A Comparative Study on Perceptions, Constraints, and Technology Adoption Between Precision and Conventional Farming Communities

Abstract

A paradigm shift in agricultural operations is precision farming, when data mining-based technology is applied to maximize resource utilization and increase outputs and promote sustainability. Precision agriculture is one opportunity that has potential in India, where the majorities of farmers are smallholders and face such challenges as water scarcity, predictability of climate, and degrading soil health. The study will provide an early study on the feasibility and impacts of precision farming in some of the selected regions in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. This study combined both methods in mixed-method research, where the qualitative data gained in the discussions with the stakeholders and interviews with the farmers was supplemented with the field-based data of drone-based farming data as well as the global positioning system-based irrigation systems and soil sensors. The outcomes indicate that there are considerable increases in input efficiency, production increases, and pest control in spite of the challenges encountered, such as great initial costs, poor digital literacy, and insufficient infrastructure. In the paper, the research gaps, such as the need to have standardized evaluation frameworks, socio-cultural analysis, and long-term effect assessment, are critical. It also underlines the importance of skills development, inclusive technology design, and legislative assistance to precision farming growth. Recommendations for the future involve the establishment of localized models through FPOs, the promotion of public-private partnerships, and the inclusion of precision agriculture in the national projects. The study provides a firm foundation upon which the understanding of the ways in which precision farming can be adapted to the Indian context can be obtained, despite its shortcomings when it comes to the coverage and geographical scope. Finally, it advocates a holistic, contextual, innovative method for farmers, making precision farming a powerful source of fair and sustainable rural transformation.