth, and in this way, resources can be applied according to the actual needs of the crop.

The faculty member of Gilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center continued: In addition to lowering part of the production costs, reducing the consumption of inputs can reduce the pressure on the environment and, along with proper agricultural management, help maintain the quality of soil and water resources.

According to him, increasing performance and improving product quality are also other goals of this approach; However, the degree of realization of these benefits depends on the type of product, climatic conditions, quality of technology implementation and technical knowledge of users.

Smart agriculture serving the strategic products of Gilan

Referring to the diversity of Gilan's agricultural products, Hoshiarfard said: the agricultural and horticultural conditions of the province have provided a suitable ground for designing diverse models of smart agriculture; But the technologies used should be chosen according to the needs of each product and the environmental characteristics of the region.

He added: In the paddy fields of Gilan, intelligent water management and monitoring of rice growth conditions can be effective in optimizing agricultural operations. In tea, kiwi, hazelnut, citrus, and olive orchards, environmental monitoring technologies can help manage plant nutrition, identify environmental stresses, and plan more precisely for pest and disease control.

A faculty member of the Gilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, referring to the conditions of the province's steep and mountainous lands, said: In some areas, difficult access to gardens and the extent of natural areas limit continuous monitoring.

He added: In this model, by carefully examining the climatic conditions, water resources, soil characteristics, production capacity and market situation, priority and strategic products can be specified for each city, according to its advantages. Of course, this does not mean limiting the agriculture of each city to one product, but the goal is to identify key products to focus support and develop the value chain.

The use of aerial images, monitoring systems and digital tools can reduce some of these difficulties and provide experts with more accurate information for managing gardens and natural resources.

Hoshiar Fard stated: In addition to farm and garden management, transformation and processing industries should also benefit from the capacity of new technologies. Registration of product information, quality control, management of storage and cold storage, transportation and tracking of processing steps can help to reduce waste, increase market transparency and increase the added value of agricultural products of Gilan.

the smallness of the lands; An obstacle in the path of fourth generation agriculture

He said that one of the important obstacles to the development of smart agriculture in the province is the smallness and dispersion of land and said: In many areas of the north of the country, especially in rice fields and tea gardens, agricultural plots are small and scattered. In such a situation, the purchase of expensive equipment by each farmer independently may not be economically justified.

A faculty member of the Gilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center added: The cost of procuring sensors, monitoring equipment, drones, and specialized software is another limitation. To enter this field, farmers need models that reduce initial costs and provide access to technological services at a cost commensurate with their economic power.

Emphasizing the importance of education and promotion of smart agriculture, Hoshiarfard stated: familiarity with new technologies, how to use information and the ability to apply data-based recommendations are among the requirements for the success of these plans. Without continuous training and technical support, even state-of-the-art equipment may not lead to sustainable productivity improvements.

He considered stable internet access as one of the other prerequisites for the development of digital agriculture and said: in some rural and mountainous areas, communication limitations can make it difficult to use online systems and real-time monitoring; Therefore, the development of communication infrastructures and the design of systems that can be used even in the conditions of Internet restrictions, should be considered.