Abstract
Advanced farming that involves modern technology, especially in large scale, can aid in attaining food security for any given country. In this study, the prospects of automation, mechatronics and the developments for modern farming are explored for sustainable agriculture in Kenya. For the purpose of technological diversification, the use of mechatronics and automation in various smart farming technological systems is presented. It is possible to step up development in realizing food security in Kenya with the use of these modern farming techniques among other similar technologies. The use Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IOT), Global System for Mobile (GSM) Communications, photovoltaic thermal solar systems, cloud data storage and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies that are utilized in autonomous tractors, drone farming, livestock monitoring, smart poultry, dairy, irrigation, greenhouse, and farm warehouse systems are discussed. These advances can result in significant increase in production, efficiency, profits, as well as better monitoring, surveillance and tracking in the farm. Finally, the impact of these technologies on agriculture in relation to sustainable food security is explored, where it is demonstrated that mechatronic farm automation integrated with the mobile applications can offer better farm monitoring, increase yields as well as contribute towards better land utilization.
Highlights
Food is a basic need for human beings and for this reason, there is a global debate and focus concerning the food security to cater for the growing world population
This paper will extend the scope of this subject regarding food security and focus on the specific modern farming automation techniques that can be applied in the agricultural mechanization in Kenya, being a developing country so as to realize her dream of food sustainability
These supporting cross-platform technologies necessary when integrating digital farming include (1) Internet of Things (IoT) – the interconnection of embedded sensors, computing software and related technologies, (2) Cloud of Things (CoT) – this is an advancement of IoT that integrate IoT and cloud storage, (3) Artificial Intelligence (AI), (4) Machine Learning (ML), (5) Geographic Information Systems (GIS), (6) Global Positioning System (GPS) and (7) Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
Summary
Food is a basic need for human beings and for this reason, there is a global debate and focus concerning the food security to cater for the growing world population. This concern as addressed in various conferences, meetings, and forums, is progressively raising a need for formulation of governing policies for sustainable food production which include the integrated food system approach, economical land utilization, environmental protection and other practices aimed at minimizing hunger [1]. The current trends in food security according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicate that an estimated 821 million people globally are underfed [2]. Food sustainability is major concern for Kenya like other SubSaharan African countries
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