Agriculture plays a vital role in development, serving as a livelihood for 58% of India’s people. According to a report, the total gross income in FY20 amounted to Rs 19.48 lakh crore, subsidiary sectors included. Besides the related industries, it accounts for 17.8% of India’s GVA and $3,320.4 billion in global economic output, equivalent to 11.9%, placing it 18th globally, just after China.
However, the sector faces many challenges, such as small and fragmented land holdings, lack of access to credit and technology, inefficient supply chains and marketing systems.
This is where digital technologies can play a transformative role in making Indian agriculture more productive, profitable, and sustainable.
The promise of digital agriculture
Agritech in Indian agriculture refers to using new and advanced technologies like sensors, drones, robotics, AI, and big data analytics to improve various aspects of agricultural practices and processes. Some key potential benefits of digital agriculture include the following:
- Increasing productivity – Precision farming techniques like targeted water and fertilizer application, data-based sowing patterns, etc., can optimize input usage and boost yields. Automation can reduce drudgery and enhance efficiency.
- Reducing wastage – Digitally tracking field conditions, crop growth, weather patterns, etc., preventive measures can be taken to minimize crop losses. Efficient supply chain management also curtails wastage.
- Conserving resources – Advanced sensors and analytics allow reasonable use of crucial resources like water, electricity, and farm inputs, thereby improving sustainability.
- Risk mitigation – Timely advisories based on weather forecasts, disease outbreak warning systems, crop insurance products, etc., can help farmers mitigate various risks.
- Improving market linkages – Digital platforms, like an agriculture marketplace, farmer networks, and advisory services, can provide information on prices, demand, quality requirements, etc., to help farmers make informed decisions.
- Financial inclusion – Fintech innovations like digital lending platforms, payment systems, and blockchain-based applications can expand access to credit and other financial services for farmers.
Key digital technologies for Indian agriculture
Some of the major digital technologies that can transform Indian agriculture include:
Sensors and IoT devices
- Smart sensors to monitor soil moisture, crop growth metrics, ambient conditions, etc., provide valuable real-time data for precision farming.
- Deployment of IoT devices like an automated irrigation systems allows remote monitoring and control of farm operations.
Drones and satellite imagery
- Aerial imagery from drones gives quick insights into field conditions, crop health signs, drainage issues, etc.
- Satellite data aids the creation of early warning systems, insurance products, yield estimation models, etc.
Robotics and automation
- Automated seeding, weeding, and harvesting machinery reduces human effort and speeds up operations.
- Milk harvesting robots, autonomous tractors, and robotic fruit pickers are gaining adoption.
Big data and analytics
- Collecting and analyzing harvest records, weather data, soil management, and market information provides actionable intelligence.
- AI can power data-based predictive models for smart decision-making.
Blockchain platforms
- Blockchain applications can enable traceability across supply chains, build digital farmer identities and facilitate payments.
- Smart contracts allow transparent and efficient implementation of government schemes and subsidies.
Mobile applications
- Farmer-centric mobile apps provide personalized advisories, weather alerts, market price updates, e-commerce access to buy organic seeds and agriculture products online at cost-effective rate, etc.
- Apps can also enable access to digital financial services, agriculture marketplace, farm management tools and e-learning.
Key focus areas for digital agriculture in India
To fully realize the potential of digital agriculture in the Indian context, some of the key focus areas are:
- Bridging the digital divide – Targeted efforts are needed to expand digital and internet connectivity in rural areas and farmer education.
- Developing locally-relevant solutions – Technologies and platforms must be customized for smallholder farms, local conditions, and farmer needs.
- Building robust data systems – Harnessing the power of data requires databases on land records, soil health, crop patterns, water availability, etc.
- Strengthening R&D – More research is needed to develop affordable, adaptable solutions and drive real farm-level impact.
- Policy support and incentives – Government schemes and incentives can accelerate the development and adoption of digital agri innovations.
- Public-private partnerships – Collaboration between startups, agritech companies, research institutes, corporates, and government is key to scaling digital agriculture.
Challenges and recommendations
While digital agriculture holds great potential in Indian farming, some key challenges need to be addressed:
Bridging the digital divide
- The digital divide between rural and urban India is still significant. Lack of connectivity infrastructure, low digital literacy, and affordability hamper technology adoption.
- Government programs to expand rural broadband connectivity and digital skills training for farmers must be accelerated. Local language interfaces are also essential.
Developing hyperlocal solutions
- One-size-fits-all solutions may not work. Agtech innovations must be customized for different agro-climatic conditions, farm sizes, cropping patterns, etc.
- More grassroots-level research and pilots are needed to develop contextualized solutions. Platforms should provide local advisories and support hyperlocal delivery models.
Enabling data and information symmetry
- For maximum impact, data systems must cover all stakeholders – farmers, input companies, agronomists, produce buyers, credit providers, etc.
- India still needs comprehensive databases on land records, soil health, water availability, etc., which hampers data-driven decision-making.
Driving behavior change
- Merely providing technology access may remain farming practices. Engaging delivery models involving local advisors and farmer networks are essential.
- Behavior change efforts must employ technology (apps, multimedia) and on-ground outreach (demo farms, peer learning).
Developing inclusive solutions
- Smallholder and marginal farmers with limited resources have different needs than large farmers.
- Solutions should consider affordability, ease of use, and hyperlocal delivery to drive broad-based adoption. Vernacular interfaces, offline functionality, and simple workflows are the key.
With supportive policies, strategic public-private partnerships, and user-centric solution design, these challenges can be overcome to realize the full potential of digital agriculture in transforming Indian farming.
The road ahead
India faces the twin challenges of climate change and feeding its huge population. Digital agriculture can pave the path to sustainable food security by enhancing farm productivity, food safety, resource use efficiency, supply chain operations, and market access. Farmers can overcome most of the hurdles by buying organic seeds and equipment from online agriculture ecommerce platforms like Badikheti, adopt to agrotech, and following standard farming practices.
However, this would require concerted efforts from policymakers, researchers, agribusinesses, farmers, and development agencies to develop locally relevant solutions, promote adoption, and build supporting data and financing infrastructure. Digital technologies can unleash India’s next wave of agricultural progress with the right push.
