Technology has changed many industries around the world and agriculture is among the sectors which have experienced a drastic upheaval. The invention of machines and farming techniques have helped make farming more manageable, as well as increasing the productivity of land under agriculture. According to the latest report on the ease of doing business, released by the World Bank, New Zealand tops the list. This is mainly because of its diversified market, and an international trade agenda, that has helped the growth of various industries in the country, with agriculture being one of the best performing industries in New Zealand.
Agritech In New Zealand
Agriculture in New Zealand is a rich and dominant sector, with the country exporting its agricultural products to over 140 countries around the world. The country is home to some of the leading agricultural research institutions and universities, with each one of them striving to have a competitive edge, which in turn has led to the emergence of cutting edge technology which is used in the agricultural industry. Agritech provides alternatives to traditional farming methods, helping increase the quality and maximising profits on the part of the farmer. Some of these innovations include;
- Robotic Milking Sheds
The robotic milking sheds allow the dairy cows to live indoors, and to be milked by a robot without the need for human labour. Behind the scenes, the milking robot is controlled at the central office through the use of touch screen computers and specialised software. This keeps records of the entire cow’s milk production or health conditions, and if a cow has been milked, it turns it away.
- Electronic Identification Tagging
With dairy and beef cattle dominating the agricultural sector in New Zealand, farms have large numbers of animals, and for maximum production, one must ensure that data from every animal is analysed. EID helps farmers monitor the behaviour of each animal through the help of radio signals from the EID devices.