Particularly in Niigata prefecture, known for growing rice, Japan’s agriculture, especially its rice farming has been undergoing remarkable challenges of late. The demographics of the country combined with dwindling numbers willing to become rice farmers indicated a bleak prospect of rice farming in Japan. Fortunately, changes are straining through the industry and the innovative robotic solutions are likely a game changer. These are the issues that the technology under development at the moment is going to address.
The Rise of Akebono
In the rice fields of Niigata a small but muscular robot called Akebono (Japanese for “dawn”) is trending. This small device was created by Field Works Co. Ltd and is used in paddy fields by walking on the raised platforms between the rows of rice and uprooting weeds which tend to reduce the yield of crops. It is feature yet another versatility since Akebono can be either controlled by an operator or autonomously justify the future of robotics in agriculture.
‘Field Works Incorporation’ is a company whose aim coincides with two objectives set forth by its president, Kai Yamagishi — of targeting development of robots given to the society and disadvantages and of increasing efficiency in farming practices in order to encourage the young population who are more in love with technology into agriculture.
On the other hand Akebono I already in the field looking for possible obstacles to focus the project in a perspective and less lofty. The other focus of Akebono is to modernize the practice of rice farming, which may be extended to other crops such as asparagus in the near future.
Project KOME-DOKORO COI-NEXT
A Holistic Approach to Agricultural Revival Akebono is merely one element of an ambitious program KOME-DOKORO COI-NEXT implemented by the Nagaoka University of Technology and its partners.
In this ambitious project more than forty educational establishments, local self-governments, business entities, banks, and farming cooperatives come complete. There are objectives to achieve to change the face of NIIGATA agriculture tackling a multitude of problems at the same time.
This project presents aims in:
- Improving rice prices
- Adjusting for the effect of a shrinking working-age population on the economy
- Re-staking decline in the working population for the agriculture sector.
- Changing the industry from its present position of stagnancy.
It is also envisaged that NIGATA will have a well-functioning circular bio-economy by the end of the ten year projected making the agriculture activities not only profitable sound but also appealing to the under.
Through collaboration:
This will not constrain Nagaoka university as operations want to take a different direction on weed ignoring upfers with a different machine called Aigamo more or less a species of Duck used in organic farming. Otherwise, this autonomous robot is estimated to perform with great ease the annoying problem of weed management between the rows of rice plants on the paddy field.
This is where the usefulness of agricultural robots goes way beyond weed control:
- Prevention/treatment and repair of equipment utilized on farms, inspection of crops, and soil and climatic conditions.
- Looking into the future, these farmers may significantly increase the productivity of rice growing in their regions due to scaling up of battery technology.
Japan is crafting the blueprint for farming of the future, one that embraces technological advancement by integrating cutting-edge engineering solutions and restoring the agriculture industry.
These innovations tackle immediate issues and help to promote the quality of Japanese rice exports to the world.
