Farm to fork takes the digital path

T
he Indian farm sector seems to be on the cusp compiled by the Internet and Mobile Association of drone surveillance-based pest- and disease-moni-
of a digital revolution. Though digitisation, India, in collaboration with a digital and analytics toring system; satellite imagery-based crop produc-
as also the use of artificial intelligence (AI), company KANTAR, has shown that of a total of around tion assessment system; and the practice of convey-
has already made significant inroads into the rural 820 million internet users in 2023, about 442 million, ing information on mandi prices, weather-based
socioeconomic matrix, the proposed revamping of or 53 per cent, were in the rural belt. This figure is pro- agronomic advisories, and the area-specific
the Digital Agriculture Mission, with an outlay of jected to swell to 56 per cent by 2025. schedule of crop procurement and marketing oper-
~2,817 crore, approved by the Union Cabinet last The uptrend in the use of mobile phones and the ations through text messaging (SMSs). Satellite
month, can be expected to take it to the next level. internet in rural areas, which had set in during the imagery is also now being widely used to monitor
The extensive public digital infrastructure envisaged pandemic, has tended to endure. This has expedited crop health and soil moisture to guide farmers in
under this Mission is likely to impact — and, in fact, technology transfer from laboratories and research scheduling irrigation, fertiliser application, and
transform — almost every aspect of centres to farms. Its impact is reflect- pesticide spraying.
rural life and the economy. ed in marked improvement in agro- One of the highly significant public digital infras-
Apart from ensuring a better nomic practices in recent years, tructures being promoted under the Digital Mission
implementation of farmers’ welfare resulting in higher farm productiv- is the “Agri-Stack”, which provides a digital identity
schemes, especially those involving ity, lower input cost, and better to every farmer, similar to an Aadhaar card. Work
direct benefit transfers, the modern resource-use efficiency. on this is, in fact, already underway in various states.
information and communication The credit for creating an ecosys- The other proposed digital platforms include “Krishi
technology (ICT)-based easy access tem conducive to the adoption and Decision Support System” to gather remote sens-
to technical knowhow and experts’ growth of digitisation and AI-use in ing-based information on crops, soil, weather, and
advice would enable cultivators to agriculture goes, indeed, to both water resources, and a “Digital General Crop
improve their farming skills and get public- and private-sector agencies. Estimation Survey System” to enable a realistic esti-
instant solutions to their day-to-day While the Union and state govern- mation of crop yields. The Centre has signed mem-
problems. Besides, this would help FARM VIEW ments have come up with schemes oranda of understanding with 19 states to build these
raise farm productivity with reduced aimed specifically to promote digi- digital facilities.
cost to enhance the profitability of SURINDER SUD tisation, private entities, such as the Interestingly, digitisation promotion is getting
farming. Also, digitisation of mar- farmers’ producer organisations good response from farmers. A statement issued
keting and procurement, financial transactions, and (FPOs) and various kinds of startups, have served as recently by the Federation of All-India Farmers
important documents and records — including land technology- and knowledge-providers. They are also Associations has expressed the hope that digitisation
records — would diminish the scope for disputes offering vital services needed by farmers to make would help curb the exodus of rural youths from
and malpractices. Moreover, it would generate a reli- gainful use of digitisation and AI in boosting their farming. This body, representing farmers from states
able digital database to facilitate formulating farmer- net earnings from agriculture and allied activities. like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra
centric and need-based policies and programmes The first notable government move to use ICT Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, has also pointed
for agriculture and rural development. for agricultural development was the launching of out that digitisation would alleviate farmers’ distress
Indian farmers have shown their ability and, more the Kisan Suvidha app in 2016. It provided informa- by reducing the chances of crop failures, mitigating
so, willingness to embrace new technology. The mod- tion to farmers in five critical areas — weather, mar- market uncertainties, and facilitating informed
ern ICT tools are no exception. Many farmers, and ket prices, plant-protection measures, input dealers, decision-making. Such reassuring reactions from
most rural youths, are now routinely using cell phones, and expert advisories, apart from connecting them the farm organisations should spur the government
computers, and other kinds of internet-based com- to Kisan call centres, where technical experts to further accelerate the pace of digitisation in the
munication systems for personal and occupational answered their specific queries in local languages. farm sector.
purposes. In fact, today, there are more users of mobile This was followed by several other initiatives, such
phones in rural areas than in cities. A recent report as the launching of Kisan e-Mitra chatbot; [email protected]