Farm management software and autonomous machinery to increase efficiency in organic farming

Suzana Dimitrievska is an organic farmer in North Macedonia who has increased the efficiency of her family farm through the adoption of farm management software and autonomous machinery. In 2017, growth in demand led the farmer to carry out a cost-benefit analysis comparing the benefits of manual work versus using an automatic sorter. She found an optical colour sorter machine on the market that was able to identify and sort over 123 different types of crops, herbs and agricultural products by size, colour and form. In the same year, extraordinarily high temperatures heavily affected the farms’ production (apricot, watermelon, beans, chickpeas and sunflower). The farmer decided to invest in precision agriculture (making use of such ICTs as soil mapping and aerial imagery), which provided her with vital information about how and when to irrigate her crops for maximum efficiency.

• Desktop/web-based application
• Robotics
• Sensor
• Remote sensing

An optical colour sorter machine is able to detect and sort over 123 different types of crops, herbs and agricultural products by size, colour and form. The machine is controlled by software that provides insights to aid the planning and monitoring of crops, and the use of labour, gas and organic fertilizers. The farmer uses soil mapping and aerial imagery to maximize efficiency in irrigation.

• Medium size farms
• Large size farms
• Agriculture cooperatives

Suzana Dimitrievska is an organic family farmer in Mustafino, a village in the central part of North Macedonia. After marrying and starting a family, she invested in the purchase of a piece of agricultural land, and over the next three years, she expanded her agricultural holdings to five acres together with her family. Over the years, she acquired more and more land, and applied the knowledge, skills and experience she gained from study visits to Europe to further develop her farm as an organic produce company, establishing also two agriculture cooperatives. She comes from a line of strong, well-educated women and has always been comfortable about embracing new technologies.

• One time purchase
• Subscription

The farmer took out a loan with a bank to purchase an optical photo selector costing EUR 75 000, and reported beneficial returns from the acquired ability to easily select and pack the produce, while meeting the quality standards demanded by customers.

The software supports the farmer in the planning and monitoring of her crops, while also minimizing labour costs and reducing the outlay on gas and organic fertilizer, thereby increasing profits. The farm management software allows Dimitrievska to make more informed greater decisions, and she has seen her investment pay off. She can run her farm more efficiently using the software to keep records, track costs, manage seasonal workers and analyse the profitability of each of her crops. After using the software for 1 year, Dimitrievska realised that some of the crops she had been cultivating for years were not economical, leading her to look into more profitable options. The autonomous machinery has improved efficiency at a farm level, especially in packaging tasks, while the use of precision agriculture solutions has reduced losses of crops and mitigates the effects of climate change.