Employing Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture: The Potential for Jobs Creation by Farming Business People
Technology in all its forms has impacted farming practices. The development of Artificial Intelligence has opened new prospects for farming entrepreneurs. The belief that AI is going to replace humans in the workforce is a myth that has been debunked since the dawn of AI. AI will improve productivity in agriculture, create work, expand the available labor pool for jobs. This paper assesses the potential of farming entrepreneurs in strategically deploying AI technologies to create jobs and at the same time improve the efficiency and sustainability of their farming operations.
AI in Agriculture: The Basics
Artificial intelligence, in simple terms, is when a machine is able to perform a function requiring human intelligence. In agriculture, artificial intelligence can take big data to make predictions about yield, determine soil health, recognize threats to crops and optimize the input of resources. These functions improve farming operations downright. For farming entrepreneurs, the potential of AI can do much more than enhance profit margins. Job creation is a very realistic and tangible outcome.
Farm Management Systems Enhanced by Artificial Intelligence
The use of AI in farm management is probably the most immediate use case of the technology. Sophisticated AI systems can track weather conditions, soil health, and crop health, and thus, assist farmers in making informed choices about crop planting timelines, watering, and harvests.
These systems would require qualified AI technicians, agritech data analysts, and AI systems operators to assist in the management of the AI systems. The application of AI in management systems in small and medium farm enterprises would yield an expansion in the operation of these enterprises, the recruitment of high level employees, the establishment of training centers in these enterprises to upskill the rural digital agricultural workforce, and the enhanced AI management of these enterprises.
Optimizing Input and Labor in Precision Farming
Because of AI, precision farming permits farmers to utilize resources optimally, in terms of usage of water, fertilizers and pesticides. Drones, sensors and AI driven robots can identify and target specific areas in the farm, specific areas with deficient soil moisture, nutrients and crop health, and can therefore, assist in reducing resource wastage while improving the quality of the harvested produce.
While AI automation could take over a farm’s repetitive jobs, it would also create new opportunities in supervising, control, and coordination of all automation tasks. Responsibilities like drone pilot, maintenance of farm bots, and AI farming coordinate are all new and essential occupations in farm automation. Investments in AI will create entrepreneurial farming jobs that are high value and will develop a more tech-savvy workforce for farming.
AI in Supply Chain and Market Analysis
The farm is only a small part of the agricultural value chain. AI’s value is the ability to forecast demand and market trends as well as optimize logistics. For farming entrepreneurs, this means less wasted harvest, streamlined operations, and equitable value for consumers and farmers.
The AI value chain also has farm digitized channels for rural employment. It includes jobs like data analyst, logistics coordinator, AI procurement specialist, and digital marketer of farm products. AI also allows for distributed employment, expanding rural digital jobs and integration of digital technologies into traditional farming.
Artificial Intelligence In Agribusiness Expansion
With the help of AI, agricultural entrepreneurs can start new agribusinesses. For example, AI-enabled tools and applications can assist with the automation of vertical farming, aquaponics, and greenhouses. All of these enterprises need trained professional design, monitor, maintain, and assist customers.
AI helps entrepreneurs find new market opportunities in farming, improves efficiency in the use of agricultural resources, and helps in forecasting the return on investments. This creates a need for managers with AI skills, consultants in agribusiness, software engineers in specialized agricultural applications, and technical support. The incorporation of AI in agribusiness planning allows entrepreneurs to optimize the operational workflows while contributing to the potential growth of employment in the fields of technical and managerial skills.
The Role of AI in Facilitating Learning and Skills Acquisition
AI can be used for the purpose of skills acquisition by customizing training programs aimed at educating farm workers on the use of new technology, crop data analysis, and AI system maintenance. The use of machine learning coupled with advanced simulation techniques in training programs allows for the safer and faster acquisition of skills needed to perform complex activities than conventional training techniques.
Farming business owners can create AI training centers which can hire trainers, content developers, and specialists in AI education. This model is helpful to the surrounding community, providing community members sustainable workforce skills, and shift them into sustainable employment over the long-term. These community members can digitally upskill over time taking on new roles in AI enhanced in the adjusted business model, and new economic opportunities can be diversified.
AI enhanced Sustainability Initiatives and New Employment Opportunities in ‘Green’ Jobs
The new norm in agriculture is Sustainability, and it is a priority. Farming, as well as civilization, can be made Sustainable through the use of AI to practice and advocate less use of products and monitor the use of Water and other Chemicals. It is a paradox in farming since sustainable practices adopt the use of AI to monitor and advocate the practice of other sustainable practices to AI in order to monitor other practices.
AI enables the emerging roles environmental compliance officer, sustainable agriculture consultant, and AI Sustainability analyst. It is a win/win for farming entrepreneurs investing in AI. It is the start of the new social ‘Green’ Economy.
Equalizing the Advantage of AI for Subsistence Farmers
AI’s most disruptive capabilities are the erosion of information monopolies and the democratization of decision-making tools. Smallholder farmers can gain access to AI-enabled advisory services for crop selection and pest control, and advisory services on prevailing market prices. AI-powered farming offers financing opportunities for farming entrepreneurs in tech support, content adaptation, and community consultancy.
With these AI-powered advisory services, rural communities can engage in the digital economy of agriculture. As remote communities actively engage in the digital economy of agriculture, the AI-enabled agricultural systems will require micro-managers and support systems, thus offering employment to and empowering them.
Employment and Ethical AI
The introduction of AI into agriculture can create opportunities for employment. However, the farming entrepreneur employing AI must be responsible in addressing the deployment of the technology. The introduction of automation should be accompanied with training programs, to ensure that the automation of tasks does not result in workforce displacement. The emphasis in automation should be on the accompanying upskilling and reskilling of the workforce to ensure that, rather than a workforce being displaced, they are enabled to transition into new roles.
There is an enhanced potential for the adoption of AI in agriculture to have a positive impact by moblizing data and partnering with community institutions, schools, and the government. The introduction of technology in agriculture can remain a positive impact in society by being socially responsible.
Artificial intelligence powers productivity improvements in agriculture, but more significantly, it helps create jobs and strengthen the economy. Farming business owners who allocate some of their resources toward using and mastering the technology will be able to develop a cornucopia of jobs in the diverse areas of agriculture including management, education, analysis, and technology. Workforce development, new skills, and community prosperity will be a direct result of the business owners increased productivity and sustainable development driven by the technology.
Instead of focusing on the fears of job losses that other sectors of the economy face, the agricultural sector and its participants, particularly business owners, will reap the benefits of the technology to create and refine innovative systems to develop and grow the human capital in the agricultural sector. The future and the hope of the agricultural sector lie in an intelligent and innovative collaboration between man and machine.
