Transition of Agriculture to Digital, Intellectual and Robotics Technologies

Abstract

At present, the entities of the agrarian sector are moving towards the digital, intellectual and robotic technologies or the robotization of the industry. Robotics is used in the various fields of the agrarian sector, the most widespread is the milking robotics. From 2006 to 2016, in the agricultural enterprises of the Russian Federation, 393 units of robotics were introduced. While in the Sverdlovsk region at the beginning of 2018, 37 units of this equipment have been used. We suggest to use the indicator of “density of agricultural robotization†to characterize the effectiveness of the transition to robotics. This indicator for Russia increased from 0.02 to 0.78 units, and for the Sverdlovsk region — from 0.3 to 3.17 for the periods under review. However, the slowdown and low values of the density of agricultural robotics make it necessary to develop appropriate measures. The article proposes a model of an organizational and economic mechanism for the transition to robotics. It includes target, investment, technical and technological as well as personnel sections. The initial data on the state of the introduction of robotics in agricultural organizations was provided by the ministries and departments, as well as statistical bodies. We determined scenarios of inertial, targeted and system development of robotics in agriculture depending on the level of state support. We have determined that the investments needed for the robotization of agricultural enterprises in the Sverdlovsk region are at the level of 472 million rubles. Moreover, we have formulated the tasks, recommendations and the expected result from the training of personnel capable to master robotics in the industry. The most important measure is the reduction in the cost of this equipment due to its domestic production. The results of the research can be used by the executive authorities in developing programmes for the innovative development and technical modernization of agriculture.