The importance of irrigation is a hot topic among farmers. This technique brings advantages and even contributes to the sustainability and food security of the planet.

As an extremely relevant technology, irrigation has become part of Agriculture 4.0 practices and has become an ally in the country’s development. It increases the farm’s productivity by optimizing the use of natural resources, which boosts results in the agricultural commodities market.

Want to know more about this? Read on!

What is irrigation and what are its objectives?

Irrigation encompasses practices capable of artificially applying water to plants. It therefore refers to the methods, equipment and systems used to provide the necessary amount of water and humidity for a given crop.

The main objectives of irrigation include:

• The purpose is to meet the water demand of plants when climatic conditions do not provide enough water. In this way, crops thrive, regardless of the challenges of the climate.
• Programming and control of the water supply, which enables uniform and efficient distribution and less waste.
• Reduce water stress and increase crop yields.
• Maximizing production and minimizing costs for producers.

Read also: How does the price of inputs affect agricultural production?

How does irrigation fit into the context of agriculture 4.0?

Now that you’ve understood irrigation, let’s explain what Agriculture 4.0 is, also known as the fourth agricultural revolution. This is a concept that seeks to bring new techniques to optimize field production in a sustainable way.

With Agriculture 4.0, producers can improve the technical, operational, and financial management of their businesses. To reap the benefits, it will be essential to plan correctly and invest in technology to improve production processes such as irrigation.

To promote greater efficiency and reduce waste, companies are investing in alternatives that make it possible to manage and integrate data, such as:

• Using sensors and cloud applications to monitor the soil in real time and obtain information on temperature, humidity, and salinity. This way, you know exactly when to add irrigation when it’s really needed.
• Software, systems, and equipment that generate materials such as agricultural maps with climate analysis and detailed diagnoses. In this way, producers have tools that make it easier to make decisions about crop management.
• Drones capture images that help identify pests, planting failures and other relevant issues, allowing problems to be solved quickly.

By integrating irrigation with Agriculture 4.0 practices, small, medium and large-scale producers are able to manage their agricultural activities more effectively. As a result, they become more competitive on the international market.

How important is irrigation in Agriculture 4.0?

In Agriculture 4.0, the importance of irrigation consists precisely in encompassing strategies to increase the efficiency of its use, with a view to improving water and energy security. Several benefits can be obtained from this. We’ve listed the main ones below!

●      Guaranteed water supply

In many regions, rainfall is insufficient or irregular to meet the water requirements of crops. Irrigation provides a constant supply of water. This ensures healthy plant growth throughout the crop cycle.

• Read here: The influence of climatic phenomena on the commodities market

 ●      Increased productivity

Irrigation boosts agricultural production by allowing multiple crop cycles in the same year. As such, it provides conditions for plant development, even in places where water is a limiting factor in crop yields.

By monitoring agricultural operations in real time, you know exactly when to resort to the practice.

●      Crop diversification

The controlled availability of water through irrigation makes it possible to diversify a region’s crops. This makes it possible to choose plants that are more suitable for local and global markets, as well as contributing to food security and economic stability.

●      Strategy to overcome the effects of drought

In periods of drought, irrigation acts as an adaptation measure, as it reduces the adverse impacts on crops. It therefore reduces significant losses in agricultural production, which is particularly important in the commodities market as it avoids significant swings in supply and demand.

●      Better use of water resources

Modern irrigation systems are designed to optimize water use, which minimizes waste and promotes water efficiency. In a global context of increasing water scarcity, this is an essential measure for society.

●      Advantages for producers and consumers

Irrigation in Agriculture 4.0 helps to increase productivity and crop quality, which reduces costs and improves sustainability in the field. Consumers, in turn, can trace the production chain, have better quality food and know that socio-environmental impacts are minimized in production.

Although Irrigation 4.0 is not yet feasible for all producers, it is a growing trend. In this sense, connectivity is increasingly being sought, with a focus on operational efficiency and preserving the planet.

hEDGEpoint: risk management against price variations

You may have noticed that irrigation in agriculture is a crucial tool for managing risks related to climate variability. With it, you can guarantee stable crop production.

By supplying water in a controlled and efficient manner, irrigation helps to mitigate the impacts of periods of drought or irregular rainfall. In this way, it reduces the chances of significant production losses and allows farmers to cope with unforeseen climatic challenges.

The technique also allows producers to maintain consistent production over time, which contributes to risk management in agriculture. In addition, the management of commodity risks in agriculture can be improved through the use of hedging instruments.

Hedging involves protecting against price fluctuations. In this way, producers can set future prices for their crops. Irrigation plays a vital role in this context because, by ensuring more predictable production, it facilitates the implementation of more effective hedging tools.

Thus, the combination of irrigation as a tool for managing risks associated with loss of agricultural productivity and hedging as protection against market risks provides benefits. These include a comprehensive and synergistic approach to tackling the complex challenges faced by farmers.

Want to know how you can manage risks in your business? Contact a hEDGEpoint professional now!