New Delhi: The Indian government is increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to address key challenges in agriculture, with a strong focus on supporting farmers and improving productivity.
In a recent statement in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ram Nath Thakur highlighted several initiatives that have used AI and machine learning to boost the agriculture sector .
A major development is the introduction of Kisan e-Mitra, an AI-powered chatbot designed to help farmers with their queries regarding the Prime Minister’s Kisan Samman Nidhi programme.
This initiative, which supports multiple languages, is constantly evolving and is expected to expand to answer questions about various government programs, making vital information more accessible to farmers.
Additionally, the government has adopted the National Pest Monitoring System, which leverages AI and machine learning to combat crop losses caused by pests and climate change.
This system uses AI analytics to analyze field images to assess crop health and uses weather, satellite and soil moisture data to monitor rice and wheat crops.
By detecting problems in time, the system allows farmers to take rapid action to avoid crop damage.
Another key initiative, the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) program, has been implemented since 2015-2016.
This centrally sponsored program focuses on improving water efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler systems.
These systems not only save water but also reduce fertilizer consumption and labor costs, thereby increasing the overall income of farmers.
To further support farmers, the government is offering financial assistance for the installation of these systems, with 55 percent funding for small and marginal farmers.
In another forward-thinking move, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed an IoT-based irrigation system, which has been tested on selected crops, demonstrating another step towards adoption of modern technologies in Indian agriculture.
These AI and technology-enabled initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to improving farmers’ livelihoods and ensuring more sustainable agricultural practices.
