Agricultural mobile apps have been around for a while. Farmers, processors, aggregators, etc have confided in them to scale their ventures. And as technology continues to seep into the industry, developers of these apps infuse more functionalities.
The added functions these apps perform have made them indispensable for farmers. They rely on them for record-keeping, tracking and monitoring, decision-making, and even financial management.
According to reports, the global mobile app market is heading towards a 14.3% increase from 2024 to 2030. Although agricultural apps may not be included in the study scope, it’s an indication that apps will be more important in our lives in the coming years.Â
In 2024, as more technology trends emerge, the significance of mobile apps in agriculture will only intensify. AI assistants, generative AI, blockchain, and GIS/GPS are solutions that may supercharge mobile app adoption in agriculture.
Therefore, it’s important to keep the discussion around these apps alive. As you read, you’ll discover the impacts of apps in agriculture. You’ll also discover 5 mobile apps shaping agriculture in 2024.
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Role of Mobile Apps in Agriculture
Over the years, there have been calls to modernise agriculture through tech. Mobile apps provide such an opportunity. Through their various functionalities, they address long-standing challenges plaguing the sector.
In the past, mapping out a farm required rigorous efforts from more than one person. The use of ropes and pegs to measure land boundaries was prevalent. Later on, GPS devices came and made land mapping more seamless. However, only a few could afford to own the devices.
Fast forward to this day, mobile apps come with GPS technology that enables precision farming. Farmers can leverage these apps to map out boundaries, monitor soil variabilities, and track crop growth.
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Additionally, some apps offer image recognition and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. With these two trends, they can monitor crop health and diagnose diseases precisely without relying on guesswork.
Other aspects that illustrate the role of apps in agriculture include weather forecasts and predictive analytics, access to agricultural markets and processes information, and input optimization.
These apps serve as virtual assistants, providing farmers with valuable insights, real-time information, and tools to optimise their operations. Through user-friendly interfaces and intuitive functionalities, they empower farmers of all scales to make informed decisions and maximise productivity.
5 Mobile Apps Making Waves in Agriculture
1. Farmable
Farmable is a comprehensive farm management mobile app designed to streamline agricultural operations and optimize productivity for farmers of all scales.Â
It is like a digital hub for farm management, as it pools together resources and tools matching farmers’ everyday activities.
Additionally, The app has a user-friendly interface and intuitive functionalities that empower farmers to take control of their operations in a centralised platform.
Farmable’s key features include:
Task Scheduling
Farmable allows users to schedule tasks such as planting, irrigation, fertilisation, and pest control with precision and efficiency.
With such a degree of control, farmers can schedule and prioritise tasks for timely execution. This leads to increased productivity and reduced downtime.
Crop Planning
Based on factors like soil health, climatic conditions, and market demand, farmers can plan their crop rotations. Farmable allows them to plan their cropping system, select the most suitable variety, and optimise planting.
This allows farmers to maximise yield, minimise risk, and optimise resource allocation. It also gives farmers the chance to keep historical data for future reference and informed decision-making.
Inventory Management
Farmable allows farmers to track and manage their resources. They can manage their inventory of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and other inputs. This is a massive upgrade to traditional record-keeping and management systems. It ensures adequate supply levels and prevents stockouts.
The benefits of this feature can not be overstretched. With accurate inventory records, farmers can avoid unnecessary expenses. These types of expenses typically emerge from overstocking or emergency purchases. They can have a telling impact on production costs and ROI at the end of every production cycle.
Field Monitoring
Farmable enables farmers to monitor field conditions, crop growth stages, and pest/disease outbreaks through real-time data visualisation and analytics. With this, they can detect issues early and implement timely interventions. As a result, crop loss is minimised and investment is preserved.
2. Plantix
Plantix is prominently known for its AI-powered image recognition technology. The technology diagnoses plant diseases, nutrient deficiency, and pest infiltration.Â
Think of it as a virtual crop doctor which allows for quick, precise, and accurate diagnosis of crop health. Farmers can just take a photo of their plants, and Plantix gives them instant diagnosis and recommendations.
However, plantix offers more than just disease and pest identification. It comes with other exciting features, such as fertiliser calculation, cultivation tips, and resources. And if users have any questions, Plantix allows them access to a community, where they can share knowledge.
Plantix has several exciting features, which include:
Image Recognition
Plantix uses advanced image recognition technology to analyse photos of plants and identify symptoms of diseases, pests, and nutrient deficiencies. It saves farmers time and effort, enabling them to identify issues early and take proactive measures to protect their crops.
Instant Diagnosis
Within seconds of uploading a photo, Plantix provides farmers with a detailed diagnosis of the plant’s health status, including the specific disease or pest affecting the plant. With this knowledge, farmers can determine their next course of action to address the problem and minimise risk.
Crop Library
The app features a comprehensive crop library with information on a wide range of crops, including common diseases, pests, and nutrient requirements. Farmers can access valuable information on crop management practices and disease prevention strategies. Additionally, they can learn nutrient management techniques, enabling them to make informed decisions and optimize crop health.
Community Support
Plantix fosters a vibrant community of farmers, agronomists, and experts who share knowledge, insights, and best practices for crop health management. They can tap into the collective wisdom of the Plantix community, seeking advice, troubleshooting problems, and learning from the experiences of others to improve their crop management practices.
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3. Locus Map
Locus Map serves as a digital navigator for farmers. It offers them access to detailed maps, GPS tracking, and route planning tools to navigate their fields with ease. Typically, the app was designed to enhance operational efficiency and offer precision in navigation. Some of the app’s exciting features include:
Detailed Maps
Locus Map offers access to detailed maps with customizable layers, including satellite imagery, topographic data, and field boundaries. With the app, farmers can accurately map out their fields, identify land features, and visualize terrain variations. As a result, they can plan and execute their activities with greater precision.
GPS Tracking
The app provides real-time GPS tracking that allows farmers to monitor their movements. Additionally, they can track field operations, and navigate to specific locations within their fields.
In operations like soil sample collection, the GPS feature allows farmers to collect samples precisely from different locations in the farm. With the coordinates of these sample points, farmers can draft nutrient distribution maps across their farms.
Field Boundary Mapping
Farmers can use Locus Map to accurately map out field boundaries, delineate land parcels, and establish virtual boundaries for precision farming practices.
With well-defined virtual boundaries across their fields, farmers can optimise planting patterns. And as a trend in smart irrigation, GPS can also help manage irrigation zones and implement precision farming techniques.Â
Offline Access
Locus Map offers offline access to maps and navigation functionalities. So, in areas with limited or no internet connectivity, farmers can navigate their fields seamlessly. They can record data, and execute field operations without interruption.
4. Agrivi
Agrivi is designed to address various complexities of modern agriculture. It’s more like a digital hub that empowers farmers with control over several aspects of their operations.Â
They can track crop performance and analyse financial metrics, monitor field conditions and streamline their workflow, increase yield, and enhance profitability.
Key features include:
Crop Planning
Agrivi offers tools for crop planning and management, allowing farmers to create tailored crop plans, schedule tasks, and optimize input usage. Through strategic crop plans, farmers can make the most out of resource allocation for improved profitability.
Field Monitoring
The platform enables farmers to monitor field conditions, track crop growth stages, and assess plant health through real-time data visualization and analytics. With this info, farmers can detect issues early, implement timely interventions, and minimize crop losses.
Financial Tracking
With this feature, financial analysis and tracking are possible. Farmers can monitor expenses, revenues, and profitability metrics in real time. They can identify areas for improvement, make informed budgeting decisions, and ultimately increase their bottom line.
Data Integration and Insights
The platform integrates data from various sources to help in decision-making. For example, data from weather stations, IoT sensors, and satellite imagery are collected to offer predictive analytics and forecasting.
This is important to anticipate challenges, minimize risks, and make informed decisions. As a result, farmers enjoy sustainable and more resilient farming practices.
5. Agriwebb
Agriwebb is a leading livestock management app in livestock technology. It offers tools for herd recording, mustering, health monitoring, and financial tracking. It offers a wide range of functionalities like individual animal data recording, health and performance metrics tracking, and operations optimisation.Â
Agriwebb empowers farmers to make data-driven decisions and optimize their operations for improved herd health and productivity.
Some of its major features include:
Herd Recording
Agriwebb enables farmers to record and track detailed information about individual animals, including birth dates, weights, treatments, and movements. With these records, they can track the performance and health of individual animals, identify trends, and make informed breeding and management decisions.
Mustering and Movement Tracking
The app offers tools for planning and executing mustering activities. It can also track animal movements, and manage grazing rotations. This enables farmers to optimise grazing patterns, minimise stress on animals, and maximise pasture utilisation.
Health Monitoring and Treatment Records
Agriwebb allows farmers to monitor animal health status, record treatments, and vaccinations, and track disease outbreaks with ease. This helps to reduce disease spread, and address health complications early,
Cloud-Based Data Storage and Accessibility
Agriwebb offers cloud-based data storage. So farmers can access and manage their records from anywhere, anytime, and from any device. They can stay connected with their data even when they are on the field. This fosters collaboration between workers and management to improve operational efficiency.
There are a lot more mobile apps aiding farmers in their venture. Some of these apps work for a global audience. Others are designed for local use, depending on location. Regardless, they help solve age-old problems in agriculture and make tasks easier. They have become an integral part of agritech. However, this is hardly the limit.
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As we look ahead, the future of agritech promises even more groundbreaking innovations. These innovations would be driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain technology.
It’s expected that mobile apps will keep evolving. Integration with emerging technologies will further push the boundaries in productivity, and sustainability. And they hold the potential to address global food security challenges.
In Conclusion
Mobile apps have emerged as indispensable tools in modern agriculture. They empower farmers with knowledge, resources, and tools to thrive in modern agriculture.
The five apps highlighted in this article represent a glimpse of the potential of mobile technology in agriculture. So, farmers must tap into the power of mobile apps to optimise their operations, increase productivity, and contribute to a more sustainable future for agriculture.
With continued innovation and adoption, mobile apps will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of shaping agriculture in the years to come.
