Adoption of Precision Agriculture Technologies in Northern India: A Push-Pull Framework Approach

The human population continues to grow steadily with the shrinking resources being used for production situates great challenge against Indian farming system to attain food and environmental security. To counter these twin challenges in the country there is urgent need of application of modern Hi-tech technologies for enhancing the productivity and sustainability of the farming system for long term on scientific basis. Precision farming looks a win-win strategic advancement technology towards improving the potential of agricultural lands to produce crops on sustainable basis and to increase agricultural productivity in the future. However, their adoption, particularly among small and medium-scale farmers in developing nations like India, remains relatively limited. The agriculture and allied sectors are pivotal to the sustainable growth and development of the North Indian state’s economy. It contributes significantly to production, employment and demand generation through various linkages and meets the nutritional requirements of the population. But the sector is currently facing a dilemma as contribution of north Indian states to their state’s GSDP is decreasing which can be attributed to factors like inadequate use of modern technology, indiscriminate use of inputs coupled with improper management practices over a long period. Therefore, the need for focusing on the sustainable use of the inputs and increasing agricultural production has gained prominence in North India. Despite the several initiatives of government through different schemes and Precision Farming Development Centre’s, current status of the precision farming technologies in agriculture regarding its perception and factors influencing its adoption among farmers is not well known in North India. This study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of PFTs among farmers in Northern India through a push-pull framework approach. The present study was purposively conducted in North India. From North India, three states were selected randomly, namely Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Ludhiana, Hisar and Solan districts were purposively selected from each state based on highest number of farmers trained by the Precision Farming Development Centres located in these states. Further, two blocks were selected randomly from each district and from each block, 15 user farmers, who had received PFDC training and adopted at least one precision technology in agriculture or dairy, were selected using snowball sampling and thus, a total of 90 user farmers were surveyed using a structured open-ended interview schedule. Technologies considered included drip irrigation, laser land levelling, variable rate applicators, and automated dairy systems. Findings reveal that pull factors conditions that attract farmers to adopt PFTs play a dominant role. The most influential pull factors included higher yields (86.66%), saving of time and labour (78.89%), and government subsidies (75.55%). Other motivators included improved resource use efficiency, potential for year-round cropping, and environmental benefits. Conversely, push factors limitations of conventional agriculture compelling farmers to shift also significantly impacted adoption decisions. Key push factors included the non-availability of skilled labour (84.44%), low yield under traditional methods (76.66%), high input costs (67.78%), and concerns about product quality and environmental degradation. The study concludes that adoption is influenced by both the attractiveness of precision technologies and the challenges posed by conventional practices. However, adoption remains uneven, especially among smallholders, due to infrastructural, financial, and informational barriers. The findings suggest that policy interventions must address both motivational and structural constraints to facilitate broader adoption of PFTs in India.