It’s the right time to embrace digital agriculture and get AgriTech!
Agriculture has yet to see the digital revolution. This is because mobile apps are used more extensively in urban regions than rural zones. In addition, the majority of rural people work in the agricultural industry. However, with the advent of technology, the farm sector is gaining attention with a brand new word:
“AgriTech,” which stands for digitally enabled agriculture through mobile apps that are rich in IoT.
Entrepreneurs worldwide are excited to enter the AgriTech sector and empower the agricultural sector digitally. Compared to other industries like transport and travel, food and restaurant, E-commerce and so on, the agriculture sector is looking forward to changing digitally.
Yet, IoT and mobile apps could help the agricultural industry quickly. Today, everyone, on average, has more than one smartphone in their pocket. Therefore, why not enter an industry since the Agricultural sector is poised to change through AgriTech technological advances?
What is Agri-Tech?
According to its definition, Agritech is the study or method of farming that includes the cultivation of soil, the cultivation of crops and the raising of animals to provide wool, food and so on.
Agri-tech is widely utilised as it’s designed to boost the efficiency of overall operations and increase profitability by employing high-tech techniques that consider traditional farming methods. The word “agri” in agri-tech could confuse people primarily interested in agriculture. However, this definition of Agri-tech also applies to aquaculture and horticulture. The primary goal of Agritech is to help grow things faster and more effectively, whether at the farm, in the garden or at sea.
Types of Mobile Applications for Agriculture
Farmers are slowly getting used to using advanced technology to control their operations. These include land management, forecasting weather conditions and crop quality, horticulture, fertiliser quality and soil usage.
With the introduction of emerging technologies such as AI, AR/VR and Blockchain, various mobile apps cater to farmers’ diverse requirements. Based on functionalities and features, applications developed for mobile devices for agriculture can create the following kinds of solutions:
Peer-to-Peer Information Sharing
Mobile app development could be directed at creating information-sharing groups that form a tight-knit group of farmers. Because soil conditions differ from one location to the next, the democratisation of information flow will benefit everyone.
Online Lending for Farmers
The app could be agricultural cum financial in nature that provides not only information but also financial aid via loans can be made available. It might even create an online marketplace allowing access to inputs like fertilisers, seeds, pesticides and labor available on demand.
B2B Farming Store
Establishing an auction platform where food producers can receive reasonable prices is highly profitable. Suppose you can gather a community of farmers who are members of this platform. In that case, procurement companies can help save significant time and effort by making bids and winning auctions, all while offering farmers a fair price.
Weather Forecasting Apps
Numerous open sources of weather information use satellite data and the publicly accessible history of geographical records to anticipate changes. Agriculture App Development companies can take this to the next level. Their highly skilled engineers incorporate the built-in gyroscope and barometer within applications, assisting in weather forecasting.
GPS Tracking
The human eye cannot discern the differences in the soil’s level and expects the terrain to be flat. This makes it challenging to assess topsoil conditions as the crop’s vegetation grows to a certain degree. GPS trackers help farmers pinpoint specific areas to be leveled. Geo-fencing analyses a particular area of crops and communicates the critical performance indicators that can help optimise yields and precisely plow furrows.
Livestock Management Apps
Custom-designed applications are developed for farms that raise livestock. Livestock management software gives information about feeding schedules, health issues and breeding. Furthermore, these types of software also have GPS technology, which allows you to determine the precise position of livestock. They also assist in registering and processing and suggest potential for improvement at each procedure step.
Farms are classified according to their business model, which includes feedlots, breeding, dairy processing and industrial meat processors. Apps like these can automate farming management tasks and save huge on costs.
Must-Have Features in Agriculture App Development
Mobile agriculture has grown into previously unexplored regions. App development for agriculture is helping farmers and agricultural-related companies expand and increase production, allowing them to reach more customers.
Check out some options you can include when creating an app for agriculture.
GPS Tracking and Location-Based Services
It is challenging to envision farming software with a map. Farmers could use maps to access various options based on location, like conducting drone research and source observing local weather forecasts.
A location-based system can help split the field into polygons so that each can be explored independently in areas requiring attention. Farmers can utilise maps to locate specialty crop varieties, pesticide applicators and other sources.
Weather Analysis
Forecasting is a key element of developing agricultural applications. Farmers with apps with these features can predict the weather conditions and viability of crops much further ahead. They will be able to implement the necessary safeguards to ensure their crops are protected.
Crops & Agricultural Goods Listing
Specific applications serve as markets for agricultural products, such as insecticides, seeds and machines. Farmers can discover the best deals using marketplaces for farm products that connect buyers with dealers, producers and customers. Every item listed in an app for marketplaces includes an image, product description, delivery dates and other details.
Integration of Data-Driven Visualisation
Specific agriculture applications are based on visual data and machine learning. Farmers can recognise plant diseases early, identify weeds, track nitrogen levels and evaluate leaf damage. There are a variety of open-source software libraries for machine vision. Get advice from expert developers on which one is best for your needs.
Push Notifications
Every mobile app must include push notifications. They help farmers stay on top of the many tasks that require their attention, advising them of changes, crises and new data and reminding them of upcoming important dates on their calendars. Rich push notifications, which include maps and images, could be used to include more information on your reminders.
Schedule Management
A function for calculating timetables in crops within agricultural software assists farmers in planning and controlling cultivating, planting and harvesting. This feature can give farmers an accurate picture of their entire crop cycle, which includes fertilisation, planting and harvesting dates and any other crucial tasks for managing their crop.
In addition, the application will provide farmers with notifications and reminders to complete tasks like spraying pesticides or fertilisers, helping them finish these tasks on time.
Payment Gateway Integration
Every mobile application that is e-commerce, especially agricultural mobile apps, requires a secure and reliable payment gateway. Farmers can use the payment gateway option to conduct safe transactions in the app to buy essential items like insecticides, seeds and other agricultural equipment.
Connecting to prominent payment processors like PayPal, Stripe or Square can activate the ability to pay with a payment gateway. This integration can offer credit or debit accounts, bank cards on the internet and e-wallets as payment options for the application.
Integration of Drone Technology
The mobile agricultural app’s most essential feature is drone integration. Farmers can use drones to assess the state of their crops and make smart decisions to improve their crop quality.
Farmers can use drones to apply pesticides, collect soil samples and detect water leaks with infrared cameras mounted on them. However, drones are subject to various rules and regulations, including the requirement to operate during daylight hours and always be visible to pilots.
Benefits of Mobile Apps in Agriculture
Mobile apps for agriculture have been an enormous blessing for the industry over the last few years. They offer immense advantages to all users, whether farmers or distributors, on a large scale. The apps have provided an array of benefits to all.
Carrying out thorough performance tests to ensure seamless operation and improve user experience is essential to guaranteeing mobile apps perform optimally in agriculture.
Here are some of the main advantages of mobile apps for agriculture:
Fertility Growth
Over time, many new methods have been found in agriculture that can increase fertility. These apps keep farmers informed about the latest techniques for boosting their farms’ fertility.
Guidance of Experts
The apps include a variety of videos from experts who can assist you with every issue. Certain apps offer 1-on-1 conversation with an expert to answer your questions.
GPS Tracking
It could aid in tracking farms and warn farmers by triggering alarms to ensure that animals and hoards that could damage crops are prevented in the nick of time. Running over their farms in the scorching sun all day is unnecessary.
Farm Animal Diseases
Animal diseases may not be detected until later and can spread to other animals. The mobile apps for agriculture aid in farming techniques and provide curing techniques for these animals.
Weather Forecast
Farmers must be informed about weather conditions, as unintentional rain could quickly disrupt their labor. The apps allow farmers to stay up-to-date with the weather and make plans according to the conditions.
Posting Product Ads
As we mentioned, the apps permit farmers and retailers to place their ads on sale, allowing them to increase their profits without paying additional costs for third-party sellers.
Creating Planned Calendar
The apps let you program your farm for upcoming months and seasons to ensure that, when the time arrives, you are still catching up in the next job in your farming.
What Challenges are Faced while Developing an Agricultural App?
The developer must know the specifications before creating an application for agricultural use. To understand the needs, proper research has to be conducted. While conducting your investigation, you may encounter some of the issues listed below:
- The primary challenge that a developer has to overcome when creating a mobile application is to determine the relevant context for farmers.
- Sometimes, it takes more work to determine what additional features apps offer that could benefit farmers instead of just being a function.
- To identify the problems the community of farmers faces, the agricultural community must identify its issues.
- Locate an App Development firm that can transform your app idea into a product and provide professional support.
- The next step is to transform each of these issues into a solution. In this regard, Bestech stands out as your most helpful hand and assistance. They provide the best support and will assign you to a team of developers within a day.
Agriculture Mobile App Development – The Step-by-Step Process
Here’s the complete mobile app development lifecycle, from discussing your Idea to the point of sale.
We turn your Idea into a Scalable Business Idea.
You need to be curious about the Idea for the business you’re working on to ensure it’s precisely what you want. Try various brainstorming sessions to see if connecting all the dots is possible.
We’ll discuss your app idea and advice you based on our experience in the industry. Making a list of key factors that can simplify the process will ensure you invest your time and effort in the right place.
The most important points to be discussed could be:
Mobile App Development
What exactly do you intend to design this application specifically for?
Once you have identified the target market, the extent of your research is reduced and you can decide how to begin developing mobile agriculture applications.
The people you’re aiming for are farm workers or owners who want the highest yield from their farms.
Offering services to people is only possible if you are aware of the people you want to assist. Knowing the demographic you want to target before proceeding with your app idea is essential.
What is your app’s most distinctive selling factor?
We guarantee that we will play with your feature set or style to make your company stand out. This could be through the technologies or solutions you offer to your clients.
What is the primary objective of the app’s development?
Examine whether the issue you are trying to solve is global or local. Examine whether other apps with similar products are available on the market and who the competitors are. Make a list of functions and features you want to include “swish” when starting the agricultural mobile app development process.
What’s the strategy of your competitors and who is their target?
It’s a bad idea to jump into the battlefield if you know who your opponents are. Find the loopholes and traps you can improve. We’ve been working on solutions to help you stay one step ahead of your competitors.
Would you like your app promoted by a marketing team?
Another crucial aspect you must be aware of is whether you want marketing staff to promote your project or are content with your assigned tasks.
It is essential to market the Android and iOS mobile apps in a way that offers consumers an original and attractive solution.
Get to Know Your Market
It is crucial to comprehend your market and communicate with your clients easily. The agriculture software development process becomes much simpler when you understand your customers’ identities.
Create a Wireframe
Wireframing is an essential step in developing mobile apps for agriculture. Before beginning the agriculture software development process, you must have a fundamental plan to guide you to navigate. This will help you create an application that is solid and easy to use. Find an agriculture software development company to manage the wireframe procedure and describe it.
Select a Platform Carefully
When considering the steps to create a mobile app initially, you should decide which platform you’d like to use. You should launch your mobile application as a PWA instead of using the Play Store.
Create an Application
Once you’ve settled on the specifics, it’s time to act. Make sure you present to your clients a technologically sound idea that has been designed flawlessly.
Evaluate the App’s Functionality
An automated code review process can make life easier. If you have a agriculture software development team to develop your product, they are likely to employ the agile method, which allows users to try out the code and make adjustments as required after every stage.
Release a Beta Version of Your App
Initially, you’ll need to roll out an early beta version to users to test whether the app will work for them. If the app performs well, then a part that is utilised.
Let your visitors know more about your beta application and how it functions and reflects your business.
Go Live With Your App
After the beta version has successfully launched and is reflected nicely, you can launch your final app in either the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Learn more about how to launch your app on the App Store here.
Activities Following the Launch
Verify that your application is accessible to your intended audience. Promote your app to achieve the highest outcomes. Contact your digital marketing department for assistance and then continue to search for more effective solutions.
Do Not Forget to Sell Your App
If you create an app specifically for agriculture, you must consider marketing as every application creator does. Integrating other data sources is essential to understanding your app’s performance. Analytics will show the number of users in your app, how long they spend on it and the features they most frequently use. This information will aid you in scaling your app and adapting it to the market’s needs.
This is the standard agriculture software development methodology we use to develop the Android and iOS app developers adhere to. This makes it much easier for users to notify us when they want to change their agritech system during agriculture software development.
Use of Mobile Apps in Agriculture
Mobile apps for agriculture are increasingly utilised to help farmers manage their farms more effectively and efficiently.
Let’s look deeper to discover what mobile applications can be used in agriculture.
Crop Management
Mobile apps in agriculture aid farmers with crop management by providing information about soil conditions, weather patterns and ways to combat pests. Some apps employ algorithmic machine learning techniques to determine crop yields and suggest methods to increase them.
Irrigation Management
Mobile apps also provide real-time information regarding soil moisture levels and weather conditions. This helps farmers improve their irrigation methods, reduce water use and ensure their crops receive enough water.
Livestock Management
With mobile apps for agriculture, farmers can also manage their livestock and obtain information about feeding schedules, health care and breeding. Particular apps also use GPS technology to monitor animals’ exact locations in real-time.
Market Information
Mobile apps can provide farmers with current market information regarding commodities, prices and supply. This will help farmers decide when to sell their produce or livestock.
Farm Accounting
One of the major advantages of the app for farming is its farm accounting, which assists farmers in monitoring their finances, such as income and expenditures. This helps farmers manage their finances and make better choices about expenses and investments.
All in all, properly applying mobile apps to help farmers will increase their efficiency and profit by giving them rapid access to crucial information.
Tech Stack for Agriculture Software Development
Developing an agricultural app with various technologies and tools can ensure its reliability and expandability. Knowing the basics of developing mobile apps’ technology stack can allow you to add your perspective to the decision-making process. Below are some tech stacks required to create an agricultural app.
- Java, Kotlin, Swift and Objective-C are the programming languages used to create the application.
- React Native, Flutter and Ionic Node are mobile frameworks for agriculture software development. JavaScript, Ruby on Rails and Django comprise the backend technology for intelligent agricultural apps.
- Cloud hosting services comprise Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Microsoft Azure.
- Databases comprise MySQL, PostgreSQL and MongoDB.
- Google Maps API, OpenWeather API API and Twilio API are examples of APIs.
- Integration of GPS, IoT and Bluetooth sensors.
- Developing an agricultural mobile app requires both backend and frontend programming languages, along with relevant APIs and databases. Selecting the correct Farmer App Development Company that can assist you in deciding on the most appropriate technology combination is crucial.
Cost of Agriculture Software Development
Building an agricultural app costs more than the technology used. We’ve been developing intriguing solutions that could be the basis for solutions that allow you to stand out from the rest of the field.
The most important factors that define the agriculture software development costs are:
- Feature Set
- Application Platform
- Region of Agriculture Software Development Team
The basic mobile agriculture app development cost is around £85,000-£95,000 and the cost of developing advanced solutions is approximately £110,000-£150,000.
We know the figures may be on the upper edge, but we are confident that this is based on the highest market rates.
Conclusion
In the current era of transformation, Bestech plays a vital role in ensuring a flourishing long-term future for the agricultural sector. Modern technology offers a broad selection of possibilities to create an efficient business. However, most companies prefer creating products around the specific requirements of their customers. Partnering with Bestech for agriculture software development has multiple benefits for the agricultural industry. These benefits can increase agriculture operations’ efficiency, productivity and overall profitability.
Farmers can understand how businesses are expected to operate under the law and the changes that need to be made to help them stand up to the competition in the market. Thanks to the platform’s extensive analysis, business owners can have a clear understanding of how to feed animals (i.e., what kinds of food should be provided or what type of treatment is needed)
