Digital Agriculture

Digital Agriculture

News: Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa recently said that G20 will support Digital agriculture ecosystem.

Background:
• India has more than 1,000 startups in the agri sector at the moment and such startups can provide innovative ideas and affordable solutions to tackle a number of challenges faced all across the agricultural value chain.

What is Digital Agriculture?
• Digital Agriculture refers to the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and data ecosystems to provide timely, targeted information and services to enhance the profitability, sustainability, and efficiency of farming practices.
• Examples of digital agriculture include Agri Biotechnology, Precision Agriculture, robotics, use of drones, early weather monitoring etc.

What are benefits of Digital Agriculture?
• It has the potential to increase agriculture productivity. Digital tools can lead to better crop management and overall production.
• Precision farming can help make use judicious use of resources, reduce soil erosion, preserve soil health.
• Targeted application of inputs like fertilizers and pesticides can minimize environmental impact.
• Information dissemination through digital platforms empowers farmers to adopt best practices and innovations.
• Technologies such as AI, Machine learning can help predict health of cattle and farmers can make decisions backed by robust data.
• Reduced costs, increased productivity can lead to improved income opportunity for farmers.

Challenges
• High cost of technology adoption
• Farmers may be averse to accept transition to digital agriculture
• Small Land Holdings in India complicate adopting large-scale digital technologies, as smaller plots are less conducive to certain solutions.
• Illiteracy in rural area can act as barrier in farmer’s adopting to such technologies.

Some of Government initiatives:
• National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA)
• AgriStack
• Digital Agriculture Mission