Agri-robotics in smallholder agriculture: A comprehensive review of recent efficient and affordable technologies

This review emphasizes how agri-robotics is transforming small-scale farming by solving issues related to labour shortages, inefficiency in conventional methods and the growing need for sustainable agricultural practices. The study examines various agri-robots suitable for near future adoption on small-scale farms. Examples include IARI’s seeding robot for precise planting, the Smart Core robot for automatic soil sampling and the Evo robot for advanced weeding. Additionally, it covers the tomato plucker robot developed by Octaneaon, a duck robot for weeding in paddy fields and agricultural drones utilized for targeted spraying and crop monitoring. These robots are demonstrating clear enhancements in operational efficiency, crop yields and optimal resource utilization. Their applications include autonomous seeding, intelligent irrigation, multi-functional harvesting and soil sampling, all of which contribute to enhanced precision agriculture. Government initiatives like Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) and the Namo Drone Didi (NDD) scheme provide both financial and technical assistance, accelerating the adoption of these technologies. Experimental research indicates that drone-assisted herbicide application results in improved weed control effectiveness, increased yield and that diesel-powered robots are more energy-efficient. The drip irrigation systems utilizing soil moisture sensors as an automated irrigation method have better water use efficiency. This paper concludes that government policies, research findings and user-friendly innovations make agri-robots suitable for small-scale farmers and foster sustainable agricultural practices.