Digital Technologies in Agriculture

IN NEWS:

• Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said that it is in process of finalizing ‘India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture’ (IDEA) report and a High Level Task Force has been constituted for this purpose.

MORE ON NEWS:

• The IDEA report will be the basis on which the framework of ‘Agristack’ will be laid to build innovative agri-focused solutions leveraging emerging technologies to fulfill the government’s vision of doubling the farmers income.
• A federated farmers’ database is being built by the Agricultural and Farmers welfare department and once completed, this would serve as the core of the Agristack.

IMPORTANT DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRICULTURE:

• Mobile Technology:
  • As the cellular networks are easily available in most of the regions it is the most cost-effective way to provide data access to the farmers.
  • Reach of smart phone even in rural areas extended the information and communication technology services beyond simple voice or text messages.
  • Use of Mobile Apps:
    • Several smartphone apps are available for agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and farm machinery.
    • Mobile apps help to fulfil the larger objective of farmers’ empowerment and facilitate in extension services which can address global food security, agriculture growth and farmers’ welfare.
• GIS-Based Agriculture:
  • GIS (Geographic Information System) is an incredibly useful tool in terms of precision farming.

• • Using GIS, farmers are able to map current and future changes in precipitation, temperature, crop yields, plant health etc.
  •  It also enables the use of GPS-based applications in-line with smart machinery to optimize fertilizer and pesticide application
  •  Given that farmers don’t have to treat the entire field, but only deal with certain areas, they are able to achieve conservation of money, effort, and time.
  • Another great benefit of GIS-based agriculture is the application of satellites and drones to collect valuable data on vegetation, soil conditions, weather, and terrain from a bird’s-eye view.
• Drones:
  • With the assistance of drones farmers have an opportunity to define crop biomass, plant height, the presence of weeds, and water saturation on certain field areas with high precision.
  • They deliver better and more accurate data with higher resolution in comparison to satellites.
  • Drones are also considered as very effective in the battle against insects, the invasion is prevented by applying the insecticide on the hazard areas using drones, all while reducing the likelihood of direct exposure leading to chemical poisoning.
• Robots and sensors:
  • Robots and sensors are currently used in areas where intensive attention or precision is required or where labour is not able to perform as per high-tech requirements.
  • Robotics helps in automation of some tasks and can free the individual farmer to prioritise and take on other works for added gains.
  • Robotics and automation are commonly used in nurseries for seeding, potting and care of the plants.
• Blockchain technology:
  • Blockchain technology offers tamper-proof and precise data about farms, inventories, quick and secure transactions and food tracking.
  • Thus, farmers don’t have to be dependent on paperwork or files to record and store important data.
• Artificial Intelligence:
  • Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) algorithms can generate real-time actionable insights to help improve crop yield, control pests, assist in soil screening, provide actionable data for farmers and reduce their workload.
• Big data analysis:
  • Big data provides farmers granular data on rainfall patterns, water cycles, fertilizer requirements, and more.
  • This enables them to make smart decisions, such as what crops to plant for better profitability and when to harvest. The right decisions ultimately improve farm yields.
• RFID Technology:
  • The employment of RFID makes it possible to monitor the chain of perishable food and the expansion of new applications in fields like environmental monitoring, irrigation, specialty crops and farm machinery.
  • Radio frequency technology offers monitoring systems, which protects the crops from pests and wireless sensors can be used to monitor cattle.

BENEFITS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE:

• Improved productivity:
  • Digital technology plays a vital role in ensuring the farmers get access to the information regarding latest seed varieties, changing weather patterns, crop production techniques and improved agronomic practices for them to produce, regardless of their agro ecological location.
  • Through this gained knowledge, the farmers improve their farming skills thus improved farming which eventually result to high yields.
• Improved decision making:
  • Access to information through digital technologies will enable the farmer  to make the correct decisions when it comes to types of fertilizers’ to be used, the variety of seeds to be planted, when to market his/her produce and how to employ the best farming techniques .
• Climate smart farming:
  • The climate and weather plays a vital role in farming.
  • With the use of IT infrastructure, farmers are able to receive weather forecasts, and therefore they plan when to irrigate, or when to plant, and how much water should be used for irrigation.
• Community involvement:
  • There are several programs which are made possible by IT applications which promote community involvement in agriculture.
  • When a community adopts modern methods for agriculture, the production of local goods can be increased.
  • With IT, there can be improved union in local farmers which can lead to their community’s overall improved production leading to better income for everyone involved.
• Agricultural breakthroughs:
  • Digital technology/ICT makes the spread of information concerning the latest agricultural breakthroughs more possible.
  • When scientists develop new and improved grains or techniques that help grow crop in adversities, farmers from all over the world/country may benefit from being connected to the rest of the agricultural world.
• Improved efficiency:
  • Crop data, animal data or any other data related to agriculture can be generated and kept much easier with the use of information technology, than manual processes.
  • Information technology has also been utilized in automated farm machines which are scheduled to carry out activities such as irrigation or spraying even in the absence of the farmer, thus it improves the efficiency.

INITIATIVES BY THE GOVERNMENT:

• Digital Agriculture Mission:
  • A digital agriculture mission has been initiated for 2021-25 by the government for projects based on new technologies like artificial intelligence, block chain, remote sensing and GIS technology, use of drones and robots etc.
• National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture:
  • Under National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture guideline, funds are released to the States/Union Territories for the projects involving use of modern information technologies such as such as Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Block Chain Technology, Internet of Things, Robotics etc., and for customization/shifting of web & mobile applications already developed by the States, to the platform to be developed using digital technologies.
• Unified Farmer Service Platform (UFSP):
  • UFSP is a combination of Core Infrastructure, Data, Applications and Tools that enable seamless interoperability of various public and private IT systems in the agriculture ecosystem across the country.
• Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM):
  • Under this Scheme, subsidies are provided for purchase of various types of agricultural equipment and machinery.

Other Digital Initiatives:

• Kisan Sabha App
  • Kisan Sabha App developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), New Delhi to connect farmers to supply chain and freight transportation management system.
  • The app aims to provide the most economical and timely logistics support to the farmers.
  •  It also intends to increase the profit margins for farmers by minimizing interference of middlemen and directly connecting with the institutional buyers.
• e-NAM
  • National Agriculture Market (eNAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal which networks the existing APMC mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
  • Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) is the lead agency for implementing eNAM under the aegis of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.
• Seednet
  • Seednet India Portal is a National Initiative for information on Quality Seeds by Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
  • Users can find information on seed sector in India, quality control, seed replacement rate, seed multiplication ratio, breeder seeds, foundation seeds, certified seeds, etc.
• Agricultural Marketing Information Network (AGMARKNET)
  • Ministry of Agriculture has launched the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) based Central Sector Scheme of Agricultural Marketing Information Network (AGMARKNET) to link important agricultural produce markets located across the country and State Agriculture Marketing Boards and Directorates.
  • The portal has also been linked with Online Commodity Exchange of India Limited, providing prices in advance based on oilseeds, crops etc.
  • The project is executed with the technical support of National Informatics Centre (NIC).
  • AGMARKNET has also been developed to strengthen the interface with farmers and other beneficiaries and provide international price trends of various agricultural commodities.
• DACNET
  • Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) Ministry of Agriculture launched a project called DACNET to take the benefit of information technology in services that it provides and improving its governance.
• Kisan credit card:
  •  It was started by the Government of India, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in 1998-99 to help farmers access timely and adequate credit.
  • The Kisan Credit Card allows farmers to have cash credit facilities without going through time consuming bank credit screening processes repeatedly.
• Kisan Call centre:
  • An expert advisory system and the farmers needs to call the toll free number 1800-180- 1551 to seek expert advice on different matters related to agriculture and allied sectors
• Kisan SMS Portal:
  • Here farmer keeps getting SMS messages providing information or delivering service or giving advisories on his mobile from experts, scientists and officers at various level after once opting for messages on agricultural practises / crops of his interest. I
  • In short, messages are customized based on farmer’s preferences in the language chosen by them.
  • The services of the portal include crop production, including horticulture, animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries. It sends messages relating not only production aspect but also marketing of produce, weather forecast, soil testing, etc.
• Other Important Private Sector Digital  Initiatives:
  • Green SIM
  • Facebook for Farmers and Extension Workers
  • E-choupal
  • SasyaSree
  • Mkrishi
  • eSagu

CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY:

• Reach of the technology:
  • The reach of the technology is still very poor and large chunk of farmers are still ignorant about such advancements.
  • The distribution of technologies is not uniform throughout the country. For example according to the recent TRAI report, rural India has a 33 per cent Internet penetration rate, in contrast to 99 per cent in urban India.
• Further the socio-economic disparity:
  • These emerging technologies are being used by the already rich farmers and utilising these services they are further prospering.
  • The small and marginal farmers (comprise about 86.2 per cent of the country's total farmers) are again being left out in the process of development due to lack credit available to invest in these technologies.
• Lack of awareness:
  • Lack of awareness and literacy among farmers about the use and benefits of digital technology in agriculture.
• Middle man:
  • Due to low literacy rate among farmers and digital divide, there is a rise of new class of middle man, who provide ICT services to farmers.
  • They are also believed to distort the information for their own benefit.

WAY FORWARD:

• There is a need to tap the vast network of Panchayats and local government to undertake awareness and outreach activities to ensure the adoption of digital technologies by farmers.
• The internet connectivity and digital infrastructure in rural areas needs to be improved for the successful penetration of digital technologies to the rural areas and thereby to the agriculture. Eg. BharatNet Project,
• Spreading digital literacy, by teaching farmers how to choose and use apps, which are, or soon to be, available in regional languages. Eg. Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan(PMGDISHA).
• There should be efforts for adoption of information into formats and languages relevant for rural areas.
• Also there should be initiatives to repackage technical information for farmers and make it available in local languages.
• Ensuring participation of both public and private sector to meet the demand of huge investment required to adopt the new emerging technologies.
• Need for a robust data protection regime as adoption of digital technologies requires collection and storage of huge amount of personal and non-personal data.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q. Examine the role of digital technologies in transforming agriculture in India and discuss the challenges associated with the adoption of digital technologies.