Promotion and Assessment of AI Use in Agriculture
UPSC / SSC current affairs note
Why in news
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has launched multiple AI projects for farmer advisory, pest control, crop identification, insurance, and scheme distribution. The government also shared fund allocation and utilization details for digital agriculture initiatives over the past five years in a Rajya Sabha reply.
Background
Digital Agriculture Mission supports states in adopting AI, ML, blockchain, IoT, and robotics. Key AI initiatives include National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS), AI-based monsoon advisories, and BHASHINI platform.
Key facts
AI projects are used for farmer advisory, pest control, crop identification, insurance, scheme benefit distribution, and administrative analysis.
National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) uses AI/ML to detect pest outbreaks, reducing crop loss; over 10,000 extension workers use it; covers 73 crops and 436 pests.
AI-based monsoon and weather advisories from IMD help farmers plan operations; about 5.28 crore farmers have benefited.
BHASHINI (Virtual Integrated System for Access to Agricultural Resources) is a multilingual AI-driven digital public infrastructure for real-time, location-specific advice; served over 3 lakh farmers and resolved 72 lakh queries.
BHASHINI provides info on 18 central schemes, crop/livestock advice, weather, mandi prices, pest/disease identification, soil health, and grievance redressal; available via web, mobile app, AI chatbot, and telephone (Hindi & English; chatbot/web/app in 10 languages).
No specific comprehensive assessment of AI technologies' impact has been conducted by the government.
Fund allocation and utilization for digital agriculture (including AI) from 2022-23 to 2026-27: Allocated: 60, 450, 763.88, 758.56, 502.40 crore; Utilized: 20.84, 119.44, 356, 596.10, 364.62 crore.
Government provides technical and financial assistance to states/UTs for AI-enabled technology access, including for small and marginal farmers.
Prelims pointers
- National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS)
- BHASHINI (Virtual Integrated System for Access to Agricultural Resources)
- Digital Agriculture Mission
- IMD (Indian Meteorological Department)
- AI, ML, blockchain, IoT, robotics in agriculture
- 73 crops and 436 pests covered under NPSS
- 5.28 crore farmers benefited from AI-based weather advisories
- 3 lakh+ farmers served by BHASHINI
- 10 languages supported by BHASHINI chatbot/web/app
- Funds: 2022-23 to 2026-27 (allocated vs utilized)
Mains angles
- Role of AI in transforming Indian agriculture: opportunities and challenges
- Digital Agriculture Mission and its impact on small and marginal farmers
- Government initiatives for pest surveillance and weather advisories using AI
- Assessment of AI adoption in agriculture: need for impact evaluation
- Integration of AI with existing schemes: efficiency and outreach