Farming and Agriculture Software – Scratch

Farming and Agriculture Software – Scratch - Intermediate

Details: Balvinder - Intermediate

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Congratulations on completing the beginner level.

In this example we will code a project at intermediate level using Scratch which replicates the running of a farming or agricultural business software.

This project will help you develop an understanding how coding is used in the agricultural industry and the importance of technology in the farming sector.

Scratch was developed by MIT to teach people to code. It is the best way to learn to code. It encourages digital citizenship and fundamental computational concepts and practices. Scratch has aided adults in transitioning to more traditional text-based programming languages after gaining the foundational understanding. Computers and their applications changed the face of most traditional occupations including agriculture. From computerised milk collection and seed estimators to weather predictions and automated farmland assessment. The most common use of computers have been labour-saving.

In today’s times, agriculture is not just about crop production or livestock farming iti s also about addressing ecological factors affecting the
environment need of farming activity. Farmers need to pre-empt environmental impact due to climate change and this is where modern technology comes to the rescue.

The dawn of agriculture has without a doubt influenced the speed of human evolution bringing us to where we are now. Over the years the agricultural process has not changed much post the green revolution. The bringing of technology and farming togther through the use of both software and hardware can help manage the different parameters that influence crop growth more effectively allowing for more yield on the same piece of land. The attached video 'Programming Agriculture | Benjamin Raja | TEDxBITSathy' shows how technology is implemented on a farm by farm basis and allows for the farmers to get large amounts of data from a multitude of sources allowing for cost effectiveness also to be there enabling and enriching the lives of farmers.

Task

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In this example we will code a project which replicates the running of a farming or agricultural business software.

This project will help you develop an understanding how coding is used in the agricultural industry and the importance of technology in the farming sector. After completing the project you should be able to:

Show produce list
Show the equipment list
Show fields available for planting
Show fields occupied
Be able to harvest fields and make them available for replanting
Calculate profit from crop yield

At the Intermediate Level, we are going to program the buttons that show all of the produce and equipment that the farm has. These are the buttons 3 and 4 at the menu stage, see above in bold.

Process

In order to complete this task, you are required to watch the video in the resources section and also follow the instructions in the document titled 'Farming and Agriculture Software - Intermediate' in the resources section. The instructions start from slide 5.

Farming is a complex, unpredictable and individual business. Farmers face a variety of problems, which include how to cope with climate change, satisfy
consumers’ changing tastes and expectations, whilst meeting rising demand for more food of higher quality. Technolgy coupled with lived experiences can help address these issues and help design solutions to them. The link to the article by Syngenta Global 'Modern agriculture has many complex challenges' looks at the issues and responses within farming, highlighting how a combinationof your lived expereince sna dtechnolgy are valuable in this sector.

Sometimes it is the smallest of technology that can make a difference such as using mobile phones as a way to deliver to resources such as finance, skills training, and information services. So what you are learning now will become the foundationform which to create interventions across many platforms and mediums that are used within farming across the world. For an insight into the use of mobile technology, please see the document entitled 'WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE: A TOOLKIT FOR MOBILE SERVICES PRACTITIONERS'

Conclusion

Congratulations!

You have completed the intermediate section of the farming and agriculture management software. You have a desire to learn code and ready for the next stage.

By the end of this lesson, your project should look like this https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/649273113/ (Use this if you get stuck)

Please move onto advanced section.

Participants further improve their learning in a meaningful context relevant to them, studying the process of design, experimentation, perseverance and problem solving. By learning code, women develop a better grasp for the technology, which helps them find better solutions and manage failure. Teaching code gives them the chance to experience the feeling of failure, so that they learn not to give up when something doesn't work out, but rather begin again.

This journey of lifelong learning you have embarked on will enhance the skills you have, so they remain important for a successful career and also to stay atop the ever-changing world. Many empoloyers acrosso various sectors are beginning to look more at personal attributes, strong foundations and skills that can be universally applied. The attached link to an article by More Than Digital titled '23 skills of the future – Important skills for the jobs of 21st century' which highlights the importance of basic literacy and about skills like creativity, analytical thinking, and interpersonal communication all which will be helpful in any work environment.

Learning Objectives

Develop and understanding of how coding and technology is used in farming
Design a software that show fields available for planting and show fields occupied
Learn Scratch coding
Gain experience in using Scratch
Gain Inquiry-Based Learning
Enhance problem-solving skills
Enhanced abstract thinking
Become more self reflective
Understanding accountability
Gain passion for Coding
Improved teamwork by working with others in the group