Artificial intelligence comes to farming in India | BBC News

Summary

In India, where 50% of the workforce is in agriculture, AI is transforming traditional farming methods to increase efficiency and productivity. Farmers like Nan Pel use sensors and AI to monitor weather, soil health, and optimize irrigation and fertilization, resulting in water savings and productivity boosts. AI-powered robots further improve precision in tasks like pesticide spraying, reducing waste. Despite only 2% of Indian farmers using such technologies, improved rural connectivity and government support for AgriTech startups show promise for expanding these innovations across India's agricultural sector.

Takeaways

• 🌾 India has 50% of its workforce employed in agriculture, with a population of 1.4 billion dependent on crops.
• 🤖 Traditional farming methods in India are being replaced by new technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve efficiency.
• 💧 Sensor devices on farms can monitor weather and soil health, providing data to determine when to water, fertilize, and control pests.
• 📱 Farmers, like the one featured, receive precise advisories on a mobile app to optimize crop care, saving water and resources.
• 🚰 AI technology has enabled farmers to save around 50% of water by irrigating only during crucial stages of crop growth.
• 🍇 In one case, AI usage resulted in a 25% increase in productivity for crops like grapes and guavas.
• 🤖 AI-powered robots, equipped with precision cameras, help make decisions at the plant level, reducing pesticide spraying by 56%.
• 🌐 Improved digital connectivity and government support are accelerating the adoption of agri-tech innovations in India.
• 📉 Despite advances, only 2% of Indian farmers currently use technology in their farming processes.
• 💡 India's agriculture sector faces challenges such as resource constraints, low crop yields, and limited financial and insurance services, but AI-driven farming shows potential for profitability.

Q & A

What percentage of India's workforce is employed in agriculture?

50% of India's workforce is employed in agriculture.

How is AI being used on some farms in India, like the one mentioned in the report?

AI is being used to monitor weather and soil health through sensors, and to provide precise advice on watering, adding fertilizer, and pest control through a mobile app.

What is the impact of AI on water usage in the Vineyard mentioned?

The Vineyard is able to save around 50% of the water it previously used thanks to AI data guiding irrigation at crucial stages.

How much has productivity increased for crops like grapes and guavas due to AI technology?

There has been a near 25% boost in productivity for crops like grapes and guavas due to AI technology.

What is the advantage of AI-powered robots in agriculture?

AI-powered robots, equipped with precision cameras, can scan the ground in real time and make plant-level decisions for spraying, leading to 56% savings in spraying costs.

How prevalent is the use of technology in Indian farming currently?

Currently, only 2% of cultivators in India use technology in farming.

What two major changes are needed to expand the use of technology in Indian agriculture?

India needs to enable better digital public infrastructure and foster public-private partnerships to expand the use of technology in agriculture.

What are some of the constraints Indian agriculture faces according to the report?

India faces constraints in yield levels, financial resources, and access to insurance services for farmers.

What are some benefits AI promises to bring to Indian agriculture?

AI promises to improve farm efficiency, productivity, and profitability, helping reduce resource use, make informed decisions, and address inefficiencies.

What is the potential challenge for AI-driven agriculture in India?

AI-driven agriculture in India will require considerable time and investment to reach the majority of farmers.

Outlines

00:00

🌾 Traditional Farming in India Meets AI Innovation

The video discusses how Indian agriculture, which employs 50% of the workforce and supports a growing population of 1.4 billion, is being transformed by technology. While traditional farming practices have been prevalent for generations, new advancements like artificial intelligence are now being introduced to enhance farm efficiency, productivity, and profitability. Archana Shukla reports on this technological shift.

🌱 AI-Driven Vineyards: Water Conservation and Precision

Nathan Pel, a farmer using AI technology, showcases how sensors in his vineyard monitor weather and soil health. This technology advises him via a mobile app on when to water his crops, add fertilizer, and combat pests. By using AI, Nathan has managed to reduce his water usage by 50%, a critical factor as his vineyard lacks its own groundwater source. This innovation allows for more targeted and efficient irrigation.

📈 AI Boosts Productivity by 25% in Indian Farming

AI technology developed by the Bangalore-based startup Fil Agri Tech has significantly improved farm productivity. In crops like grapes and guavas, AI-enabled decision-making has boosted productivity by nearly 25%. The technology is crucial for weeding out inefficiencies in traditional farming methods, making agriculture more efficient and sustainable.

🤖 AI Robots Revolutionizing Indian Agriculture

AI-powered robots are providing a solution to inefficiencies in Indian farming. Equipped with precision cameras, these robots scan fields in real-time and spray only where needed, avoiding waste. This plant-level decision-making process reduces pesticide use by 56%, marking a shift from the traditional acre-level spraying method. The goal is to make agriculture more precise and resource-efficient.

📡 Digital Connectivity and AI: The Future of Indian Farming

Increased rural digital connectivity and government support have fueled the rise of AgriTech startups in India. Despite these advancements, only 2% of Indian farmers currently use technology in their farming practices. Experts emphasize the need for a robust digital public infrastructure and public-private partnerships to bridge gaps in yield, finance, and insurance services. AI-driven agriculture holds the potential for greater profitability, but large-scale adoption will require significant investment and time.

Keywords

💡Agriculture

Agriculture refers to the cultivation of crops and raising of animals for food and other products. In the video, agriculture is a major focus, especially as 50% of India's workforce is employed in this sector. The script highlights how traditional farming methods are gradually being replaced by technology like AI to increase efficiency and productivity.

💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is the simulation of human intelligence by machines. In the video, AI is used to make Indian farms more efficient, by helping farmers with precise decision-making, such as when to water or fertilize crops. This technology is presented as a way to boost productivity while conserving resources like water.

💡Sensors

Sensors are devices that detect and measure physical properties, such as temperature and soil health. In the video, sensors are used on farms to collect data on environmental conditions, which AI then analyzes to help farmers make informed decisions. For example, the sensors help a vineyard owner in India know exactly when to water his crops.

💡Water Conservation

Water conservation refers to the careful management of water resources to prevent wastage. The video emphasizes that using AI technology in farming has enabled farmers to reduce water usage by 50%. This is crucial in areas like the vineyard shown in the video, where groundwater is not available, and water has to be purchased from outside sources.

💡Productivity

Productivity in agriculture refers to the output of crops per unit of input, such as land, labor, or water. The video mentions that AI technology has increased productivity by 25% in some crops, such as grapes and guavas. This increase is linked to more precise farming techniques driven by AI data.

💡Farm Innovations

Farm innovations refer to new technologies and practices that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of farming. In the video, innovations like AI-powered sensors and robots are transforming Indian agriculture. These advancements are helping farmers make better decisions and reduce inefficiencies, ultimately making farming more profitable.

💡Rural Digital Connectivity

Rural digital connectivity refers to the availability of internet and communication technologies in rural areas. In the video, improved connectivity is noted as a key factor in the spread of agricultural technology. It allows farmers in remote areas to access AI tools and mobile apps that help them manage their farms more effectively.

💡Public-Private Partnerships

Public-private partnerships involve collaboration between government and private sector entities to achieve common goals. In the context of the video, such partnerships are essential to developing and deploying agricultural technologies in India, especially given the resource constraints and financial challenges faced by farmers.

💡AI-powered Robots

AI-powered robots are machines equipped with artificial intelligence to perform tasks traditionally done by humans. In the video, these robots are used in farming to improve precision in tasks like spraying pesticides, reducing waste, and ensuring more targeted application at the plant level rather than the field level.

💡Data-driven Agriculture

Data-driven agriculture refers to farming practices that are guided by data collected from various technologies like sensors and AI. The video highlights how this approach can increase profitability and productivity by enabling farmers to make informed decisions. For example, AI provides farmers with data on when to irrigate or add fertilizer, helping them save resources and increase yields.

Highlights

50% of India's workforce is employed in agriculture, supporting a population of 1.4 billion.

Traditional farming methods in India are being replaced by new technologies like artificial intelligence.

Sensor devices on farms are checking weather and soil health, providing data to improve decision-making.

AI-powered systems help farmers determine when to water crops, add fertilizer, and manage pests.

The AI system sends precise advisories to farmers via a mobile app, helping them optimize resources.

One vineyard has been able to save 50% of its water usage thanks to AI-driven data, reducing dependency on external water sources.

Fil Agri Tech, an Indian startup based in Bangalore, developed AI services that have led to a 25% increase in productivity for crops like grapes and guavas.

AI-powered robots equipped with precision cameras can scan crops in real-time, helping to avoid unnecessary spraying of pesticides.

The mission is to reduce spraying from an acre-level to a plant-level, saving 56% of resources.

Improved rural digital connectivity and government support have driven innovation in agricultural technology.

Currently, only 2% of farmers in India use technology in their farming practices.

The focus is on building digital public infrastructure and fostering public-private partnerships to increase the use of technology in agriculture.

India faces constraints such as low yield levels, limited financial resources, and lack of insurance services for farmers.

AI-driven agriculture offers the potential for profitability but requires significant time and investment to be widely adopted.

While AI and data-driven methods show promise, reaching the majority of India's farmers will take considerable effort.

Transcripts

so we talked about groceries the food we

buy off the shelf of course it's all uh

cultivated and grown on farms and if we

head to India 50% of the workforce are

employed in agriculture and a growing

population now 1.4 billion are dependent

on the crops produced but traditional

methods are now making way for new

technology that promises to make Farms

more efficient productive and profitable

thanks to artificial intelligence

archana Shukla reports

for Generations Indian Farms have been

swn and tilled only with traditional

know

how but some like Nan pel are trying out

something

different with sensor devices on his

Vineyard that check weather and soil

health and uses artificial intelligence

to figure out when to water the crops at

fertilizer and Tackle pests Nathan then

receives a precise advisory on a mobile

app this Vineyard where we are now it

has no groundwater sources and we are

growing these wines with the water that

we purchase from outside tankers with

the help of this AI data we are now able

to irrigate them only at The crucial

stage and that's helping us to sa around

50% of the water that they actually used

we used to give

before built in India Silicon Valley

Bangalore by startup fil Agri Tech the

service has led to a near 25% boost in

productivity on crops like grapes and

guavas informed decision making is only

one part of the solution to improve

productivity but weeding out

inefficiencies in the existing age-old

agricultural practices is also

crucial AI powered robots offer a

solution this one is equipped with

Precision cameras that scan the ground

in real time programmed to avoid fa F

spraying the way spraying is done in

India is on a acre level and our mission

is to boil that down into a plant level

decision making just by spraying only on

the plant we are seeing a 56%

savings improved rural digital

connectivity and government support for

Agri Tech startups has pushed Farm

Innovations but even now just 2%

cultivators use Tech in farming we

really need to enable the digital public

infrastructure and second is going to be

public private Partnerships India will

always be resource constraint we

possibly are perhaps lowest in the yield

level we possibly are uh pretty much

constrained on finance and uh insurance

services for the farmers and that's

where the Gap needs to be filled up with

AI datadriven agriculture promises

profitability but will need considerable

time and investment to reach majority of

India's Farmers ARA Shukla BBC News

Bangalore